consumers disproportioned to the supply of grain? The
facility of raising the Indian corn, and its early maturity, gave
promise and guaranty that the scarcity would be temporary and tolerable.
Did the safety of the frontier demand the services of every adult
militiaman? The boys and women could, themselves, raise corn and furnish
ample supplies of bread. The crop could be gathered next year. Did an
autumnal intermittent confine the whole family or the entire population
to the sick bed? This certain concomitant of the clearing, and
cultivating the new soil, mercifully withholds its paroxysms till the
crop of corn is made. It requires no further labor or care afterward.
Paeans, say we, and a temple and worshipers, to the Creator of Indian
corn. The frontier man could gratefully say: 'He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. Thou
_preparest a table before me in presence of mine enemies_.'

"The sports of the frontier men were manly, athletic, or warlike--the
chase, the bear hunt, the deer drive, shooting at the target, throwing
the tomahawk, jumping, boxing and wrestling, foot and horse-racing.
Playing marbles and pitching dollars, cards and backgammon, were little
known, and were considered base or effeminate. The bugle, the violin,
the fife and drum, furnished all the musical entertainments. These were
much used and passionately admired. Weddings, military trainings,
house-raisings, chopping frolics, were often followed with the fiddle,
and dancing, and rural sports."

[Footnote 51: Kendall.]

[Footnote 52: Butler.]

CHAPTER XX.

Indian hostilities resumed--Expedition of Davis, Caffre and
McClure--Murder of Elliot--Marshall's river adventure--Attack
on Captain Ward's boat--Affair near Scaggs' Creek--Growth of
Kentucky--Population--Trade--General Logan calls a meeting at
Danville--Danger of the country from Indian hostilities, and
necessity of defense considered--Convention called--Separation from
Virginia proposed--Other conventions-Virginia consents--Kentucky
admitted as an independent State of the Union--Indian
hostilities--Expedition and death of Colonel Christian--Attack
on Higgins' Fort--Expedition of General Clark--Its utter
failure--Expedition of General Logan--Surprises and destroys
a Shawanese town--Success of Captain Hardin--Defeat of
Hargrove--Affairs in Bourbon County--Exploits of Simon