AUDUBON AND BOONE. 183 
must be aware, sir, that great changes have taken place in 
those woods, I found at last the spot where I 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 wit- 
nesses ; do you stay here about, and I will go and bring some 
of the settlers whom I know.’ ITagreed. 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 himself, 
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 
