AUDUBON AND BOONE. 171 



conquered, and uniting that witli those which had preceded, 

 and with the still more deadly and ferocious contest which, — 

 incipient with the appearance of De Soto on the banks of the 

 Mississippi, — was precipitated here by the death of Stewart ; 

 I think Kentucky may truly be said to be entitled to the 

 name. 



The Council ground — the hunting ground — the battle 

 ground of many nations — Kentucky may well feel that she 

 has been "tried in the furnace!" — that she has a right to 

 send forth some names of historic dignity — to have at least a 

 place among her sisters ! She does not boast of her heroes — 

 she only 'presents them ! 



The two Boones were the only white men now left in this 

 vast expanse of wilderness. They were cool and resolute per- 

 sons ; but it seemed a tremendous and almost infinite thing for 

 them to be alone here, with the momentary prospect of collision 

 with a foe who had just pronounced "war to the knife" — 

 in the slaughter of Stewart ; and, to make this more remark- 

 able still, the brother of Boone returned for supplies — and 

 with the purpose of bringing out all that was necessary, in 

 the way of implements, for opening a settlement. 



In the meantime, Daniel was left sole tenant of the wilder- 

 ness. Think of it ! — alone ! — this single young man, with 

 his rifle on shoulder, presuming to hold, " by right of posses- 

 sion," this great demesne against savage foes unnumbered. 

 This dark rich earth had been colored by the blood of many 

 nations poured upon it. Why should it not continue the 

 scene of desperate and memorable struggle ? 



Alone ! — in his own proper self he stood, the sole repre- 

 sentative of the great world he had left. The Romulus of 

 Saxon blood, he was founding a new empire, and, greater 

 than he — was fed, not upon the "wolf's milk" — but upon 

 the abundance of mild and serene nature — upon the delicious 

 esculence of her forest game, and fruits of her wild luxuriant 

 vines. 



