JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 21 



Audubon became uneasy lest his son be 

 drafted into the French army ; hence he 

 resolved to send him back to America. 

 In the meantime, he interested one 

 Eozier in the lead mine and had formed 

 a partnership between him and his son, 

 to run for nine years. In due course the 

 two young men sailed for New York, 

 leaving France at a time when thousands 

 would have been glad to have followed 

 their footsteps. 



On this voyage their vessel was pursued 

 and overhauled by a British privateer, 

 the Rattlesnake, and nearly all their money 

 and eatables were carried off, besides two 

 of the ship's best sailors. Audubon and 

 Eozier saved their gold by hiding it under 

 a cable in the bow of the ship. 



On returning to Mill Grove, Audubon 

 resumed his former habits of life there. 

 "We hear no more of the lead mine, but 

 more of his bird studies and drawings, 

 the love of which was fast becoming 

 his ruling passion. "Before I sailed 



