"like so many beavers."

The expanse to be crossed was very wide, and they knew not how deep
they should find the channel. For some distance the water continued
quite shoal. Gradually it deepened. Crockett led the way, with a pole
in his hand. Cautiously he sounded the depth before him, lest they
should fall into any slough. A dense growth of young trees covered the
inundated bottom over which they were wading. Occasionally they came to
a deep but narrow gully. Crockett, with his hatchet, would cut down a
small tree, and by its aid would cross.

At length the water became so deep that Crockett's little boy had to
swim, though they evidently had not yet reached the channel of the
stream. Having waded nearly half a mile, they came to the channel. The
stream, within its natural banks, was but about forty feet wide. Large
forest-trees fringed the shores. One immense tree, blown down by the
wind, reached about halfway across. Crockett, with very arduous labor
with his hatchet, cut down another, so that it fell with the branches
of the two intertwining.

Thus aided they reached the opposite side. But still the lowlands
beyond were overflowed as far as the eye could see through the dense
forest. On they waded, for nearly a mile, when, to their great joy,
they came in sight of dry land. Their garments were dripping and they
were severely chilled as they reached the shore. But turning their
steps up the stream, they soon came in sight of the cabin, which looked
to them like a paradise of rest. It was one of the rudest of huts. The
fenceless grounds around were rough and ungainly. The dismal forest,
which chanced there to have escaped both earthquake and hurricane,
spread apparently without limits in all directions.

Most men, most women, gazing upon a scene so wild, lonely, cheerless,
would have said, "Let me sink into the grave rather than be doomed to
such a home as that." But to Crockett and his companions it presented
all the attractions their hearts could desire. Mr. Owen and several
other men were just starting away from the cabin, when, to their
surprise, they saw the party of strangers approaching. They waited
until Crockett came up and introduced himself. The men with Mr. Owen
were boatmen, who had entered the Obion River from the Mississippi with
a boat-load of articles for trade. They were just leaving to continue
their voyage.

Such men are seldom in a hurry. Time is to them of but very little
value. Hospitalit