Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-06-15
.AfltsCelInNeolls.
FLEET-FOOT-AK KENTUCKY LEGEND.
BY W. II. CoGGESHALL. sa-1

FLEET-FOOT-A KENTUCKY LEGEND.
By W. T. coGGEsHALL. @sas-
In 1778 Kentucky was the homeof remarka-
bio men. They were men who exceeded the
Indian in cunning-whe had more enduring
powers of resistance to fatigue, and who were
as relentless in pursuit of their red foes were
ever the most savage red men in pursuit of the
white intruder upon the ancient hunting grounds
of their tribes.
There are Indian wigwams now toward the
Rocky Mountains, and on tie plains sloping
from the Sierra Nevada, and there are white
men, who dare wrap themselves in their blank
cts and 60 to rest alone in the forest-who are
brave and hardy, and who know from severe ex-
perence the trials and fatigues of hunter life,
but there ore none who may be selected as fair
representatives of the hunters of Kentucky. The
fatigues and perils of Rocky Mountain life,
nowadays, do not equal those which surround
ed the pioneer from Virginia, in l77778.
Among the most exciting traditions of the
times Of trials to the pioneer in the great Val
ley of the West, those belonging to Kentucky
have pre-eminent interest. Her pioneers had to
teach horde of desperate Indians, not before
disturbed, that they must retreat from the val
Icy or the hillside where the white man chose
to build his cabin.
Bold and brave, stout and determined men
alone, were fitted to carry the rifle and swing
the axe in the forests to be felled, in 1878, for
the cabin and the corn-feld.
Our legend is about such men. Two of them
were in the depths of dense forest on a certain
morning, when, though the early harbingcrs of
dawn had given place to roseate tints, which
glowed upon tho hill-tops touching the eastern
horizon it was so dark in the wooded valleys
that the hunters with difficulty gropcd their way.
They had not travelled all night but they had
gathered up their blankets, when it WAS yet an
hour before daybreak, and were picking their
way along slowly-knowing that soon the morn
ing light would break through the thick foliage
over them. They had been absent from the fort,
at Harrodsburg, several days they knew there
was anxiety about their fate, and they were i'm
patient to relieve it.
1t was not light enough for them to see dis
tinctly, when their quick ears detected foot
step stealthily approaching. In an instant each
had chosen his ambush and was keenly watch
I. ing
by powder, it 3 old Martin, cried one Of
the hunters, and springing from his ambush, he
drew his rifle to his shoulder and levelled it al
the person thus indicated, who gave sudden
yell, and then. in rough tone, said
, Put down your shootin' iron. l amt font
of sich motions, if they are in fun. Wharl
/ Mac!
Ready to pop you ef you'd been ared-skin,
t answered the individual inquired for, showing
t himself
We'll, I've got leetle news for you in par
Y c'lar, but may bc Fleet-Foot II take sort o
t notion to it, too Sit down on this ere log til
f tell you, for its eetle serious and I'm kinde
r worked up about it,
t The three hunters sat together in earnest con
versation until the sun shone broadly on tn
' tree tops, and checkcred shadows lay all aroun'
them on the fallen leaves.
Old Martin, after reminding the others tina
: he had gone away from the fort at Harrodsburi
the day before they left, informed them that h
: had been working about ten miles distant
, where some friends were making u settlement
! Macs sister had gone with him as company fo
r his wife Four men were ut work in the woods
8 when they heard screams at the cabin. The.
e rushed toward it. Martin son, one of the four
e WAS shot by an Indian, when old Martin say
g and attacked him, while the others continues
e towards the cabin.
= Il put ball in that redskin who shot Bob,
o said old Martin, talking to Mac and Fleet-Foot
u and then l rnn for the cabin too. did n
u hear or see any signs of any more Ingins, an
!. when | got to the cabin found the other boy
debatin' what was to be done. They had n
= seen u redskin, but both the women were gone
n | swore a leetle and cussed the Ingns righ
t. smart, but poor Bob was in the woods, and W
r had to look after him. So we went, sneakin
j. and found him dead enough and we carried hiI
4. to the cabin, and then held council. swor
I'd 60 to the fort and git party and foller theI
is redskins till we had our women and their scalpi
,e ef it took us till snow come. We discussed
l. while, and the other boys agreed to got on tn
I'd lngins' trail and make signs, and started ft
y, the fort. 1t was jist about sundown, and 500
)t it got dark, and was leetle excited and gt
rs u lectle wreng, and I've been wandsrin and WI
ID jist beginnin' to git the right bearin's when
H. saw Fleet-Feot drawin' sight ON me. II WI
" tarnal lucky
,rj Fleet-Foot and his companion had listened o
f. tentyely while Martin related the particular
ID of the attack, and when he had continued
ia Fleet-Foot said
m did you notice what sort Of varmint tn,
10 was you done the business for!
ofI 'Ioould MT jst exactly tell, cause had n
n time but b lieye he was Blackfsh, answer,
.. Martin.
m we can catch 'em then, said Fleet-Foot.
- know them varmints. You know what the O
NJ chief told Boone--that beat all his warrio
a on q fair race last summer, and he was the o