“’Mr. ——­ moved from Old Virginia into Kentucky, and having a large tract granted to him in the new State, laid claim to a certain parcel of land adjoining Green River, and, as chance would have it, took for one of his corners the very ash tree on which I had made my mark, and finished his survey of some thousands of acres, beginning, as it is expressed in the deed, at an ash marked by three distinct notches of the tomahawk of a white man.”

“’The tree had grown much, and the bark had covered the marks; but, somehow or other, Mr. ——­ heard from some one all that I have already said to you, and thinking that I might remember the spot alluded to in the deed, but which was no longer discoverable, wrote for me to come and try at least to find the place or the tree.  His letter mentioned that all my expenses should be paid, and not caring much about once more going back to Kentucky I started and met Mr. ——.  After some conversation, the affair with the Indians came to my recollection.  I considered for a while, and began to think that after all I could find the very spot, as well as the tree, if it was yet standing.

“’Mr. ——­ and I mounted our horses, and off we went to the Green River Bottoms.  After some difficulties—­for you must be aware, sir, that great changes have taken place in those woods—­I found at last the spot where I had crossed the river, and, waiting for the moon to rise, made for the course in which I thought the ash tree grew.  On approaching the place, I felt as if the Indians were there still, and as if I was still a prisoner among them.  Mr. ——­ and I camped near what I conceived the spot, and waited until the return of day.

“’At the rising of the sun I was on foot, and, after a good deal of musing, thought that an ash tree then in sight must be the very one on which I had made my mark, I felt as if there could be no doubt of it, and mentioned my thought to Mr. ——.  ‘Well, Colonel Boone,’ said he, ’if you think so, I hope it may prove true, but we must have some witnesses; do you stay here about, and I will go and bring some of the settlers whom I know.’  I agreed.  Mr. ——­ trotted off, and I, to pass the time, rambled about to see if a deer was still living in the land.  But ah! sir, what a wonderful difference thirty years make in the country!  Why, at the time when I was caught by the Indians, you would not have walked out in any direction for more than a mile without shooting a buck or a bear.  There were then thousands of buffaloes on the hills in Kentucky; the land looked as if it never would become poor:  and to hunt in those days was a pleasure indeed.  But when I was left to myself on the banks of Green River, I dare say for the last time in my life, a few signs only of deer were to be seen, and, as to a deer itself, I saw none.