Fourty-Four Years, or, the Life of a Hunter. Meshach Browning

       INTRODUCTION.

      HAVING been in some degree instrumental in introducing the following pages to the public, it may not be improper to inform the reader of the circumstances which led to my connection with their publication.

       For several years past, I have been in the habit of visiting the mountainous regions of the States of Mary- land and Virginia, as well in search of the picturesque amid some of the wildest and grandest scenery in America, as with a view of recruiting my health, and enjoying a re- laxation from engrossing business cares. Some years since, during these visits, I became acquainted with the history of the Author, as an old and very successful hunter in the Alleganies; and many of the incidents here described —as well those connected with social life, as others peculiar to the chase—were listened to with much interest, because narrated by persons familiar with the details, and frequently participants in them.

      Supposing that others would enjoy these adventures with equal zest, several messages were sent to the Author, suggesting their compilation and publication; and offer-

       (iii)

      Iv INTRODUCTION

      ing, if necessary, to furnish any assistance required in furtherance of the measure.

      This led to a personal acquaintance with the Author, which has ripened into strong feelings of regard and attachment for himself, and for many of his numerous descendants, now numbering over one hundred and twenty. More recent visits have resulted in the publication of the narrative—the manuscript having been submitted to me for such emendations and alterations as were deemed necessary; I promising, at the same time, to write an In- troduction for the work.

      In fulfilling this promise, it may be remarked, that although many of the incidents here given may, to the minds of some, savor of romance, yet no doubt whatever is entertained of their entire truthfulness and reliability. The character of the Author has passed unscathed through a long life; and, though he is now verging on fourscore years, it stands as high, to say the least, as that of any other individual, for integrity, strong intellect, generous feelings, and heroic courage, whether in combatting with savage beasts of prey, or in struggling against the stream of poverty and adversity with which he had to contend, not only in early life, but also for a long series of years.

      He is not the man to indulge in fiction, in any manner, or on any occasion. Though uneducated—having had less than six months' tuition, and that when quite a boy— he has filled important and responsible positions in his own county, not only with credit to himself, but with advantage to the public.

      There are a few incidents narrated, and expressions

       INTRODUCTION v

      occasionally used, which I should omit if the work were intended exclusively for a particular class of readers; but as all classes will probably read it, and find portions suited to their tastes, the selection is left to the general reader, and these phrases and incidents are retained as furnished by the Author.

      Few persons, it is believed, can fail to find something in the volume to interest them; as there are occasional touches of genuine humor, details of affecting incidents, and evi- dences of enduring energy and perseverance, conjoined with the most undaunted firmness, that seemed to know no fear in a hand-to-hand conflict with savage beasts of prey—in fact, even bearding the bear in his den.

      Meshach Browning's life may be deemed an eventful one, considering the almost constant risks he ran of losing it in his many dangerous conflicts with bears, panthers, wolves, and wounded bucks; for the latter are scarcely less to be feared than the former, as their sharp horns, and keen, cut- ting hoofs, are wielded with as much strength and skill, both in attack and defence, as are the teeth and claws of the beasts of prey.

      It is impossible to state with accuracy how many of the denizens of the forest have fallen victims to his unerring rifle and deadly hunting-knife; for he hunted regularly during forty-four years, and thus the greater portion of that time supplied his family, besides occasionally selling large quantities of venison and bear-meat. Comparatively but few of his many hunting scenes are here referred to; but he stated to me that, from the best estimate he could make, and from data considered reliable, he had killed from

      vi INTRODUCTION.

      eighteen hundred to two thousand deer, from three to four hundred bears, about fifty panthers and catamounts (quite as ferocious, and not much less in size than the panther), with scores of wolves and wildcats. And although now incapable, owing to age and infirmities, of pursuing the game with his wonted vigor, the "ruling passion" is still strong; for within the past few weeks his skill and perse- verance have been rewarded by the capture, in his traps, of an otter and a catamount, of the few now surviving his former achievements.

      My task, though a "labor of love," is comparatively a very humble one, and has been mainly confined to the correction of grammatical errors; for I desired as much as possible to preserve the easy and rather peculiar style of the Author, as it came from his own sturdy and un- practised pen, because so plain and intelligible that he who runs may read: figuratively speaking, merely lopping out the weeds and bushes which tend to obstruct the view over a landscape, glowing and radiant with native beauties.

      The incidents of social and domestic life are drawn so true to nature, and brought out so vividly to view, that the reader, though even a child, can readily trace out the full picture by the mere outline. From this cause his stories are not only never without interest, but often touch the feelings and enlist our sympathies before we are fully aware of it; and thus it is that "truth is sometimes stranger than fiction."

      His is the best and most captivating narrative of hunting scenes that I ever read, because free from all attempts at

       INTRODUCTION. vii

      display, and devoid of egotism. The abrupt, nay even rude style, as it may appear to some, seems to be exactly suited to the subject—as "an abrupt and plain style some- times bears thoughts quickest to the seat of judgment"— and so readily comprehended by all, that the reader follows his game, feeling all the excitement of the chase and the energy of a Nimrod, without incurring either danger or fatigue.

      After the revision of the manuscript, I placed it for perusal in the hands of a friend (himself, in early life, a successful hunter in Kentucky, and also personally known to the author), on whose judgment, in matters of taste or opinion, I strongly rely, requesting him to review the work His opinion is appended:

      SILVER SPRINGS, March 2d, 1859.

      FRIEND STABLER

      The perusal of the