290 Life of Audubon. 



through the tangled woods, now carefully picked our steps 

 over the spongy grounds. The air was filled with the 

 melodious concerts of birds, and all Nature seemed to 

 smile in quiet enjoyment. We wandered about until the 

 setting sun warned us to depart, when, returning to the 

 house of the proprietor, we sat down to an excellent 

 repast, and amused ourselves with relating anecdotes and 

 forming arrangements for the morrow. Our captain com- 

 plimented us on our success when we reached the Swift- 

 sure, and in due time we betook ourselves to our ham- 

 mocks. The next morning, a strange sail appearing in 

 the distance, preparations were instantly made to pay her 

 commander a visit. The signal-staff of * Whitehead 

 Island ' displayed the British flag, while Captain Frank- 

 land and his men stood on the shore, and as we gave our 

 sails to the wind, three hearty cheers filled the air, and 

 were instantly responded to by us. The vessel was soon 

 approached, but all was found right with her, and, squar- 

 ing our yards, onward we sped, cheerily bounding over 

 the gay billows, until our captain set us ashore at East- 

 port. At another time my party was received on board 

 the revenue cutter's tender, the Fancy, a charming name 

 for so beautiful a craft. We set sail towards evening. 

 The cackling of the 'old wives,' that covered the bay, 

 filled me with delight, and thousands of gulls and cor- 

 morants seemed as if anxious to pilot us into ' Head Har- 

 bor Bay,' where we anchored for the night. Leaping on 

 the rugged shore, we made our way to the lighthouse, 

 where we found Mr. Snelling, a good and honest Eng- 

 lishman, from Devonshire. His family consisted of three 

 wild-looking lasses, beautiful, like the most finished pro- 

 ductions of Nature. In his lighthouse, snugly ensconced, 

 he spent his days in peaceful forgetfulness of the world, 

 subsisting principally on the fish of the bay. When day 

 broke, how delightful it was to see fair -Nature open her 



