Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/191

 warrior. To have fled from a pursuing enemy, like him, would have been certain death, so swift {187} and sure-scented are they to track and find a white man.

Three months since, a duel was agreed on in Lexington city, K. Y. The party challenged begged and obtained three months' time, for "settling his worldly affairs, and making his peace with God." But as the party so challenged has the liberty of choosing weapons, and mode of fighting, he fixed on muskets charged with grape-shot and two balls; the distance to be five paces. The pert braggadocio, who had sent the challenge, and whom the neighbourhood wished to see killed, refused the mode and terms thus offered, and so this affair of honour ended. The barbarous baseness and cruelty of public opinion, dooms young men, when challenged, to fight. They must fight, kill or be killed, and that for some petty offence beneath the notice of the law. Established names only (says Mr. Cowen) may refuse to fight, but that is rarely done; to refuse is a stain and high dishonour.

I now pass many farm log-houses along the road; miserable holes, having one room only, and in that one miserable room, all cook, eat, sleep, breed, and die, males and females, all together. When I see and know more, I will describe a log-house minutely.

We passed through pleasant Maisville,[54] in Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio, which we had first to cross on a large team-boat, worked by {188} eight horses, on to which we drove, stage and all, without quitting the stage. We have now travelled 220 miles from the last crossing of this noble river, which here runs through and waters a valley of fine orchards and plantations of unequalled fer-*