ns and rugged regions. With a number of laborers, he
commenced the work. He met with two attacks from the Indians by the way,
in which four of his men were killed, and five wounded. Undaunted, he
pushed resolutely on, and, in the month of April, reached the Kentucky
river. To guard themselves from the savages, they immediately commenced
the building of a fort at a salt lick, about sixty yards from the south
bank of the stream. The Indians annoyed them from time to time, while
they were thus engaged, but fortunately killed but one man. On the 14th
day of June the fort was finished, and Boone started back for his family
on Clinch river. As an honor to him, the party gave to this first
settlement in the wilderness of Kentucky the name of Boonesborough.

[4] It is said that it was by Daniel Boone's advice that
they first thought of making this purchase.

He reached his family without accident, and, as rapidly as he could,
retraced his way with them through the forest. The fort consisted of
several cabins, surrounded by pickets ten feet high, planted firmly in
the ground. In one of these, Daniel Boone found a shelter for his
family. The long desire of his heart was at last gratified: he had a home
in Kentucky. He was the first settler of that region, and (as he proudly
said) his "wife and daughter the first white women that ever stood on the
banks of Kentucky river."

CHAPTER IV.

It was now the season of autumn; the trees had not yet shed their leaves,
and the forests were still beautiful. Mrs. Boone felt happy as she looked
upon her new home. Winter came, and glided rapidly and joyously away.
With their axes and rifles, the men in the settlement brought in constant
and ample supplies of fuel and game, and around the blazing hearth of
Daniel Boone there was not one in the family who sighed for the old home
on the Yadkin. Boone naturally supposed that a fear of the Indians would
be the principal trouble with his wife; and well she might dread them,
remembering the loss of her son formerly in the pass of the mountains.
Fortunately, however, she did not see an Indian through the season. But
one white man was killed by them during the winter, and he lost his life
by unfortunately wandering away from the fort unarmed. After this, the
other settlers were more prudent; they never went without the pickets for
fuel without taking their rifles.

When spring opened, they were soon very busy. A small clearing without