CONTENTMENT. 147 



" With the exception of the loss of a barrel 

 of rum," said Pierre, " he had never experienced 

 a single sorrow, and felt as happy as a lord !" 

 To Audubon's inquiry how he managed to feed 

 the dogs, he replied, " Why, sir, during spring 

 and summer they ramble along the shores, where 

 they meet with abundance of dead fish, and in 

 winter they eat the flesh of seals which I kill 

 late in the autumn, when those animals return 

 from the north. As to myself, everything eat- 

 able is good, and when hard pushed, I assure 

 you I can relish the fare of my dogs just as 

 they do themselves." To this simple standard 

 of satisfaction, the poor settler was reduced from 

 the lofty expectations which had led him, with 

 a greater credulity than that of Whittington, to 

 leave his native land, in the conviction of be- 

 coming a millionaire in the north ! Yet he was 

 happy, and the realization of his best wishes 

 could have brought him no more enviable des- 

 tiny. 



Proceeding along the indentations of the bay, 

 Audubon perceived several neat-looking habita- 

 tions which gladdened the prospect, proving that 

 a similarity of taste or intention had induced 

 many besides the settler to seek the seclusion of 

 these inhospitable shores. 



The next adventurer, however, proved an 

 entire contrast to Pierre. His demeanour in- 



