everywhere abundance of wild beasts of
all sorts, through this vast forest. The buffalo were more frequent than
I have seen cattle in the settlements, browsing on the leaves of the
cane, or cropping the herbage on those extensive plains, fearless,
because ignorant, of the violence of man. Sometimes we saw hundreds in a
drove, and the numbers about the salt springs were amazing. In this
forest, the habitation of beasts of every kind natural to America, we
practised hunting with great success until the 22d day of December
following.

This day John Stewart and I had a pleasing ramble, but fortune changed
the scene in the close of it. We had passed through a great forest, on
which stood myriads of trees, some gay with blossoms, and others rich
with fruits. Nature was here a series of wonders, and a fund of delight.
Here she displayed her ingenuity and industry in a variety of flowers and
fruits, beautifully colored, elegantly shaped, and charmingly flavored;
and we were diverted with innumerable animals presenting themselves
perpetually to our view. In the decline of the day, near Kentucky river,
as we ascended the brow of a small hill, a number of Indians rushed out
of a thick canebrake upon us, and made us prisoners. The time of our
sorrow was now arrived, and the scene fully opened. The Indians plundered
us of what we had, and kept us in confinement seven days, treating us
with common savage usage. During this time we discovered no uneasiness or
desire to escape, which made them less suspicious of us; but in the dead
of night, as we lay in a thick canebrake by a large fire, when sleep had
locked up their senses, my situation not disposing me for rest, I touched
my companion, and gently awoke him. We improved this favorable
opportunity, and departed, leaving them to take their rest, and speedily
directed our course toward our old camp, but found it plundered, and the
company dispersed and gone home. About this time my brother, Squire
Boone, with another adventurer, who came to explore the country shortly
after us, was wandering through the forest, determined to find me if
possible, and accidentally found our camp. Notwithstanding the
unfortunate circumstances of our company, and our dangerous situation, as
surrounded with hostile savages, our meeting so fortunately in the
wilderness made us reciprocally sensible of the utmost satisfaction. So
much does friendship triumph over misfortune, that sorrows and sufferings
vanish