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Daniel BooneA Reading A–Z Level P Leveled Reader
Word Count: 1,278
LLEEVVEELLEEDD RREEAADDEERR •• PP
DanielBoone
Adapted by Katherine FollettIllustrated by John Kastner
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Daniel BooneLevel P Leveled Reader© 2003 Learning Page, Inc.Adapted by Katherine FollettOriginal story by Harriet G. ReiterIllustrated by John Kastner
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Adapted by Katherine FollettIllustrated by John Kastner
DanielBoone
This book was adapted for Reading A–Z byKatherine Follett from an original story written by Harriet G. Reiter in 1906.
CorrelationLEVEL P
Fountas & Pinnell NReading Recovery 21
DRA 30
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Table of Contents
Introduction.............................................. 4
The Adventurous Boy............................. 5
The Quiet Life .......................................... 7
The Troubled Settlement ........................ 9
The Capture ............................................ 11
Escape...................................................... 16
Saving the Fort....................................... 19
Glossary .................................................. 22
Introduction
When Daniel Boone was born in1734, parts of what is now the UnitedStates still belonged to the British. He was born in Pennsylvania. At thattime, Pennsylvania was as far west asmost Europeans had ever been. TheAmericans and the British still foughtover the wild land between theAllegheny Mountains in Pennsylvaniaand the Mississippi River. Daniel Boonebrought American settlers into thoselands for the first time.
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His parents were not worried at first.Daniel often camped overnight. But bythe third night, they decided to gather a search party. The forest rang with theirshouts, but nobody had any luck. Danielhadn’t left a trace.
Finally, someone spotted a tiny streamof smoke. The party found a simple cabinmade of sticks, bark, and moss. Sitting by the fire was Daniel himself.
He was surprised that so many peoplewere worried about him. He apologized,picked up his things, and followed theparty home. This was the first of manytimes Daniel Boone disappeared into theforest, leaving his family to worry.
The Adventurous Boy
As a boy, Daniel Boone rarely went to school. He loved the trees and wildanimals of the forest. He spent all hisdays in the woods, listening for the callsof birds and the footsteps of animals.He became an extremely skilled hunter.Though he was tall and sturdy, helearned to walk silently. One day hedecided he would live in the woods he loved. He got his rifle, whistled tohis faithful dog, and disappeared intothe gloomy forest.
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Daniel went camping in Kentuckywith his brother. He had never seensuch a beautiful land in his life. Thebrothers returned to North Carolina, but only long enough to gather theirfamilies and friends. They set out forKentucky with nearly eighty people.The trip took almost two months, and it was dangerous. Daniel Booneand his party were not the only peoplewho wanted to live in Kentucky.
The Quiet Life
Daniel’s family moved to NorthCarolina when he was a young man.There he met and married his wife.Soon they had children. He had to workon his farm to support his family. Hehad to live near town so they could buygoods. He didn’t have many chances to go hunting in the woods he loved.
But one day, a friend of Daniel’sreturned from a hunting trip. He hadbeen to Kentucky, which was part of the wild land being fought over. Daniellistened longingly to stories of forestsstretching to the horizon and teemingwith wildlife. From that day, Danielvowed he would live in Kentucky.
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The party finally arrived near theKentucky River, where they built a fort.They built tough log houses in a tightsquare, all facing inward. They extendedthe back walls of the houses into highlog fences. The fences formed a solidwall around the settlement. But still theNative Americans fought for their land.This was not the pleasant outdoor lifeDaniel Boone had imagined.
The Troubled Settlement
Native Americans had lived inKentucky for thousands of years.Wherever pioneers settled, they tookland away from the Native Americans.There was constant war. Daniel Boone’strip was no different. When the NativeAmericans saw Daniel’s party with theirwagons, cows, and horses, they attacked.After the battle, Daniel mourned to findthat his oldest son had been killed.
Daniel took several men and set outtoward the spring. Once there, theywere suddenly surrounded by a largegroup of Native American warriors.Daniel Boone had become famous fordefending his fort. The warriors werethrilled to capture him.
