ourse,
they crossed the Tennessee River, and striking the upper waters of the
Black Warrior, followed down that stream a distance of about two
hundred miles from their starting-point, till they came near to the
place where Tuscaloosa, the capital of the State, now stands.

This region was then almost an unbroken wilderness. But during the war
Crockett had frequently traversed it, and was familiar with its general
character. On the route they came to the hut of a man who was a comrade
of Crockett in the Florida campaign. They spent a day with the retired
soldier, and all went out in the woods together to hunt. Frazier
unfortunately stepped upon a venomous snake, partially covered with
leaves. The reptile struck its deadly fangs into his leg. The effect
was instantaneous and awful. They carried the wounded man, with his
bloated and throbbing limb, back to the hut. Here such remedies were
applied as backwoods medical science suggested; but it was evident that
many weeks would elapse ere the man could move, even should he
eventually recover. Sadly they were constrained to leave their
suffering companion there. What became of him is not recorded.

The three others, Crockett, Robinson, and Rich, continued their
journey. Their route led them through a very fertile and beautiful
region, called Jones's Valley. Several emigrants had penetrated and
reared their log huts upon its rich and blooming meadows.

When they reached the spot where the capital of the State now stands,
with its spacious streets, its public edifices, its halls of learning,
its churches, and its refined and cultivated society, they found only
the silence, solitude, and gloom of the wilderness. With their hatchets
they constructed a rude camp to shelter them from the night air and the
heavy dew. It was open in front. Here they built their camp-fire, whose
cheerful glow illumined the forest far and wide, and which converted
midnight glooms into almost midday radiance. The horses were hobbled
and turned out to graze on a luxuriant meadow. It was supposed that the
animals, weary of the day's journey, and finding abundant pasturage,
would not stray far. The travellers cooked their supper, and throwing
themselves upon their couch of leaves, enjoyed that sound sleep which
fatigue, health, and comfort give.

When they awoke in the morning the horses were all gone. By examining
the trail it seemed that they had taken the back-track in search of
their homes. Crocket