Colonel Boone, notwithstanding the heavy loss of money (which has been already mentioned) as he was on his journey to North Carolina, was now able to purchase several locations of land.  He had been compensated for his military services by the Commonwealth of Virginia, to which Kentucky still belonged.  On one of his locations he built a comfortable log-house and recommenced farming, with his usual industry and perseverance, varying the pursuits of agriculture with occasional indulgence in his favorite sport of hunting.

In 1783 Kentucky organized herself on a new basis, Virginia having united the three counties into one district, having a court of common law and chancery for the whole territory which now forms the State of Kentucky.  The seat of justice at first was at Harrodsburg; but for want of convenient accommodations for the sessions of the courts, they were subsequently removed to Danville, which, in consequence, became for a season the centre and capital of the State.[50]

A singular and highly characteristic adventure, in which Boone was engaged about this time, is thus narrated by Mr. Peck: 

“Though no hostile attacks from Indians disturbed the settlements, still there were small parties discovered, or signs seen on the frontier settlements.  On one occasion, about this period, four Indians came to the farm of Colonel Boone, and nearly succeeded in taking him prisoner.  The particulars are given as they were narrated by Boone himself, at the wedding of a granddaughter, a few months before his decease, and they furnish an illustration of his habitual self-possession and tact with Indians.  At a short distance from his cabin he had raised a small patch of tobacco to supply his neighbors, (for Boone never used the ’filthy weed’ himself,) the amount, perhaps, of one hundred and fifty hills.

“As a shelter for curing it, he had built an enclosure of rails, a dozen feet in height, and covered it with cane and grass.  Stalks of tobacco are usually split and strung on sticks about four feet in length.  The ends of these are laid on poles, placed across the tobacco house, and in tiers, one above the other to the roof.  Boone had fixed his temporary shelter in such a manner as to have three tiers.  He had covered the lower tier, and the tobacco had become dry, when he entered the shelter for the purpose of removing the sticks to the upper tier, preparatory to gathering the remainder of the crop.  He had hoisted up the sticks from the lower to the second tier, and was standing on the poles that supported it while raising the sticks to the upper tier, when four stout Indians, with guns, entered the low door and called him by name.  ’Now, Boone, we got you.  You no get away more.  We carry you off to Chillicothe this time.  You no cheat us any more.’  Boone looked down upon their up-turned faces, saw their loaded guns pointed at his breast, and recognizing some of his old friends, the Shawanees, who had made him prisoner near the Blue Licks in 1778, coolly and pleasantly responded, ‘Ah! old friends, glad to see you.’  Perceiving that they manifested impatience to have him come down, he told them he was quite willing to go with them, and only begged they would wait where they were, and watch him closely, until he could finish removing his tobacco.”