Daniel Boone, page 69 by John S.C. Abbott
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the utmost satisfaction. So much does friendship triumph over misfortune, that sorrows and sufferings vanish at the meeting, not only of real friends, but of the most distant acquaintances, and substitute happiness in their room."
Our hardy pioneer, far more familiar with his rifle than his pen, comments as follows on their condition:
"We were in a helpless, dangerous situation; exposed daily to perils and death, among savages and wild beasts. Not a white man in the country but ourselves. Thus situated, many hundred miles from our families, in the howling wilderness, I believe few would have equally enjoyed the happiness we experienced. I often observed to my brother, 'You see how little nature requires to be satisfied. Felicity, the companion of content, is rather found in our own breasts, than in the enjoyment of external things; and I firmly believe it requires but a little philosophy to make a man happy in whatsoever state he is. This consists in a full resignation to the will of Providence; and a resigned soul finds pleasure in a path strewed with briers and thorns.'"
CHAPTER V.
Indian Warfare.
Alleghany Ridges.--Voyage in a canoe.--Speech of Logan.--Battle at the Kanawha.--Narrative of Francis Marion.--Important commission of Boone.--Council at Circleville.--Treaty of Peace.--Imlay's description of Kentucky.--Settlement right.--Richard Henderson.--Boone's letter.--Fort at Boonesborough.
The valley of the Clinch river is but one of the many magnificent ravines amid the gigantic ranges of the Alleghany mountains. Boone, speaking of these ridges which he so often had occasion to cross, says:
"These mountains in the wilderness, as we pass from the old settlements in Virginia to Kentucky, are ranged in a south-west and north-east direction and are of great length and breadth and not far distant from each other. Over them nature hath formed passes that are less difficult than might be expected fr