Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-05
THE SHINING EYES.

The first meeting of Daniel Boone, the
" hunter of Kentucky" with the maiden
who afterwards became his wife, is thus
narrated by his biographer
Young Boone was, one night engaged
in fire hunt with young friend. Their
course led them to the deeply timbered
bottom which skirted the stream that
wound round Byran's pleasant plantation
That the reader may have an idea what
sort of pursuit it was that young Boone
was engaged in, during an event so deci-
siye of his future fortunes, we present
brief sketch of night fire hunt
"Two persons are indispensable to it.
The horseman that precedes, bears on his
shoulder what is called fire pan, full of
blazing pine knots, which casts bright
and Pickering glare through the forest
The second follows, at some distance.
with his rifle prepared for action. No
spectacle is more impressive than this, of
pairs of hunters thus kindling the forest
into glare. The deer, reposing quietly
in his thcket,is awakened by theapproach-
ing cavalcade, and, instead of flying from
the portentous brilliance, remains stupidity
gazing upon it, as if charmed to the spot
The animal is betrayed to its doom by
the cleaning of its fixed and innocent
eyes. This cruel mode of securing fatal
shot is called in hunters phrase-shin-
ing the eyes.
"The two young men reached the cor
ner of the farmers field at an early hour
in the evening. Young Boone gave the
customary signal to his mounted COM
panion that preceded him to the spot
an indication that he had shined the eyes
Of deer. Boone dismounted and fas-
tened his horse to tree. Ascertaining
that his rifle was in order, he advanced
cautiously behind covert bushes, to rest
the right distance for shot.
1.-The deer is remarkab BILE for the beauty
of its eyes when thus shined. The mild
brilliancy of the two orbs was distinctly
visible. Whether warned by PRESENT.
ment, or arrested by 6 palpitation of
strange feeling within, at nothing, new
expression in the blue and dewy light
that cleaned in his heart, we say not.
And the unerring rifle fell, and rus
tling told him that the game had fed.
Something whispered him it was not
deer; and vet the fleet step, as the
game bounded away, might easily be
mistaken for that of the ight-footet ami
NAL. a second thought impelled him to
pursue the rapidly retreating game, and
he sprang away in the direction of the
sound, leaving his companion to occupy
himself as he might. The fugitive had
the advantage of a considerable advance
of him, and apparently better know
ledge Of the localities of the place. But
| the hunter was perfect in all his field ex-
ercises, and scarcely less feet footed than
the deer, and he gained rapidly on the
object of his pursuit, which advanced a
little distance paralleled with the utmost
accomplishment of gymnastics, cleared
the fence at leap.
The hunter, embarrassed with his rifle
and accoutrements, was driven to the
slow and humiliating expedient of climb
ing it. But an outline of the form of the
fugitive, tieeting through in the direction
of the house assured him that he had
mistaken the species of the game. His
heart throbbed from an hundred sensa.
tions, among them an apprehension OF
the consequences of what would have re-
suited from discharging his rifle, when
he had first shined those liquid blue eyes.
The dogs opened on him as he approach
ed the house, and advertised the master OF
the house that a stranger was approach.
| ing. Having hushed the dogs, and learn