480 AUDUBON 



my flask'; after which, we proceeded on our slow and 

 painful march. He threw away all his plants, emptied his 

 pockets of the fungi, lichens, and mosses which he had 

 thrust into them, and finding himself much lightened, went 

 on for thirty or forty yards with a better grace. But, kind 

 reader, enough — I led the naturalist first one way, then 

 another, until I had nearly lost myself in the brake, although 

 I was well acquainted with it, kept him tumbling and 

 crawling on his hands and knees until long after mid-day, 

 when we at length reached the edge of the river. I blew 

 my horn, and soon showed my companion a boat coming 

 to our rescue. We were ferried over, and on reaching the 

 house, found more agreeable occupation in replenishing 

 our empty coffers. 



M. de T. remained with us for three weeks, and collected 

 multitudes of plants, shells, bats, and fishes, but never 

 again expressed a desire of visiting a cane-brake. We 

 were perfectly reconciled to his oddities, and, finding him 

 a most agreeable and intelligent companion, hoped that 

 his sojourn might be of long duration. But, one evening 

 when tea was prepared, and we expected him to join the 

 family, he was nowhere to be found. His grasses and 

 other valuables were all removed from his room. The 

 night was spent in searching for him in the neighborhood. 

 No eccentric naturahst could be discovered. Whether he 

 had perished in a swamp, or had been devoured by a Bear 

 or a Gar-fish, or had taken to his heels, were matters of 

 conjecture ; nor was it until some weeks after that a letter 

 from him, thanking us for our attention, assured me of 

 his safety. 



