hiskey, having tartar emetic in it, was
placed in the bower, and the other bottle thrown away. At the usual
hour, the lads were sent out to play, and the master started on his
walk. But their play was to come afterward: they longed for the master
to return. At length they were called in, and in a little time saw the
success of their experiment. The master began to look pale and sick, yet
still went on with his work. Several boys were called up, one after the
other, to recite lessons, and all whipped soundly, whether right or
wrong. At last young Boone was called out to answer questions in
arithmetic. He came forward with his slate and pencil, and the master
began: "If you subtract six from nine, what remains?" said he. "Three,
sir," said Boone. "Very good," said the master; "now let us come to
fractions. If you take three quarters from a whole number, what
remains?"--"The whole, sir," answered Boone. "You blockhead!" cried the
master, beating him, "you stupid little fool, how can you show
that?"--"If I take one bottle of whiskey," said Boone, "and put in its
place another in which I have mixed an emetic, the whole will remain, if
nobody drinks it!" The Irishman, dreadfully sick, was now doubly
enraged. He seized Boone, and commenced beating him: the children
shouted and roared; the scuffle continued, until Boone knocked the
master down upon the floor, and rushed out of the room. It was a day of
freedom now for the lads. The story soon ran through the neighborhood;
Boone was rebuked by his parents, but the schoolmaster was dismissed,
and thus ended the boy's education.

Thus freed from school, he now returned more ardently than ever to his
favorite pursuit. His dog and rifle were his constant companions, and
day after day he started from home, only to roam through the forests.
Hunting seemed to be the only business of his life; and he was never so
happy as when at night he came home laden with game. He was an untiring
wanderer.

I do not know but that this passion for roaming was in some degree
inherited by Daniel Boone. His father had already had three homes: one
in England, one in Bucks county, and another on the Schuylkill; and he
now thought of removing further. It is said that the passion of Daniel
for hunting was one cause which prompted his father to think of this.
Land was becoming scarce, the neighborhood a little crowded, and game
less abundant; and, to mend matters, he began to cast his eyes around
for a new