236 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



successfully upon himself. He was on -a great buffalo trail, 

 leading to the Blue Licks. He had been hunting for several 

 days with great success, and this time had seen no Indian 

 sign, and was not aware that any had come down. He had 

 wounded a large bull that had left the herd, and stood at bay 

 several miles distant, in a thick wood ; Harrod was obliged 

 to approach it with great precaution, for the animal was 

 now very dangerous, as is always the case when it is badly 

 wounded. 



He had gained his position, and when in the very act of 

 firing, caught glimpse of a warrior taking aim at him from 

 behind a tree. He fired, for it was too late to help that, but 

 in the same instant dropped as if killed. The warrior fired, 

 of course, and his ball made a hole through the wolf-skin cap 

 of Harrod as he fell. He laid perfectly still, while the Indian, 

 after stopping to load his rifle, as they always do before, leaving 

 cover, now approached him to get his scalp, but did so with 

 characteristic wariness, leaping from tree to tree ; he came 

 near, and seeing that the body lay perfectly still, sprang for- 

 ward, scalping-knife in hand, but as he stooped to grasp the 

 scalp-lock, quick as lightning the long and powerful arms of 

 Harrod were clasped about his neck, and with the sudden 

 throe of a \\aking panther, the warrior was crushed in hig 

 herculean hug, and writhed helpless on the ground beneath 

 him. 



There is yet another anecdote of his individual prowess, 

 with something of the same character as those given above, 

 which, although a household story in Kentucky, is not so 

 well known elsewhere. 



The Shawances had made several attacks upon Boone's 

 station, against which settlement they had always expressed 

 the bitterest animosity, on account, no doubt, of its having 

 been the first white settlement held in the country. Boone 

 was absent at the Licks, with a great part of the men of the 

 station, making salt ; the prowling parties of Indians had 



