of them whining with the hurts received from the strangers they
encountered so roughly; and presently they were followed by several
enormous hounds, and soon after an athletic woodsman was seen
approaching. This personage was a tall muscular man, past the middle
age, but agile and vigorous in all his motions. He was habited in a
buck-skin hunting-shirt, and wore leggins of the same material.
Although he was armed with a long knife and heavy rifle, and the
expression of his brow and chin indicated an unusual degree of
firmness and determination, yet there was an openness and blandness in
the expression of his features which won the confidence of the
beholder, and instantly dispelled every apprehension of violence. All
of the emigrants had either seen or heard of him before, for his name
was not only repeated by every tongue in the territory, but was
familiar in every State in the Union, and not unknown in many parts of
Europe. He was instantly recognised by the emigrants, and crowding
round, they gave him a hearty welcome. They led him to a conspicuous
seat, and forming a circle about him, were eager to catch every word
that might escape his lips, and relied with implicit confidence on
every species of information he imparted respecting the dangers and
advantages of the locations they were about to visit. Boone had
settled some three miles distant from the ferry, among the hills,
where his people were engaged in the manufacture of salt. He had
selected this place of abode long before the general tide of
emigration had reached so far up the Missouri. It was said that he
pitched his tent among the barren hills as a security against 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