The warriors took Boone and hiscompanions all the way to Chillicothe,Ohio. The trip on foot was long anddifficult. Along the way, the NativeAmericans became impressed withDaniel’s skill in the forest. This skill was rare in a European. Such a manwas very valuable.
The Capture
Eventually, the fort ran out of salt.Salt was essential in those days. Beforerefrigerators, the only way to preservefood was to cure it with salt, the way we do with jerky. There was a salt-waterspring a few days’ journey from the fort.Boiling its water made salt.
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The leader of the British wasoutraged. He had heard of DanielBoone’s bravery and skill. He wanted to take Daniel prisoner very badly. Butthe Native Americans refused to handhim over. The rest of the men stayedwith the British. Daniel Boone wastaken back to Ohio.
Eventually they took Boone and his men to Detroit. The city was then a small outpost owned by the British.Both the British and the NativeAmericans were fighting the Americansettlers. The two groups had becomeuneasy friends. The Native Americansthought they would get quite a rewardif they turned the Americans over to theBritish. But when the warriors arrivedin Detroit, they realized that they didnot want to give up Daniel Boone.
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Escape
Even if Daniel Boone appreciated theNative Americans’ welcome, he missedhis family and wanted to go home. TheNative Americans respected Daniel, butthey did not fully trust him. They didn’twant him leaving and becoming theirenemy again. They watched himcarefully all the time. They let him gohunting, since they were very far fromDaniel’s home, but they only gave hima few bullets. For every bullet missing,Daniel had to bring back an animal toprove he wasn’t keeping ammunition.
The Native Americans held a ceremonyto adopt Daniel Boone into their tribe.They shaved his hair very short. Theydressed him in feathers and ribbons.They took him to the river and purifiedhim with water. The chief gave him thehonor of joining the tribe. The ceremonyfinished with a wonderful feast.
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Daniel managed to slip away. Assoon as he was out of sight of the camp,he began to run. Daniel ran all the wayback to the fort. He only stopped forone meal. The trip took five days. Whenhe returned, his friends welcomed himas though he had returned from thedead. But sadly, Daniel’s family hadgiven him up for dead and moved backto North Carolina.
One day, Daniel went with a groupback to the salt springs where he hadbeen captured. He knew this was hisbest chance to get away. But the NativeAmericans watched him closely as theyboiled the salt water. Unfortunately, itwas not just salt they were after. Nowthat Daniel Boone was theirs, they werescouting to make an attack on his fort.
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Daniel wanted to see his family more than anything. He returned toNorth Carolina, and they had a joyousreunion. After his long ordeal, Danielstayed home with his family. He farmedquietly for several years.
Saving the Fort
Even though he missed his family,Daniel knew he had to help defend thefort. He immediately made plans toprepare against the attack. When thebattle began, the fort was fully stockedwith ammunition and supplies. TheNative Americans were defeated after eight days. The fort, namedBoonesborough after Daniel himself,was never attacked again.
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Glossary
ammunition anything fired from a gun;bullets, missiles, cannonballs,etc. (p. 16)
cure to prepare food by drying,salting, or pickling it so that it will not spoil (p. 11)
goods things that are manufacturedand bought (p. 7)
mourned to grieve or feel sad, especiallyfor someone who has died (p. 9)
outpost a small settlement far awayfrom any other settlements;usually a military settlement or fort used to defend afrontier (p. 13)
purified cleansed; all dirt and badthings removed (p. 15)
scouting exploring and planning anattack before the main group of soldiers arrives (p. 17)
teeming filled with; swarming (p. 7)
But nothing could keep Daniel Booneaway from the forest, not even old age.He heard rumors of land even fartherwest that had not been touched byEuropean settlement. His eyes lit upwhen he thought of the wilderness of Missouri. Again, he convinced hisfamily to move. They settled about fiftymiles west of what is now St. Louis. Helived there for the rest of his days, oftengoing into the woods simply to breathethe pure air.
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