AUDUBON AND BOONE. 175 



ruthless Indians ; while they had before them a distance of 

 hundreds of miles to be traversed, before they could reach 

 certain places of rendezvous called Stations. To encounter 

 difficulties like these must have required energies of no ordi- 

 nary kind ; and the reward which these veteran settlers enjoy 

 was doubtless well merited. 



Some removed from the Atlantic shores to those of the 

 Ohio, in more comfort and security. They had their wagons, 

 their negroes and their families. Their way was cut through 

 the woods by their own axemen, the day before their advance, 

 and when night overtook them, the hunters attached to the 

 party came to the place pitched upon for encamping, loaded 

 with the dainties of which the forest yielded an abundant 

 ^"PP^Jj tlie blazing light of a huge fire guiding their steps as 

 they approached, and the sounds of merriment that saluted 

 their ears assuring them that all was well. The flesh of the 

 buffalo, the bear and the deer, soon hung in large and delicious 

 steaks, in front of the embers ; the cakes already prepared 

 were deposited in their proper places, and under the rich 

 drippings of the juicy roasts, were quickly baked. The 

 wagons contained the bedding, and whilst the horses which 

 had drawn them were turned loose to feed on the luxuriant 

 undergrowth of the woods, some perhaps hoppled, but the 

 greater number, merely with a light bell hung to their neck, 

 to guide their owners in the morning to the spot where they 

 might have rambled, the party were enjoying themselves after 

 the fatigues of the day. 



In anticipation all is pleasure ; and these migrating bands 

 feasted in joyous sociality, unapprehensive of any greater 

 difficulties than those to be encountered in forcing their way 

 through the pathless woods to the land of abundance ; and 

 although it took months to accomplish the journey, and a 

 skirmish now and then took place between them and the In- 

 dians, who sometimes crept unperceived into their very camp, 

 still did the Virginians cheerfully proceed towards the western 



