wn of which we have before spoken, not a single
Indian was to be seen. Their fires were still burning, which showed the
precipitancy with which they had taken flight. This rather alarmed the
party of the whites. They feared that the Indian warriors were
assembling from all quarters, at some secret rendezvous, and would soon
fall upon them in overwhelming numbers. They therefore did not venture
to replenish the Indian fires and lie down by the warmth of them, but
pushed rapidly on their way.

It chanced to be a serene, moonlight night. The trail through the
forest, which the Indian's foot for countless generations had trodden
smooth, illumined by the soft rays of the moon, was exceedingly
beautiful. They travelled in single file, every nerve at its extreme
tension in anticipation of falling into some ambush. Before morning
they had accomplished about thirty miles. In the grey dawn they again
reached Mr. Brown's. Here they found grazing for their horses, and corn
and game for them selves.

Horses and riders were equally fatigued. The weary adventurers were in
no mood for talking. After dozing for an hour or two, they again set
out, and about noon reached the general rendezvous, from which they had
departed but a few days before. Here Crockett was not a little
disappointed in the reception he encountered. He was a young, raw
backwoodsman, nearly on a level with the ordinary savage. He was
exceedingly illiterate, and ignorant. And yet he had the most amazing
self-confidence, with not a particle of reverence for any man, whatever
his rank or culture. He thought no one his superior. Colonel Coffee
paid very little respect to his vainglorious report. In the following
characteristic strain Crockett comments on the event:

"He didn't seem to mind my report a bit. This raised my dander higher
than ever. But I know'd that I had to be on my best behavior, and so I
kept it all to myself; though I was so mad that I was burning inside
like a tar-kiln, and I wonder that the smoke had not been pouring out
of me at all points. The next day, Major Gibson got in. He brought a
worse tale than I had, though he stated the same facts as far as I
went. This seemed to put our Colonel all in a fidget; and it convinced
me clearly of one of the hateful ways of the world. When I made my
report I was not believed, because I was no officer. I was no great
man, but just a poor soldier. But when the same thing was reported by
Major Gibson, why then i