AUDUBON AND BOONE. 175 
ruthless Indians; while they had before them a distance of 
hundreds of miles to be traversed, before they could reach 
certain places of rendezvous called Stations. To encounter 
difficulties like these must have required energies of no ordi- 
nary kind; and the reward which these veteran settlers enjoy 
was doubtless well merited. 
Some removed from the Atlantic shores to those of the 
Ohio, in more comfort and security. They had their wagons, 
their negroes and their families. Their way was cut through 
the woods by their own axemen, the day before their advance, 
and when night overtook them, the hunters attached to the 
party came to the place pitched upon for encamping, loaded 
with the dainties of which the forest yielded an abundant 
supply, the blazing light of a huge fire guiding their steps as 
they approached, and the sounds of merriment that saluted 
their ears assuring them that all was well. The flesh of the 
buffalo, the bear and the deer, soon hung in large and delicious 
steaks, in front of the embers; the cakes already prepared 
were deposited in their proper places, and under the rich 
drippings of the juicy roasts, were quickly baked. The 
wagons contained the bedding, and whilst the horses which 
had drawn them were turned loose to feed dn the luxuriant 
undergrowth of the woods, some perhaps hoppled, but the 
greater number, merely with a light bell hung to their neck, 
to guide their owners in the morning to the spot where they 
might have rambled, the party were enjoying themselves after 
the fatigues of the day. 
In anticipation all is pleasure; and these migrating bands 
feasted in joyous sociality, unapprehensive of any greater 
difficulties than those to be encountered in forcing their way 
through the pathless woods to the land of abundance; and 
although it took months to accomplish the journey, and a 
skirmish now and then took place between them and the In. 
dians, who sometimes crept unperceived into their very camp, 
atill did the Virginians cheerfully proceed towards the western 
