The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-12-12
A LEAP FOR LIFE.

o.
e soe A LEAP FOR LIFE. 1sl
Kentucky ranks first among her sis.
ter States for the daring courage and
high-toned honor other chivalrous sons;
swift to take offence and as quickly to
forgive, they avenge upon the spot,but
malice never harbors in their hearts.
Nature has given beftting home to
her favorite sons. The scenery of Ken
lucky abounds in the wild and sublime.
soft and beautiful. We see Knobs
bristllng with tall trees, rear their heads
till they are lost amid the clouds, and
then sink gently into lovely and teem-
ing valleys. Her rivers rush leaping,
dashing, foaming, like mad demons,
down the rugged heights, then gently
flow along through smiling meadows,
with bosom as unrufled as the face
of a sleeping babe.
The scene of this sketch is on the
banks Of the g Rolling Fork" On the
right from the waters edge rises, per-
pendlcularfy, 4 "knob" to the height of
Il hundred feet, and then slopes gradu-
ally to the summit. This s'knob,n to
distinguish it from others was known
as the ''Cedar Lick" from its being en-
tirely covered by tall cedars, and the
salt taste of the earth, which the deer
come in droves to lick.
30 Among those who were the first to
settle Kentucky, was the hero of our
tale, Daniel Banks, better known as
hardy Dan. Having been crossed in
love, and naturally Of restless and dam
ger-loving disposition, he eagerly en-
braced the first opportunity offered to
emigrate TO the .dark and bloody
ground. - AT the time the following in
cident happened, he had been three
years in Kentucky, and together with
six Of his companions, had settled near
the "Cedar Lick"
y In height, Dan was over six feet
large limbed, of great strength, and the
best shot in the eclearing." Being bold
and fearless, he assumed the charge of
providing his companions with game.
Many was his hair-breadth escapes
from the savages while hunting. Gun
ming as were the "Red-skins," yet Dan,
by his wonderful skill in wood-craft,
always cohtrNed to elude their snares
and generally left them to mourn one
or more of their braves.
Dams favorite place for hunting was
the .Gedar Lick" So hither he would
repair early in the morning, and con-
cealing himself watch for game. One
while thus occupied he sat
down upon fallen tree, and was soon
wrapped in deep thought. Suddenly
the cracking of u twig struck his ear.
Instantly he crouched behind a tree,
cooked his rifle, and glanced in the d.
rection from which came-the sound;
but instead of fine buck bounding
from 1he bushes, he perceived the dark
forn oi an Indian creeping through the
bushes about a hundred yards from
him. Quick as thought Dan raised his
rifle to his shoulder, glanced along the
barrel and fred. With an internal yell,
the tired skin" leaped to his feet, stag
yered few paces,and fell to the ground
4 quivering corpse. d
Before Dan had time TO reload, an
other savage, who had crept up unper-
ceived, sprang upon him and both fell
struggling to the ground, our hero un-
der. Escape seemed now impossible,
but making an effort for his life, he ex-
srted all his immense strength, and turn
ID his assailant, blu: could not use his
hands. for the Indian clasped him tight
" around the body. Having no other
weapon, he seized him by the throat
with his teeth and ground them till they
net. The relaxed hold and stifiening
limbs Of shls enemy soon told how
leadly was the bite of the Kentuckian.
Already the woods resounded with the
ye,ls of numerous sayages-to resist
was madness. In flight lay his only
:hance of escape, but where, on every
vide except towards the river were
enemies, the woods appeared alive with
hem But Dan was not man to sub
nil tamely. He knew well the horrid
leath he would suffer were he taken,
md he had often sworn TO kill himself
ather than be toasted alive for the
Of a pack of numbering red
kins. The Indians pressing close. drove
Inn TO the river bank. He could go |