AUDUBON AND BOOKE. 183 



must be aware, sir, that great changes have taken place in 

 those woods, I found at last the spot where I had crossed the 

 river, and waiting for the moon to rise, made for the course 

 in which I thought the ash tree grew. On approaching the 

 place, I felt as if the Indians were there still, and as if I 



was still a prisoner among them. Mr. and I camped 



near what I conceived the spot, and waited until the return 

 of day. 



" At the rising of the sun I was on foot, and after a good 

 deal of musing, thought that an ash tree then in sight must 

 be the very one on which I had made my mark. I felt as if 

 there could be no doubt of it, and mentioned my thought to 



Mr. . 'Well, Colonel Boone,' said he, 'if you think 



so, I hope it may prove true, but we must have some wit- 

 nesses ; do you stay here about, and I will go and bring some 



of the settlers whom I know.' I agreed. Mr. trotted 



off, and I, to pass the time, rambled about to see if a deer 

 was still living in the land. But ah ! sir, what a wonderful 

 difference thirty years makes in the country ! Why, at the 

 time when I was caught by the Indians, you would not have 

 walked out in any direction for more than a mile without 

 shooting a buck or a bear. There were then thousands of 

 buffaloes on the hills in Kentucky ; the land looked as if it 

 never would become poor ; and to hunt in those days was a 

 pleasure indeed. But when I was left to myself on the banks 

 of Green River, I dare say for the last time in my life, a few 

 signs only of deer were to be seen, and as to a deer itself, I 

 saw none. 



" Mr. returned, accompanied by three gentlemen. 



They looked upon me as if I had been Washington himself, 

 and walked to the ash tree, which I now called my own, as 

 if in quest of a long lost treasure. I took an axe from one 

 of them, and cut a few chips off the bark. Still no signs 

 were to be seen. So I cut again until I thought it was time 

 to be cautious, and I scraped and worked away with my 



