244 



AUDUBON 



■ill 



chips, and ran ofif. I soon reached the river, soon crossed 

 it, and threw myself deep into the cane-brakes, imitating 

 the tracks of an Indian with my feet, so that no chance might 

 be left for those from whom I had escaped to overtake me. 



" It is now nearly twenty years since this happened, and 

 more than five since I left the Whites' settlements, which 

 I might probably never have visited again had I not been 

 called on as a witness in a law-suit that was pending in 

 Kentucky, and which I really believe would never have 

 been settled had I not come forward and established the 

 beginning of a certain boundary line. This is the story, sir. 



" Mr. moved from Old Virginia into Kentucky, 



and having a large tract granted to him in the new State, 

 laid claim to a certain parcel of land adjoining Green 

 River, and, as chance would have it, took for one of his 

 corners the very ash-tree on which I had made my mark, 

 and finished his survey of some thousands of acres, begin- 

 ning, as it is expressed in the deed, * at an Ash marked by 

 three distinct notches of the tomahawk of a white man.' 



" The tree had grown much, and the bark had covered 



the marks; but, somehow or other, Mr. heard from 



some one all that I have already said to you, and thinking 

 that I might remember the spot alluded to in the deed, 

 but which was no longer discoverable, wrote for me to 

 come and try at least to find the place or the tree. His 

 letter mentioned that all my expenses should be paid, and 

 not caring much about once more going back to Ken- 

 tucky, I started and met Mr. . After some conver- 

 sation, the affair with the Indians came to my recollection. 

 I considered for a while, and began to think that after 

 all I could find the very spot, as well as the tree, if it was 

 yet standing. 



" Mr. and I mounted our horses, and ofif we went 



to the Green River Bottoms. After some difhculties, Ir 

 you must be aware, sir, that great changes have taken 

 place in those woods, I found at last the spot where I 



