240 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



received as such with open arms, they were watched over, 

 guarded and guided, until they learned to stand alone and 

 take care of themselves, and, what was still more remai-kable, 

 were allowed, without a murmur or a thought, to avail them- 

 selves of nearly all of the extraordinary labors and sufferings 

 of their noble and unselfish guardians. 



For example, Boone, who might, as I mentioned before, 

 have been the richest man in the whole West, had he been as 

 grasping as he was good and wise, entered no land, and died 

 in wandering poverty, with no claim to one spot in that para- 

 dise into which he had led his countrymen. Harrod exhibited 

 the same unselfish traits, as we shall see. 



When a new settler came, he inquired for a locality ; Har- 

 rod's knowledge of the surrounding country was at his ser- 

 vice ; he shouldered his axe, and helped the new comer run 

 up a hut — the family out of meat, Harrod, by some necro- 

 mancy peculiar to himself, had found it out. He was off to the 

 woods, and soon a fine deer, or fat bear, or quarters of a 

 buffalo, was placed at their disposal. Their horses had 

 strayed in the range, with which the husband was not yet 

 familiar, and no ploughing could be done — Harrod's incessant 

 activity has made the discovery in passing, that something 

 was wrong in the new clearing — his frank and manly voice is 

 ' heard shouting from the fence, " Hilloa, Jones ! What's the 

 matter ? No ploughing done yet, I see ! Nothin' wrong, I 

 hope ?" 



" Well, yes ! — the old horse been gone these five days — 

 can't find him down thar in that cane-brake range — been lost 

 myself already two whole days in looking for him, and I've 

 jest about gin it up." 



" Never mind, Jones, you'll get used to that range some- 

 time before long — that horse of your'n is a blood-bay, aint 

 he?" 



" Yes — snip down the nose, and left hind foot white — collar 

 marked bad on the shoulders." 



