re raised without a draft, who marched upon the
enemy in their own country, destroyed their villages, provisions, and
cornfields, took several prisoners, and carried with them so much terror
and desolation, that the Indians never sufficiently recovered from the
shock to renew hostilities in a formidable body; and the Kentuckians
henceforth, save in individual cases, were left unmolested.

On their march they came upon the rear of Girty's party, returning from
their successful battle; but an Indian scout gave the renegade and his
companions warning in time for them to escape the whites by flight. In
this expedition, Colonel Boone volunteered and served as a private;
being the last in which the noble old hunter was ever engaged in defence
of the settlements of Kentucky. Algernon Reynolds and Isaac Younker were
his companions in arms; who, on the dismissal of the troops, returned
again to Bryan's Station.

[Footnote 24: It may perhaps add interest to the story, for the reader
to know that the foregoing account concerning Reynolds and Captain
Patterson, is historically true; as is also the one which follows with
regard to Boone and his son.]

CHAPTER XX.

THE FINALE.

Month upon month rolled away, quiet succeeded to the alarm and commotion
of war, hostilities between Great Britain and America ceased, and the
country both east and west now began to look up from the depression and
gloom which had pervaded it during its long and sanguinary struggle for
independence. In Kentucky the effect was really invigorating; and the
settlers, who for a year past had been driven from their homes in terror
and dismay--who had quitted their peaceable farming implements for the
destructive weapons of strife and bloodshed--now ventured to return to
their desolate firesides, and renew their honest occupations of tilling
the soil. Some, however, more predisposed to financiering than their
neighbors, sought only speculation; in consequence whereof the Land
Offices of the Virginia Commissioners--which opened in November,
after the return of the troops under Clark--were daily thronged with
applicants for the best locations; whereby was laid the first grand
corner-stone of subsequent litigation, disaffection, and civil discord
among the pioneers. But with these, further than to mention the facts as
connected with the history of the time, we have nothing to do; and shall
now forthwith pass on to the finale of our story.

Month upon m