434 ^^f^ of Audubon, 



come in pursuit of, that he was anxious that some of the 

 young men of his party should remain through the winter. 

 " My regrets that I cannot remain myself are beyond de» 

 scription, and I now sadly regret that I promised you all 

 that I would return home this Fall. 



" August 3. We observed yesterday for the first time 

 that the atmosphere wore the hazy appearance of the In- 

 dian summer. The nights and m.ornings are cool, and 

 summer clothes are beginning to be uncomfortable." 



This seems to have caused Audubon to begin to think 

 seriously of turning his course homeward. The exposure 

 and hardships he had encountered in this long journey, 

 and on his hunting excursions, had made an impression 

 on his health. 



He began to find that his age was telling on his ener- 

 gy, and that he could not endure hardships as formerly. 



The Journal continues for ten days more, then abruptly 

 ends, from which we conclude that the writer began to 

 make preparations to return home. He reached New 

 York early in October, 1843. 



