74 STORIES OF THE FAR WEST

and exposure, he could bear like an Indian. Strong
and active, but cautious and silent, he was the very
man to act the part of pioneer.

Having heard of a great land to the north-west,
where the “ buffaloes swarmed like flies in summer,”
he felt a strong desire to visit the region. For a
year he thought about it, and talked to his wife about
it, and then one morning he put a new edge on his
hunting-knife, shouldered his rifle, bade his little
family good-bye, and with five companions started off.
to explore the great lone land beyond the mountains.

For five weeks the little band toiled on over hill
and plain, till at length they came to the Red River,

a tributary of the Kentucky. Here they built a hut,
and for seven months they hunted and fished with
success. Then Boone and one of his companions
were captured by the Indians, and carried off to their
encampment. On the seventh night of their captivity,
the Indians made a great feast, during which the two
hunters managed to make their escape. When, after
a weary tramp, they reached the hut, they found it
deserted. Boone searched everywhere for traces of
his companions, but he was unable to find any clue;
nor did he ever learn what became of them.

Determined to persevere, the two men built another
hut, in a more secluded part of the forest. Here
they were shortly afterwards joined by two friends
from Carolina, who had come to share the perils of
this wild life. A few months later, their numbers