16 AUDTTBON THE NATUEALIST, 



This luxuriance contrasts picturesquely with 

 the northern portions of the country. These, 

 dreary and Avild, present only hills of sand, or 

 lines of rugged cliff, amidst which here and there 

 a torrent dashes with menacing roar, and far 

 winding gorges, dark and deep, are suddenly 

 disclosed by the juttings of the crag, to the dis- 

 may of the travellers. Savage wildernesses, 

 too, terrible as Dante^s solitude, are there, which, 

 abounding in legendary interest, are renowned 

 in Kentuckian story, and form not the least attri- 

 bute of these strange romantic regions. There 

 it was that the Indians, driven from their origi- 

 nal territories, or hunting grounds, took up a 

 position to wage a relentless war with their ag- 

 gressors, whose strength was tested in many a 

 fierce encounter with the swarthy Shawnees. 

 Still to these memorable tracts does many a 

 "sporting party" resort, where the remains of 

 rough built tents tell of the invincible hunter- 

 warriors, who once held them as their own. 

 Dauntless heroes of a different race existed, how- 

 ever, ready to dispute the possession of every 

 inch of Kentucky land with the tawny settlers. 

 Harrod and Boone were distinguished among 

 them, but even they were surpassed in bravery, 

 by one whose matchless skill in contest, whose 

 ruthless ferocity and indomitable daring were 

 so remarkable, as to be regarded by the savages 



