gainst the
intrusion of other men, who, being swayed by a love of wealth, would
naturally seek their homes in the rich level prairies. It is true that
Boone loved to dwell in solitude. But he was no misanthrope. And now,
although questions were asked without number, he answered them with
cheerfulness; advised the families what would be necessary to be done
when their locations were selected, and even pressingly invited them
to remain in his settlement a few days to recover from the fatigue of
travel, and promised to accompany them afterward over the river into
the rich plains to which they were journeying.

During the brisk conversation that had been kept up for a great length
of time, Glenn, unlike the rest of the company, sat at a distance and
maintained a strict silence. Occasionally, as some of the
extraordinary feats related of the person before him occurred to his
memory, he turned his eyes in the direction of the great pioneer, and
at each time observed the gaze of the woodsman fixed upon him.
Nevertheless his habitual listlessness was not disturbed, and he
pursued his peculiar train of reflections. Joe likewise treated the
presence of the renowned Indian fighter with apparent unconcern, and
being alone in his glory, dived the deeper into the saucepan.

Boone at length advanced to where Glenn was sitting, and after
scanning his pale features, and his costly though not
exquisitely-fashioned habiliments, thus addressed him:--

"Young man, may I inquire what brings thee to these wilds?"

"I am a freeman," replied Glenn, somewhat haughtily, "and may be
influenced by that which brings other men hither."

"Nay, young man, excuse the freedom which all expect to exercise in
this comparative wilderness; but I am very sure there is not another
emigrant on this side of the Ohio who has been actuated by the same
motives that brought thee hither. Others come to fell the forest oak,
and till the soil of the prairie, that they may prepare a heritage for
their children; but thy soft hands and slender limbs are unequal to
the task; nor dost thou seem to have felt the want of this world's
goods; and thou bringest no family to provide for. Thou hast committed
that which banished thee from society, or found in society that which
disgusted thee--speak, which of these?" said Boone, in accents, though
not positively commanding, yet they produced a sense of reverence that
subdued the rising indignation of Glenn, and looking upon th