OLD BILL SMITH, THE SILENT HUNTER. 225 
(his brother came in for their wives and families. The news of 
his wonderful discoveries had flown like wildfire throughout 
Virginia and North Carolina, i in both of which States he was 
well known. It had caused a great and general ferment 
among all bold and reckless spirits in the old States, as well 
those of the border, as those whom a long war had unfitted 
for any other than a life of adventure.. Various companies 
had been fitted out in different directions who had followed 
the return of the Boones. Settlements had been formed— 
forts built—and even municipal regulations commenced. 
The place of. general rendezvous was across the mountains, 
in what was called Powell’s Valley, and the settlement on 
Clinch river was the Frontier fort. The emigrants assembled 
in Powell’s Valley in the Spring of 1784, and when all col- 
lected, started on their long journey. Among them was the 
family of William Smith. He had converted all that was left 
him into live stock, implements, &c. Himself and his whole 
family—Mattie and the girls included—were in the highest 
spirits in view of the novelty and wild loveliness of the scene 
they were to traverse. 
The emigrants numbered fifty souls, the great majority of 
them women and children. The journey, as they were pre- 
pared to expect, proved a rough and tedious one, but they 
saw nothing of Indians, as yet. They arrived on the banks 
of the Licking river in the ordinary time. Harrod, who had 
several years since built the fort where Harrodsburg stands, 
was now returning from a visit to Virginia; and he, with 
several other of the principal men, Smith among them, left 
their families, as they supposed, with a sufficient guard in 
camp, and pushed forward to find Boone, at either Harrods- 
burg or Boonesborough, and bring back some supplies. 
Alas, for that parting! when they returned six days after- 
wards, as the day was breaking, having accomplished the 
object of their mission, they found the camp just broken up, and 
following on the scattered trail, caught up with the frightened 
15. 
