“’Mr. ——­ returned, accompanied by three gentlemen.  They looked upon me as if I had been Washington himself, and walked to the ash tree which I now called my own, as if in quest of a long-lost treasure.  I took an axe from one of them, and cut a few chips off the bark.  Still no signs were to be seen.  So I cut again until I thought it was time to be cautious, and I scraped and worked away with my butcher-knife until I did come to where my tomahawk had left an impression in the wood.  We now went regularly to work, and scraped at the tree with care until three hacks, as plain as any three notches ever were, could be seen.  Mr. ——­ and the other gentlemen were astonished, and I must allow I was as much surprised as pleased myself.  I made affidavit of this remarkable occurrence in presence of these gentlemen.  Mr. ——­ gained his cause.  I left Green River forever, and came to where we now are; and sir I wish you a good-night.’”

[Footnote 55:  Peck.]

[Footnote 56:  Life of Boone.]

[Footnote 57:  This would be about the year 1810.]

CHAPTER XXII.

Colonel Boone receives a large grant of land from the Spanish Government of Upper Louisiana—­He subsequently loses it by neglecting to secure the formal title—­His law suits in his new home—­Character of the people—­Sketch of the history of Missouri—­Colonel Boone’s hunting—­He pays his debts by the sale of furs—­Hunting excursions continued—­In danger from the Indians—­Taken sick in his hunting camp—­His relatives settled in his neighborhood—­Colonel Boone applies to Congress to recover his land—­The Legislature of Kentucky supports his claim—­Death of Mrs. Boone—­Results of the application to Congress—­He receives one-eleventh part of his just claim—­He ceases to hunt—­Occupations of his declining years—­Mr. Harding paints his portrait.

In consideration of his official services as Syndic, ten thousand arpents[58] of excellent land were given to Colonel Boone by the Government.  Under the special law, in order to make his title good, he should have obtained a confirmation of his grant from the immediate representative of the Crown, then residing in New Orleans.  But his friend, the Commandant at St. Louis, undertook to dispense with his residence on the land which was another condition to a sound title, and Boone probably supposed that “all would be right” without attending to any of the formalities, and neglected to take the necessary steps for holding his land securely.

It is probable that he foresaw that Missouri would soon become a part of the United States, and expected justice from that quarter.  But in this he was disappointed, for when that event took place, the commissioners of the United States appointed to decide on confirmed claims felt constrained by their instructions and rejected Colonel Boone’s claims for want of legal formalities.

Thus was the noble pioneer a second time deprived of the recompense of his inestimable services by his inattention to the precautions necessary for securing his rights.  This second misfortune came upon him some time after the period of which we are now writing.