118 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



warm Ms warlike nature, but in vain. I waited 

 and talked, waited and talked, until my patience, 

 sir — ^you must know I am not overburdened with 

 it — ^m J patience being exhausted, I rose, threw my 

 pallet and brush on the floor, stamped, walked 

 to and fro about the room, and vociferated 

 such fearful calumnies against our navy, that I 

 startled the good commodore. Yet he still looked 

 at me with a plain countenance, and, as he told 

 me since, thought I had lost my senses. But I 

 observed him all the while, and fully as deter- 

 mined to carry my point as he would be to carry 

 off an enemy's ship, I gave my oaths additional 

 emphasis, addressed him as a representative of 

 the navy, and, steering somewhat clear of per- 

 sonal insult, played off my batteries against the 

 craft. At last, the commodore walked up to me, 

 placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, and told 

 me in a resolute manner, that if I had intended 

 to insult the navy, he would instantly cut off my 

 ears. His features exhibited all the spirit and 

 animation of his noble nature, and as I had now 

 succeeded in rousing the lion, I judged it time 

 to retreat. So, changing my tone, I begged his 

 pardon, and told him he now looked precisely as 

 I wished to represent him. He laughed, and re- 

 turning to his seat, assumed a bold countenance, 

 and so, sir, see the picture !" 



From New Orleans, Audubon proceeded again 



