and as if I was still a prisoner
among them. Mr. ---- and I camped near what I conceived the spot, and
waited till 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 witnesses; do
you stay hereabout, and I will go and bring some of the settlers whom I
know.' I agreed. 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 make 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 ten thousands of buffaloes on the hills in Kentucky; the land
looked as if it would never become poor; and to hunt in those days was a
pleasure indeed. But when I was left to myself on the banks of the 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 time to be cautious, and I
scraped and worked away with my butcher knife, until I _did_ come to
where my tomahawk had left an impression in the wood. We now went
regularly to work, and scraped at the tree with care, until three hacks,
as plain as any three notches ever were, could be seen. Mr. ---- and the
other gentlemen were astonished, and, I must allow, I was as much
surprised as pleased, myself. I made affidavit of this remarkable
occurrence in the presence of these gentlemen. Mr. ---- gained his cause.
I left Green river, for ever, and came to where we now are; and, sir, I
wish you a good night."

Here, too, it was that he resided, when Mr. Astor attempted to carry out
his magnificent design, of settling Astoria on the western coast of our
continent, and belting the earth with his commerce. When you are older,
you can read the beautiful his