AUDUBON 



53 



chase them to the woods, fearing the wickedness of the 

 boys, who would, no doubt, have with pleasure destroyed 

 them." So it would seem boys then were much the 

 same as now. Jackson and other places were visited, and 

 finally New Orleans, whence Audubon started for Louis- 

 ville with Victor, May i. The whole of this summer 

 (1823) was one of enjoyment in many ways to the natural- 

 ist. He felt his wife was in a delightful home (where she 

 remained many years), beloved by those around her; 

 Victor now was nearly fourteen, handsome, strong, and 

 very companionable, old for his years, and as his father was 

 always young for his, they were good comrades, and till 

 both were attacked by yellow fever, the days passed 

 smoothly on. Nursed through this malady by the ever 

 devoted wife and mother, who had come to them at once 

 on hearing they were ill, some time was spent at the Beech- 

 woods to recuperate, and on October i, 1823, Audubon 

 with Victor departed for Kentucky by boat. The water 

 being low, their progress was greatly delayed ; he became 

 impatient and at Trinity left the boat with his son and two 

 gentlemen, and walked to Louisville. This walk, of which 

 wc have a full published account ^ began on October 1 5, and 

 on the 2 1 St they reached Green River, when Victor becom- 

 ing weary, the remaining distance was performed in a 

 wagon. It was on this journey, which Audubon under- 

 took fearing, so he says, that he should not have enough 

 money to provide for himself and Victor in Louisville 

 beyond a few weeks, that he relates this incident: "The 

 squatter had a Black Wolf, perfectly gentle, and completely 

 under the control of his master ; I put my hand in my 

 pocket and took out a hundred-dollar bill, which I offered 

 for it, but it was refused. I respected the man for his 

 attachment to the wolf, for I doubted if he had ever seen 

 a hundred dollars before." 

 Louisville was speedily quitted for Shippingport, where 



1 See Episode : " A Tough Walk for a Youth.'' 



