8 PREFACE. 



by a quiet fireside, than as one who goes through them 

 in the forest or field. Tastes, however, differ on this 

 point. 



Books of this class are peculiarly fascinating to a large 

 class of readers, especially young persons, who are al- 

 ways delighted with the narratives which abound in wild 

 adventures, thrilling incidents, and hairbreadth escapes. 

 Such narratives, besides being very entertaining, are 

 not without a certain share of positive utility. They 

 display to advantage certain characteristics which are 

 not unworthy of study and imitation, such as patience 

 and perseverance under great difficulties ; coolness, and 

 presence of mind in the midst of threatening dangers, 

 endurance of fatigue, hunger, thirst, and cold, with- 

 out murmuring; and that hardy spirit of enterprise, 

 which has led to some of the noblest undertakings re- 

 corded in the history of our country. 



The early pioneers of the West were all hunters. They 

 acquired in the pursuit of the bear, the panther, and the bi- 

 eon, those habits of courage, coolness, presence of mind, and 

 indifference to danger, which made them such formidable 

 enemies to the Indians, and such efficient defenders of the 

 infant settlements, which are now large towns and cities. 



Boone, the Wetzels, Kenton, Hughs, Clarke, and a 

 thousand other heroes of the West, all commenced their 

 career of victory and glory in the character of hunters ; 



