1 1 o Life of Audubon. 



have no right. The sky was serene, and I threw myself 

 on the deck contemplating the unfathomable immensity 

 above me, and contrasting the comforts which only ten 

 days before I was enjoying with my present condition. 

 Even the sailors, ignorant of my name, look on me as a 

 poor devil not able to pay for a cabin passage. 



"In our voyage we had safely run the distance to 

 Presque Isle Harbor, but could not pass the bar on 

 account of a violent gale. The anchor was dropped, 

 and we remained on board during the night. How long 

 we might have remained at anchor I cannot tell, had not 

 Captain Judd, of the United States Navy, then probably 

 commandant at Presque Isle, sent a gig with six men to 

 our relief. It was on the 29th of August, 1824, and 

 never shall I forget that morning. My drawings were 

 put into the boat with the greatest care. We shifted into 

 it, and seated ourselves according to direction. Our 

 brave fellows pulled hard, and every moment brought us 

 nearer to the American shore ; I leaped upon it with 

 elated heart. My drawings were safely landed, and for 

 any thing else I cared little at the moment. After a 

 humble meal of bread and milk, a companion and myself 

 settled to proceed upon our journey. Our luggage was 

 rather heavy, so we hired a cart to take it to Meadville, 

 for which we offered five dollars. This sum was accepted, 

 and we set off. 



^' The country through which we passed might have 

 proved favorable to our pursuits, had it not rained nearly 

 the whole day. At night we alighted, and put up at a 

 house belonging to our conductor's father. It was Sun- 

 day night. The good folks had not yet returned from a 

 distant church, the grandmother of our driver being the 

 only individual about the premises. We found her a 

 cheerful dame, who bestirred herself actively, got up a 

 blazing fire to dry our wet clothes, and put bread and 



