CHAPTER VII. 



THE HUNTERS OF KENTUCKY. 

 THE GRAVE OF THE SILENT HUNTER. 



MY native town, Hopkinsville, is in one of the southern 

 counties of Kentucky, called Christian, which was for a long 

 time one of the largest, if not the largest county in the State. 

 This was no special matter of boast by the way ; for although 

 the southern portion, comprising about half the county which 

 bordered upon the Tennessee line, was as rich, level and 

 lovely a stretch of " barrens" as ever swayed its myriad wild 

 flowers of countless hues beneath the labored beat of the 

 south wind's odor-burdened wings, yet, immediately to the 



