OLD BILL SMITH, THE SILENT HUNTER. 225 



his brother came in for their wives and families. The news of 

 his wonderful discoveries had flown like wildfire throughout 

 Virginia and North Carolina, in both of which States he was 

 well known. It had caused a great and general ferment 

 among all bold and reckless spirits in the old States, as well 

 those of the border, as those whom a long war had unfitted 

 for anj other than a life of adventure. Various companies 

 had been fitted out in diff'erent directions who had followed 

 the return of the Boones. Settlements had been formed — 

 forts built — and even municipal regulations commenced. 



The place of general rendezvous was across the mountains, 

 in what was called Powell's Valley, and the settlement on 

 Clinch river was the Frontier fort. The emigrants assembled 

 in Powell's Valley in the Spring of 1784, and when all col- 

 lected, started on their long journey. Among them was the 

 family of William Smith. He had converted all that was left 

 him into live stock, implements, &c. Himself and his whole 

 family — Mattie and the girls included — were in the highest 

 spirits in view of the novelty and wild loveliness of the scene 

 they were to traverse. 



The emigrants numbered fifty souls, the great majority of 

 them women and children. The journey, as they were pre- 

 pared to expect, proved a rough and tedious one, but they 

 saw nothing of Indians, as yet. They arrived on the banks 

 of the Licking river in the ordinary time. Harrod, who had 

 several years since built the fort where Harrodsburg stands, 

 was now returning from a visit to Virginia; and he, with 

 several other of the principal men, Smith among them, left 

 their families, as they supposed, with a sufficient guard in 

 camp, and pushed forward to find Boone, at either Harrods- 

 burg or Boonesborough, and bring back some supplies. 



Alas, for that parting ! when they returned six days after- 

 wards, as the day was breaking, having accomplished the 

 object of their mission, they found the camp just broken up, and 

 following on the scattered trail, caught up with the frightened 



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