EPISODES 



245 



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 witnesses ; 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 him- 

 self, 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 butcher knife until I did come to where 

 my tomahawk had left an impression in the wood. We 



