162 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



of them, I now feel quite satisfied as respects the purposes you 

 have in view. But let me tell you what happened to me some 

 years ago. 



"Such a shark-looking craft as the one you call the Cru- 

 sader happened to drop its anchor abreast of my landing-place, 

 about dusk one evening, and as I guessed that the fellows on 

 board were not better than they should be, I watched their 

 motions for a while from my back piazza. But nothing hap- 

 pened that night. Next morning, however, I heard the firing 

 of guns down the meadows where my cattle and hogs were in 

 the habit of feeding. So I took my rifle, walked towards the 

 spot, and soon found, sure enough, that the rascals had killed a 

 fine ox and several hogs, which they were dragging to the shore. 

 Indeed, gentlemen, I saw the yawl crammed with the spoils of 

 my plantation. Well, I took as good an aim as I could at the 

 nearest man, and cracked away, but without hitting. At the 

 report of my gun the fellows all took to their heels, and get- 

 ting on board hoisted sail and went off^. I have never heard of 

 them since. Well, gentlemen, about the same hour next morn- 

 ing, a black-looking barge, hardly as large as your Crusader, 

 came to, off the very same spot, and although I watched it and 

 every one on board nearly the whole night, and it was a beau- 

 tiful moon-shining one, not a soul of them came on shore until 

 morning. Then, however, I saw some bustle on board. Several 

 men got off in a very small affair, which was fastened astern 

 of the large boat. I saw them land, and deliberately walk 

 towards the meadows. No sooner had they reached the 

 wettest part, and that is where my hogs generally root for 

 food, than crack, crack, crack, went off their guns in all direc- 

 tions. You may well suppose how vexed I was at all this, and 

 conceive how soon I mustered my men with clubs, and armed 

 myself with my rifle. On reaching the ground, think, gentlemen, 

 what were my thoughts, when I saw the fellows all advancing 

 towards me and my people, as if they were the honestest men 

 in the world. I was so mad when they came close up, that I 

 had a mind to shoot the one in front, for he looked for all the 

 world as if he cared not a pin for any one. However, I did 



