“Here they lived for ten years; and it was during this time that their son Daniel began to show his passion for hunting.  He was scarcely able to carry a gun when he was shooting all the squirrels, raccoons, and even wild-cats (it is said), that he could find in that region.  As he grew older, his courage increased, and then we find him amusing himself with higher game.  Other lads in the neighborhood were soon taught by him the use of the rifle, and were then able to join him in his adventures.  On one occasion, they all started out for a hunt, and, after amusing themselves till it was almost dark, were returning homeward, when suddenly a wild cry was heard in the woods.  The boys screamed out, ‘A panther!  A panther!’ and ran off as fast as they could.  Boone stood firmly, looking around for the animal.  It was a panther indeed.  His eye lighted upon him just in the act of springing toward him:  in an instant he leveled his rifle, and shot him through the heart.”

“But this sort of sport was not enough for him.  He seemed resolved to go away from men, and live in the forests with these animals.  One morning he started off as usual, with his rifle and dog.  Night came on, but Daniel did not return to his home.  Another day and night passed away, and still the boy did not make his appearance.  His parents were now greatly alarmed.  The neighbors joined them in making search for the lad.  After wandering about a great while, they at length saw smoke rising from a cabin in the distance.  Upon reaching it, they found the boy.  The floor of the cabin was covered with the skins of such animals as he had slain, and pieces of meat were roasting before the fire for his supper.  Here, at a distance of three miles from any settlement, he had built his cabin of sods and branches, and sheltered himself in the wilderness.”

“It was while his father was living on the head-waters of the Schuylkill that young Boone received so far as we know, all his education.  Short indeed were his schoolboy days.  It happened that an Irish schoolmaster strolled into the settlement, and, by the advice of Mr. Boone and other parents, opened a school in the neighborhood.  It was not then as it is now.  Good school-houses were not scattered over the land; nor were schoolmasters always able to teach their pupils.  The school-house where the boys of this settlement went was a log-cabin, built in the midst of the woods.  The schoolmaster was a strange man; sometimes good-humored, and then indulging the lads; sometimes surly and ill-natured, and then beating them severely.  It was his usual custom, after hearing the first lessons of the morning, to allow the children to be out for a half hour at play, during which time he strolled off to refresh himself from his labors.  He always walked in the same direction, and the boys thought that after his return, when they were called in, he was generally more cruel than ever.  They were whipped more severely, and oftentimes without any cause.  They observed