98 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



natural science, and had collected a variety of interesting 

 objects. He gave me some refreshment, and offered me a 

 horse to ride to Mrs. Perry's. The horse was soon at the door, 

 and with many thanks I bade him adieu. My anxiety to reach 

 my beloved wife and child was so great that I resolved to make 

 a straight course through the woods, which I thought I knew 

 thoroughly, and hardly caring where T should cross the bayou. 

 In less than two hours I reached its shores, but the horse re- 

 fused to enter the water, and snorting suddenly, turned and 

 made off through the woods, as if desirous of crossing at some 

 other place, and when he reached the shore again walked in, 

 and crossed me safely to the other side. The sky was overcast, 

 and the mosquitoes plentiful ; but I thought I recognized the 

 spot where I had watched the habits of a wild cat, or a deer, as 

 the clouds broke away, and the stars now and then peeped 

 through to help me make my way through the gloomy forests. 

 But in this I was mistaken, for when day dawned I found my- 

 self in woods which were unknown to me. However, I chanced 

 to meet a black man, who told me where I was, and that I had 

 passed Mrs. Perry's plantation two miles. Turning my horse's 

 head, and putting spurs to him, a brisk gallop soon brought me 

 to the house. It was early, but I found my beloved wife up 

 and engaged in giving a lesson to her pupils, and, holding and 

 kissing her, I was once more happy, and all my toils and trials 

 were forgotten. 



" December 1. After a few days' rest I began to think of the 

 future, and to look about to see what I could do to hasten the 

 publication of my drawings. My wife was receiving a large 

 income — nearly three thousand dollars a year — from her industry 

 and talents, which she generously offered me to help forward 

 their publication ; and I resolved on a new effort to increase 

 the amount by my own energy and labour. Numerous pupils 

 desired lessons in music, French, and drawing. From Woodville 

 I received a special invitation to teach dancing, and a class of 

 sixty was soon organized. I went to begin my duties, dressed 

 myself at the hotel, and with my fiddle under my arm entered 

 the ball-room. I found my music highly appreciated, and im- 

 mediately commenced proceedings. 



" I placed all the gentlemen in a line reaching across the hall 



