278 Life of Audubon. 



While supper was preparing, I made inquiry respecting 

 birds, quadrupeds, and fishes, and was pleased to hear 

 that all of these animals abounded in the neighborhood. 

 Deer, bears, trouts, and grouse, were quite plentiful, as 

 was the great gray owl. When we resumed our journey 

 next morning Nature displayed all her loveliness, and 

 autumn, with her mellow tints, her glowing fruits, and 

 her rich fields of corn, smiled in placid beauty. Many 

 of the fields had not yet been reaped ; the fruits of the 

 forests and orchards hung clustering around us ; and as 

 we came in view of the Penobscot River, our hearts 

 thrilled with joy. Its broad transparent waters here 

 spread out their unn.ififled surface, there danced along the 

 rapids, while canoes filled with Indians swiftly glided, in 

 every direction, raising before them the timorous water- 

 fowl, that had already flocked in from the north. Moun- 

 tains which you well know are indispensable in a beauti- 

 ful landscape, reared their majestic crests in the distance. 

 The Canada jay leaped gayly from branch to twig; the 

 kingfisher, as if vexed at being suddenly surprised, rat- 

 tled loudly as it swiftly flew off; and the fish-hawk and 

 eagle spread their broad wings over the v^'aters. All 

 around was beautiful, and we gazed on the scene with de- 

 light as, seated on a verdant bank, we refreshed our 

 frames from our replenished stores. A few rare birds 

 were procured here, and the rest of the road being level 

 and firm, we trotted on at a good pace for several hours, 

 the Penobscot keeping company with us. Now we came 

 to a deep creek, of which the bridge was undergoing re- 

 pairs, and the people saw our vehicle approach with much 

 surprise. They, however, assisted us with pleasure, by 

 placing a few logs across, along which our horses, one 

 after the other, were carefully led, and the cart afterwards 

 carried. These good fellows were so averse to our rec- 

 ompensing them for their labor that, after some alterca- 



