60 " FEATHERED TO THE HEEL." 



the number ; " there," he added, pointing to a huge 

 pile of blankets and fur, which, stretched upon one 

 of the benches, looked like the substantial bale of 

 some trader. "What! that Mr Audubon !" ex- 

 claimed the travellers, whose names were at that 

 moment called out by the captain as entitled to the 

 first choice of berths. This privilege they now 

 gladly renounced in favour of Audubon. There- 

 upon the green ball stirred a little, half turned 

 upon -its narrow resting-place, after awhile sat 

 erect, and showed that there was a man inside of it. 

 A patriarchal beard fell white and wavy down his 

 breast ; a pair of hawk-like eyes gleamed sharply 

 out from the frizzy shroud of cap and collar. With 

 a thrill of irrepressible interest the travellers ap- 

 proached. The moment they caught sight of that 

 fine expressive face, they knew it could be none but 

 he. Audubon it was, in this wilderness garb, hale 

 and alert, with sixty winters on his shoulders, and, 

 like one of his old eagles, " feathered to the heel." 

 Before long, he delighted them with relating 

 his exploits, discoveries, and experiences. Some- 

 what silent in general, his conversation was impul- 

 sive and fragmentary, and a " mellow Gallic idiom" 

 marked his speech. 



When on shore, he speedily outstripped his 

 younger companions in walking, while the clearness 

 and strength of his vision were truly amazing. 



