168 \riLD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



of odorous summer. It was a vision more rare than day 

 dreams reveal to wild Utopian. The young hunter was over- 

 whelmed. Here the mother that he worshiped had put on 

 her beautiful garments at last, and revealed herself to him as 

 God had caused her to be ! Here he could realize the joy 

 of worship, the soft terror of an overcoming awe, and trans- 

 ported, cry aloud in wonder ! 



The Father of Empire stood above his realm, and knew 

 not, as his heart swelled and trembled while the majesty of 

 this new land passed into and possessed his soul, what a heri- 

 tage of renown it was to prove to him. 



He lingered in rapturous musings until the night gathered, 

 and then returned with a proud elastic step to the camp. He 

 felt now, for the first time, a fullness of content. Here was 

 a space before him apparently illimitable, and all nature, 

 nothing but nature ! For the dangers he cared nothing, he 

 was already familiar with, and fully prepared for them; and in 

 the fullness of his joy, only looked forward to that vast un- 

 broken quiet of the ancient wilds, and that had so absorbed 

 his life in its own stillness. He was no longer a youth now, 

 but had become suddenly a man in this fruition, his life dream ! 



The camp was broken up next morning, and young Boone 

 with his companions pushed on with great alertness to pene- 

 trate the new Eden, and explore its treasures. But poor 

 Boone, who, in the eagerness of his new enthusiasm, urged on 

 ahead of the rest of the party, in company with his favorite 

 friend and companion, Stewart, was suddenly brought to a 

 stand ; for, surrounded by a large party of Indians, they were 

 made prisoners as they carelessly ascended a steep hill. They 

 were plundered, stripped and bound of course, for the Shawa- 

 nees who held that portion of Kentucky then, were not a 

 little remarkable for their want of ceremony in such cases. 



The tact of the consummate borderers now showed itself, 

 and Boone with his companion feigned content, with such 

 a quiet resignation, that the savages were entirely deceived, 



