JAMES HARROD, OF HARRODSBURG. 235 
would be his sudden appearance, to put the settlements on 
their guard against the approach of some Indian war-party. 
During these long absences his industry was untiring; all the 
game that he could kill was cured and stored, after the man- 
ner of the Indians, beyond the reach of wild beasts, or even 
of the sagacity of his teachers. To these stores he couil 
resort at any time of scarcity, for supplies for the block- 
houses. 
His knowledge of Indian life, and confidence, was such that 
he frequently continued to hunt alone, when he knew well, 
by the signs around him, that Indians were hunting on the 
same ground. The proud hunter would not give way, but 
took the chances with his red foe. 
On one such occasion he had perceived several fine deer, 
grouped, feeding, in a small open glade. in the forest, near 
the Kentucky river. He had approached them with much 
precaution, for a shot, and having gained the desired point, 
was kneeling behind a tree, and in the act of raising his rifle 
to take aim, when the buck of the herd lifted its head sud- 
denly, and uttered the peculiar shrill whistle which indicates 
that they have either seen or smelt danger. 
Harrod was too prompt a woodsman not to perceive in- 
stantly, from the direction in which the deer turned its 
head, that there was another foe present than himself. He 
remained motionless, holding his breath, when, at the sharp 
crack of a rifle from the opposite side of the glade, the startled 
buck sprang into the air and fell dead. 
The report of Harrod’s rifle followed sc instantly that it 
seemed a mere prolongation of the first sound; a nobler 
quarry bit the dust, the ball of the back-woodsman met the 
proud heart of a Shawanee chief, who had leaned forward 
from his covert to fire. Harrod had known for several days 
that there was a hunting-party of Shawanees in the neighbor- 
hood. ; 
At another time his own wary game was nearly played 
