Demoine courier., 1854-11-23
From the Columbian and Great West.
Ell u Il a H d ID e.
LEGEND OF KENTUCKY.
By WIN. r. CoGGEsHALL.

In 1878 Kentucky was the home OF
remarkable men. they were men who
exceeded tho Indian in cunning--who
had more enduring powers OF resistance
10 fatigue, and who were as relentless IN
pursuit of their red foes as were ever the
savage red men in pursuit OF white in
lruders upon the ancient hunting grounds
Of their tribes.
There are Indian wigwams now 10
ward The Rocky Mountains, and on the
plains sloping from the Sierra Nevada,
aad lhcra are white men who dare wrap
themselves in their blankets and go TO
res, alone in the loresi-who are brave
and hardy, and who know from severe
experience Ihe trials and ialgues Of a
hunters tIie, bot there are none who
may be selected as fair representatives
OF The hunters OF kentucky. The ia
tlgues, the dangers and perils of Rocky
mountain life, now. a DAYS, do not equal
those which surrounded the pioneer from
Virginia, in 1878.
Among the most exciting traditions OF
the times Of trials to the pioneers in the
great valley of the West, those belong
ing to Kentucky have pre- eminen, inter
est. Her pioneers had to teach horde
Of desperate Indians, not before disturb
cd, that they mus, relrea, from the valley
or the bill side 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
ieIled in l77S, for The cabin and she corn
ield.
Our legend is about such men. Two
Of them were in the depths of the for
est on certain morning, when, though
the early harbiDgers of dawn had given
place 10 roseate lints. which glowed upon
hill TOPS touching the eastern horizon, i.
was SO dark in The wooded valleys that
the hunters with difficulty groped their
way. They had net travelled all night,
but they had gathered up their blankets
when it was yet an hour before day break
and were picking their way along very
slowly--knowlng lha, soon the morning
light would break through the thick TO-
llage over Them. They had been absent
from the fort, at Harrotsburgh, several
days; they nnew that there was anxiety
about their fate and they were impatient
10 relieve il.
|, was no. light enough for them to see
distinctly, wheR their quick ears detected
foo,slep s'eal.hily approaching. In an
instant each had chosen his ambush and
was keenly watchful.
BY power, it's old Martin cred one
Of the hunters. and springing from his
ambush he drew his rifle to his shoulder
aud leveled it him, who gave sudden
yell, and then, in a rough tone said:
'Pu, down yer shoo,in' iron. ain.
fond of such notions, eff they are in fun.
Whar's Moc!'
Ready to pop you ef you had been a
red skim answered The individual called
for, showing himself.
We'll I've got leetle news for you
in pariic'lar bu, may be Flee, Foot II
take sor. o notion 10 il too. Sit down
on lhis ere log ill tell you, for lis a
lecle serious aud I'm kinder worked up
abou, IT,
The three hunters sat together in ear,
nest conversation until the sun shone
broadly on the tree tops. and checkered
shadows lay all around them ON the fall.
en- leaves.
Old Marlin. after reminding the others
that he had gone away from the fort al
Harrodsburg the day before they left
informed them that he had been working
about ten miles distant. where some
friends were making settlement -
Macs sister had goHe with him as CON
pany for his wife. Four men were a.
work in the woods, when they heard
screams at the cabin. They rushed to,
wards il. Marlha's con, one of the four
was sho, by an Indian. whom old Mar
Tin saw and attacked, while the other,
continued toward The cabin.
i put ball in tha, red skin who sho
Bob,' said old Martin. talking to Mac ant
Fleet Foot. 'and then run for The cabr
too. did'n. hear or see any sign of any
more lngins, and when | got 10 the cablr
found The women were gone. swort
! . Ioo,io ool ..,coaI N a lnr,rs .;cht