with an intense brightness, like that of living coals of fire.  Boone, taking deliberate aim, in the best manner that the darkness would permit, discharged his rifle.  The yell of pain from the animal, as it was heard leaping among the undergrowth in an opposite direction, satisfied Boone that his shot had taken sufficient effect to prevent a second disturbance from it, at least for that night, and he returned to the camp with his companion.  The sleepers, aroused by the report of the gun, were awaiting him.  The account of the adventure afforded speculation, touching the point, whether the animal had been killed or would return again.  Early the next morning, some were dispatched to bring in more game, while others prepared and dried what had already been obtained.  The whole day was spent in this way and the night following passed without any disturbance.

With the first light of the sun on the succeeding morning, they threw their knapsacks over their shoulders, and leaving their temporary shelter to benefit any who might come after them, resumed their route.  They had not proceeded far before an animal stretched on the ground attracted attention.  It was a dead panther.  By comparing the size of the ball, which had killed it, with those used by Boone, the party were satisfied that this was the same animal he had shot the night after the storm.

During the day they began the ascent of the ridge of the Alleghany, that had for some days bounded their view.  The mountainous character of the country, for some miles, before the highest elevations rose to sight, rendered the travelling laborious and slow.  Several days were spent in this toilsome progress.  Steep summits, impossible to ascend, impeded their advance, compelling them to turn aside, and attain the point above by a circuitous route.  Again they were obliged to delay their journey for a day, in order to obtain a fresh supply of provisions.  This was readily procured, as all the varieties of game abounded on every side.

The last crags and cliffs of the middle ridges having been scrambled over, on the following morning they stood on the summit of Cumberland mountain, the farthest western spur of this line of heights.  From this point the descent into the great western valley began.  What a scene opened before them!  A feeling of the sublime is inspired in every bosom susceptible of it, by a view from any point of these vast ranges, of the boundless forest valleys of the Ohio.  It is a view more grand, more heart-stirring than that of the ocean.  Illimitable extents of wood, and winding river courses spread before them like a large map.  “Glorious country!” they exclaimed.  Little did Boone dream that in fifty years, immense portions of it would pass from the domain of the hunter—­that it would contain four millions of freemen, and its waters be navigated by nearly two hundred steam boats, sweeping down these streams that now rolled through the unbroken forests before them.  To them it stood forth an unexplored paradise of the hunter’s imagination.