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Boonsborough men； the very name of whom was a terror； there was Trigg with men just as good from Harrodsburg； there was Todd； as good as either； with the men from Lexington。 More than a fourth of the whole were commissioned officers； and more fearless men never faced an enemy。 There was but one among them whose courage had ever been doubted； and do you know what that man did？ 〃After the Kentuckians had crossed the river to attack； been overpowered； forced back to the river again； and were being shot down or cut down in the water like helpless cattle； that manhis name was Benjamin Netherlanddid this： He was finely mounted。 He had quickly recrossed the river and had before him the open buffalo trace leading back home。 About twenty other men had crossed as quickly as he and were urging their horses toward this road。 But Netherland； having reached the opposite bank； wheeled his horse's head toward the front of the battle； shouted and rallied the others； and sitting there in full view and easy reach of the Indian army across the narrow river； poured his volley into the foremost of the pursuers； who were cutting down the Kentuckians in the river。 He covered their retreat。 He saved their lives。
〃There was another soldier among them named Aaron Reynolds。 He had had a quarrel some days before with Colonel Patterson and there was bad blood between them。 During the retreat； he was galloping toward the ford。 The Indians were close behind。 But as he ran； he came upon Colonel Patterson； who had been wounded and； now exhausted； had fallen behind his comrades。 Reynolds sprang from his horse； helped the officer to mount； saw him escape； and took his poor chance on foot。 For this he fell into the hands of the Indians。
〃That is the kind of men of whom that little army of a hundred and eighty…two was made upthe oak forest of Kentucky。 〃And yet； when they had reached the river in this pursuit and some twenty of the officers had come out before the ranks to hold a council of war and the wisest and the oldest were urging caution or delay； one of themMcGarysuddenly waved his hat in the air； spurred his horse into the river； and shouted：
〃'Let all who are not cowards follow me！'
〃They all followed； and then followed also the shame of defeat； the awful massacre； the sorrow that lasts among us still； and the loss to Kentucky of many a gallant young life that had helped to shape her destiny in the nation。
〃Some day perhaps some historian will write it down that the Kentuckians followed McGary because no man among them could endure such a taunt。 Do not believe him。 No man among them even thought of the taunt： it had no meaning。 They followed him because they were too loyal to desert him and those who went with him in his folly。 Your fathers always stood together and fought together as one man； or Kentucky would never have been conquered； and in no battle of all the many that they ever fought did they ever leave a comrade to perish because he had made a mistake or was in the wrong。
〃This； then； is your lesson from the battle of Blue Licks： Never go into a battle merely to show that you are not a coward： that of itself shows what a coward you are。
〃Do not misunderstand me！ whether you be men or women； you will never do anything in the world without courage。 It is the greatest quality of the mindnext to honor。 It is your king。 But the king must always have a good cause。 Many a good king has perished in a bad one； and this noblest virtue of courage has perhaps ruined more of us than any other that we possess。 You know what character the old kings used always to have at their courts。 I have told you a great deal about him。 It was the Fool。 Do you know what personage it is that Courage； the King； is so apt to have in the Court of the Mind？ It is the Fool also。 Lay these words away； you will understand them better when you are older and you will need to understand them very well。 Then also you will know what I mean when I say to you this morning that the battle of the Blue Licks was the work of the Fool； jesting with the King。〃
He had gone to the field himself one Saturday not long before； walking thoughtfully over it。 He had had with him two of the Lexington militia who； in the battle； had been near poor Todd； their colonel； while fighting like a lion to the last and bleeding from many wounds。 The recollection of it all was very clear now； very poignant： the bright winding river； there broadening at its ford； the wild and lonely aspect of the country round about。 On the farther bank the long lofty ridge of rock； trodden and licked bare of vegetation for ages by the countless passing buffalo； blackened by rain and sun； only the more desolate for a few dwarfish cedars and other timber scant and dreary to the eye。 Encircling this hill in somewhat the shape of a horseshoe； a deep ravine heavily wooded and rank with grass and underbrush。 The Kentuckians； disorderly foot and horse； rushing in foolhardiness to the top of this uncovered expanse of rock； the Indians； twice； thrice； their number； engirdling its base； ringing them round with hidden death。 The whole tragedy repossessed his imagination and his emotions。 His face had grown pale； his voice took the measure and cadence of an old…time minstrel's chant； his nervous fingers should have been able to reach out and strike the chords of a harp。With uplifted finger he was going on to impress them with another lesson： that in the battles which would be sure to await them； they must be warned by this error of their fathers never to be over…hasty or over…confident； never to go forward without knowing the nature of the ground they were to tread； or throw themselves into a struggle without measuring the force of the enemy。 He was doing this when a child came skipping joyously across the common； and pushing her way up to him through the circle of his listeners； handed him a note。 He read it； and in an instant the great battle； hills； river； horse； rider； shrieks； groans； all vanished from his mind as silently as a puff of white smoke from a distant cannon。
For a while he stood with his eyes fixed upon the paper； so absorbed as not to note the surprise that had fallen upon the children。 At length merely saying； 〃I shall have to tell you the rest some other day；〃 he walked rapidly across the common in the direction from which the little messenger had come。
A few minutes later he stood at the door of Father Poythress； the Methodist minister； asking for Amy。 But she and Kitty had ridden away and would not return till night。 Leaving word that he would come to see her in the evening； he turned away。
The children were scattered： there could be no more of the battle that day。 But it was half an hour yet before his duties would recommence at the school。 As he walked slowly along debating with himself how he should employ the time； a thought struck him； he hastened to the office of one of many agents for the locating and selling of Kentucky lands； and spent the interval in determining the titles to several tracts near townan intricate matter in those times。 But he found one farm； the part of an older military grant of the French and Indian wars； to which the title was unmistakably direct。
As soon as