12 LIFE OF AUDUBON, 



CHAPTER IV. 



Eestilt of Audubon's Votagb to France — His Pathbb's consent to 

 HIS Marriage — Renewal of BiED-HUNTiNa Pursuits — FiXAMiNATioN 

 FOR THE French Marine, and Appointment to the Post op Mid- 

 shipman — Return to America — Chased bt a Privateer — Narrow 

 Escape from Losing his Gold. .t 



Explaining to his father the scandalous conduct of Da Casta, 

 young Audubon prevailed so far that the traitor was removed 

 from the position in which he had been placed with such 

 hasty confidence. He had also to request his father's approval 

 of his marriage with Miss Lucy Bakewell, and the father promised 

 to decide as soon as he had an answer to a letter he had written 

 to Mr. Bakewell in Pennsylvania. Settled in the paternal house 

 for a year, the naturalist gratified in every fashion his wander- 

 ing instincts. He roamed everywhere in the neighbourhood of 

 the home, shooting, fishing, and collecting specimens of natural 

 history. He also continued his careful drawings of natural 

 history specimens, and stuffed and prepared many birds and 

 animals — an art which he had carefully acquired in America. 

 In one year two hundred drawings of European birds had been 

 completed — a fact which displays marvellous industry, if it does 

 not necessarily imply a sound artistic representation of the 

 birds drawn. At this period the tremendous convulsions of 

 the French empire had culminated in colossal preparations 

 for a conflict with Eussia. The conscription threatened every 

 man capable of bearing arms, and Audubon appeared to believe 

 that he stood in some danger of being enrolled in the general 



