he could not
reach his home, where the smoke of his cottage fire curled in blue
wreaths over the forest trees, whilst its walls furnished a safe abode
for his wife and children from the wild beasts of the forest. His cabin
was strongly built of logs, with small windows, which looked more like
port-holes to a fort than windows. A deep hole was dug beneath his
cottage floor, from which there was a secret passage leading under the
foundation outside, that one might make his escape, if necessary. A bed
of straw was thrown down into this hole, and here his children slept,
descending by means of a trap-door, which was closed in time of danger,
and made a safe retreat against the wild beasts of the forest in his
absence. There was abundance of game scattered over the forest, and the
multitude of furred animals that inhabited the valleys and congregated
along the streams, living on the swarms of fish that then abounded in
every mountain rill, made it an easy matter to support his table with
fresh and dried venison, choice fowls and speckled trout, whilst the
furred animals, that were abundant, would furnish him with clothing to
protect him from the frosts of winter.

About the year 1774 this wild forester was found cultivating a small
spot of ground near a little crystal rill that flowed from a deep gorge
in the hill. Eastward of his cabin was a high bluff of rocks, crowned
with lofty pines, that overlooked the valley, which stretched away
towards the Susquehanna. From this rocky promontory the forest appeared
unbroken, excepting the small spot cleared by his own hands, and seemed
to lie beneath this rocky throne in tranquil loveliness. Here at his
cottage, when at home, his wife cooked his frugal but delicious repast.
The Oneida tribe of Indians made their main path to the Susquehanna
Valley through the Valley of the Otego Creek, for the purpose of
procuring their yearly supply of lead, which they used to carry away in
abundance. The first settlers of this valley used to say that they would
leave Laurens Village, and, after an absence of two or three hours,
return loaded with their yearly supply; yet, with all the search that
has been made by the white race, this mine remains a secret, known only
to the red man to this day, and probably will remain so until the end of
time, unless found by accident. This state of affairs moved on quietly
until the breaking out of the Revolution. Great Britain, with her
warlike bands, invaded