212 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



furnished me with a graphic account of a few days he spent 

 with them, I shall present you witli it in his own words. 



" ' On the 12th day of September, while lying in harbour at 

 Indian Key, we were joined by five wrecking vessels. Their 

 licenses having expired, it was necessary to go to Key West, to 

 renew them. We determined to accompany them the next 

 morning, and here it will not be amiss for me to say a few words 

 respecting these far-famed wreckers, their captains and crews. 

 From all that I had heard, I expected to see a parcel of dirty, 

 pirate-looking vessels, officered and manned by a set of black- 

 whiskered fellows, who carried murder in their very looks. I 

 was agreeably surprised on discovering that the vessels were 

 fine large sloops and schooners, regular clippers, kept in first- 

 rate order. The captains generally were jovial, good-humoured 

 sons of Neptune, who manifested a disposition to be polite and 

 hospitable, and to afford every facility to persons passing up 

 and down the reefs. The crews were hearty, well-dressed, and 

 honest-looking men. On the 18th, at the appointed hoiir, we 

 all set sail together, that is, the five wreckers and the schooner 

 Jane. As our vessel was not noted for fast sailing, we accepted 

 an invitation to go on board of a wrecker. The fliset got under 

 weigh about eight o'clock in the morning, the wind light but 

 fair, the water smooth, and the day fine. I can scarcely find 

 words to express the pleasure and gratification which I this day 

 experienced. The sea was of a beautiful, soft, pea-green colour, 

 smooth as a sheet of glass, and as transparent, its surface 

 agitated only by our vessels as they parted its bosom, or by the 

 pelican in pursuit of his prey, which, rising for a considerable 

 distance in the air, would suddenly plunge down with distended 

 mandibles, and secure his food. The vessels of our little fleet, 

 with every sail set that could catch a breeze, and the white 

 foam curling round the prows, glided silently along, like islands 

 of flitting shadows, on an immovable sea of light. Several 

 fathoms below the surface of the water, and under us, we 

 saw great quantities of fish diving and sporting amongst the 

 sea grass, sponges, sea feathers, and corals, with which the 

 bottom was covered. On our right hand the Florida Keys, 

 as we made them in the distance, looked like specks upon the 

 water, but as we neared them, rose to view as if by enchantment. 



