JAMES HARROD, OP HARRODSBURG. 235 



would be his sudden appearance, to put the settlements on 

 their guard against the approach of some Indian war-party. 

 During these long absences his industry was untiring ; all the 

 game that he could kill was cured and stored, after the man- 

 ner of the Indians, beyond the reach of wild beasts, or even 

 of the sagacity of his teachers. To these stores he could 

 resort at any time of scarcity, for supplies for the block- 

 houses. 



His knowledge of Indian life, and confidence, was such that 

 he frequently continued to hunt alone, when he knew well, 

 by the signs around him, that Indians were hunting on the 

 same ground. The proud hunter would not give way, but 

 took the chances with his red foe. 



On one such occasion he had perceived several fine deer, 

 grouped, feeding, in a small open glade in the forest, near 

 the Kentucky river. He had approached them with much 

 precaution, for a shot, and having gained the desired point, 

 was kneeling behind a tree, and in the act of raising his rifle 

 to take aim, when the buck of the herd lifted its head sud- 

 denly, and uttered the peculiar shrill whistle which indicates 

 that they have either seen or smelt danger. 



Harrod was too prompt a woodsman not to perceive in- 

 stantly, from the direction in which the deer turned its 

 head, that there was another foe present than himself. He 

 remained motionless, holding his breath, when, at the sharp 

 crack of a rifle from the opposite side of the glade, the startled 

 buck sprang into the air and fell dead. 



The report of Harrod's rifle followed so instantly that it 

 seemed a mere prolongation of the first sound; a nobler 

 quarry bit the dust, the ball of the back-woodsman met the 

 proud heart of a Shawanee chief, who had leaned forward 

 from his covert to fire. Harrod had known for several days 

 that there was a hunting-party of Shawanees in the neighbor- 

 hood. 



At another time his own wary game was nearly played 



