AN ECCENTRIC GENIUS. 51 
rolled over and over towards the fire, and thus 
succeeded in burning the cords by which he was 
fettered. Springing to his feet and snatching up 
his rifle, he thus effected his escape; for once, 
sparing the life of an Indian and mindful of his 
own. A cut of the Colonel’s tomahawk in the 
stem of an ash, was made to commemorate his 
adventure there, and if the ihnovations of time, 
and the inroads of an equally ruthless civilization 
permit, the curious or interested may prove the 
authenticity of this anecdote. 
As Audubon rambled one day beside his 
favourite river, he observed a man landing from 
a boat, with what appeared a bundle of dried 
clover on his back. No sooner had the excla- 
mation “ What an odd-looking fellow! an ori- 
ginal, surely!” crossed his mind, than he per- 
ceived the stranger approach him in haste, and 
with astonishment, heard him inquire for the 
house of Mr. Audubon. With the cordial hos- 
pitality which characterized him, Audubon in- 
stantly replied, “Why, I am the man, and will 
gladly lead you to my dwelling.” 
The traveller thus happily relieved from all 
perplexity as to his entrée, actually clapped his 
hands with delight. He then took from his 
pocket a letter of introduction, which he pre 
seated. Its contents were— 
