cording to the most
approved style of backwoods friendship. Mr. Owen told the boatmen that
a few miles farther up the river a hurricane had entirely prostrated
the forest, and that the gigantic trees so encumbered the stream that
he was doubtful whether the boat could pass, unless the water should
rise higher. Consequently he, with Crockett and Henry, accompanied the
boatmen up to that point to help them through, should it be possible to
effect a passage. But it was found impossible, and the boat dropped
down again to its moorings opposite Mr. Owen's cabin.

As it was now necessary to wait till the river should rise, the boatmen
and Mr. Owen all consented to accompany Crockett to the place where he
was to settle, and build his house for him. It seems very strange that,
in that dismal wilderness, Crockett should not have preferred to build
his cabin near so kind a neighbor. But so it was. He chose his lot at a
distance of seven miles from any companionship.

"And so I got the boatmen," he writes, "all to go out with me to where
I was going to settle, and we slipped up a cabin in little or no time.
I got from the boat four barrels of meal, one of salt, and about ten
gallons of whiskey."

For these he paid in labor, agreeing to accompany the boatmen up the
river as far as their landing-place at McLemone's Bluff.

CHAPTER VIII.

Life on the Obion.

Hunting Adventures.--The Voyage up the River.--Scenes in the
Cabin.--Return Home.--Removal of the Family.--Crockett's Riches.--A
Perilous Enterprise.--Reasons for his Celebrity.--Crockett's
Narrative.--A Bear-Hunt.--Visit to Jackson.--Again a Candidate for the
Legislature.--Electioneering and Election.

The next day after building the cabin, to which Crockett intended to
move his family, it began to rain, as he says, "rip-roariously." The
river rapidly rose, and the boatmen were ready to resume their voyage.
Crockett stepped out into the forest and shot a deer, which he left as
food for Abram Henry and his little boy, who were to remain in the
cabin until his return. He expected to be absent six or seven days. The
stream was very sluggish. By poling, as it was called, that is, by
pushing the boat with long poles, they reached the encumbrance caused
by the hurricane, where they stopped for the night.

In the morning, as soon as the day dawned, Crockett, thinking it
impossible for them to get through the fallen timber that day, took his
rifle and went into the for