146 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 
me, and from it I receive my spring and summer 
sustenance.” 
Struck with the reply, Audubon desired a 
further acquaintance with his new companion, 
and accordingly accepted the /nvitation to his 
abode. Low and small it was, formed of stones, 
plastered with mud. The roof was composed 
of a sort of thatching of weeds and moss. A 
large Dutch stove filled nearly one half of the 
place—a small port-hole served as a window. 
The bed was a pile of deer skins. A bowl, a 
jug, and an iron pot placed on a rude shelf, three 
old and rusty muskets, their locks fastened by 
thongs, stood ina corner; and buck-shot, powder, 
and flints were tied up in skins. Hight Exqui 
maux dogs leaped about this uninviting abode. 
With the courtesy of his nation (for the rustic 
of these wilds was a Frenchman) he invited his 
guest to refreshment, and Audubon, during the 
preparation of his repast, wandered out of doors 
to enjoy the glorious landscape afforded by the 
majestic scenery around, ornamented by a mar- 
vellous luxuriance in plants and grasses, which 
clothed the valley where the settler dwelt con- 
tentedly in his chosen home. There, through- 
out ten returning dreary winters, he had resided, 
subsisting on the annual sale of furs, eiderdowns, 
and seal-skins, to the traders who sought their 
merchandise in these inclement regions, 
