became more composed.

I tried to staunch the blood that flowed from the deep gashes in his shoulders and side. I expressed my regret that I had no food about me, but when I spoke of eating he sullenly moved his head.

My situation was one of the most extraordinary I had ever been placed in. I naturally turned my talk towards religious subjects, but, alas! the dying man hardly believed in the existence of a God. "Friend," said he, "for friend you seem to be; I never studied the ways of Him of whom you talk. I am an outlaw, perhaps you will say a wretch,— I have been for many years a pirate. The instructions of my parents were of no avail to me, for I always believed I was born to be a most cruel man. I now lie here about to die midst these woods, because, long ago I refused to listen to their many admonitions. Do not shudder when I tell you these now useless hands murdered the mother whom they had embraced. I feel I have deserved the pangs of the wretched death that hovers over me, and I am thankful that only one of my kind will witness my last gaspings.'

A feeble hope that I might save his life, and perhaps assist in procuring his pardon, induced me to speak to him on the subject. "It is all in vain, friend-I have no objection to die—I am glad that the villains who wounded me were not my conquerors. I want no pardon from any one-give me some water, and let me die alone."

With the hope that I might learn from his con

versation something that might lead to the capture of his guilty associates; I returned from the creek with another capful of water, nearly the whole of which I managed to introduce into his parched mouth, and begged him for the sake of his future. peace to disclose his history to me. "It is impossible," said he, "there will be no time, the beatings of my heart tell me so. Long before day these sinewy limbs will be motionless. Nay, there will hardly be a drop of blood in my body. My wounds are mortal, and I must and will die without what you call confession.

The moon rose in the east. The majesty of her placid beauty impressed me with reverence. I pointed towards her, and asked the pirate if he could not recognise the hand of God there.

Friend, I see what you are driving at," was his answer, "you, like the rest of our enemies, feel the Well-be it so-to die

desire of murdering us all.

is, after all, nothing more than a jest, and were it not for the pain, no one, in my opinion, need care a jot about it. But as you have really befriended me I will tell you all that is proper."

Hoping his mind might take a useful turn, I again bathed his temples and washed his lips with spirits. His sunken eyes seemed to dart fire at mine a heavy and deep sigh swelled his chest and struggled through his blood-choked throat, as he asked me to raise him a little. I did so, when he addressed me as follows:

"First tell me how many bodies you found in the

boat, and what sort of dresses they had on." I mentioned their number and described their apparel. "That's right," said he, "they are the bodies of the scoundrels who followed me in that infernal Yankee barge. Bold rascals they were, for when they found the water too shallow for their craft, they took to it and waded after me. All my companions had been shot, and to lighten my own boat I flung them overboard, but as I lost time in this, the two ruffians caught hold of my gunwale, and struck on my head and body in such a way that I was scarcely able to move. The other villain carried off our schooner and one of our boats, and perhaps ere now have hung all my companions whom they did not kill at the time. I always hated the Yankees, and only regret that I did not kill more of them. I sailed from Mantanzas-I have often been in concert with others. I have money without counting, but it is buried where it will never be found, and it would be useless to tell you of it." His throat filled with blood, his voiced failed, the cold hand of death was on his brow, feebly and hurriedly he muttered, "I am a dying man, farewell!"

"Alas! It is painful to me, death in any shape; in this it was horrible, for there was no hope. The rattling of his throat announced the moment of his dissolution, and already did the body fall on my arms with a weight which was insupportable. I laid him on the ground. A mass of dark blood poured from his mouth, then came a frightful groan, the last breathing of that foul spirit, and all that now lay

at my feet, in that wild desert, was a mangled mass of clay!

The remainder of that night was passed in no enviable mood, but my feelings cannot be described. At dawn I dug a hole with the paddle of my canoe, rolled the body into it, and covered it. On reaching the boat I found several buzzards feeding on the bodies, which I in vain attempted to drag to the shore. I therefore covered them with mud and reeds, and launching my canoe paddled from the cove, with a secret joy at my escape, shadowed with the gloom of mingled dread and abhorrence.

CHAPTER X.

RETURNING from Florida, enriched by numerous and important discoveries, Audubon proceeded to Philadelphia. There he had the happiness to be re-united to his family. Anxiety for their welfare induced him to shorten his stay in that city, then afflicted by the terrible pestilence of cholera. They continued their journey to Boston. During his sojourning there it was that the "Illustrations" appeared (1831), his son leaving the family gathering to superintend their publication in London. At the noble city of Boston Audubon lingered to indulge his admiration of it, as well as to enjoy the pleasure afforded him by the warm and generous reception he met with from its inhabitants. "The outpouring of kindness, at Boston," he tells us, "exceeding all with which he had ever met." This, so justly admired capital was naturally a source of honorable pride to him. With the utmost enthusiasm he speaks of the laudable characteristics of this people, the fitting citizens of a free land; of its churches, its universities, its harbours, the beauty of the adjacent country, brightened by glimpses of neat and elegant habitations-and dwells with loving complacency on the numerous