est in search of game. He had gone but a
short distance when he came across a fine buck. The animal fell before
his unerring aim, and, taking the prize upon his shoulders, he
commenced a return to the boat.

He had not proceeded far before he came upon the fresh tracks of a herd
of elks. The temptation to follow their trail was to a veteran hunter
irresistible. He threw down his buck, and had not gone far before he
came upon two more bucks, very large and splendid animals. The
beautiful creatures, though manifesting some timidity, did not seem
disposed to run, but, with their soft, womanly eyes, gazed with wonder
upon the approaching stranger. The bullet from Crockett's rifle struck
between the eyes of one, and he fell dead. The other, his companion,
exhibited almost human sympathy. Instead of taking to flight, he clung
to his lifeless associate, looking down upon him as if some
incomprehensible calamity had occurred. Crockett rapidly reloaded his
rifle, and the other buck fell dead.

He hung them both upon the limb of a tree, so that they should not be
devoured by the wolves, and followed on in the trail of the elks. He
did not overtake them until nearly noon. They were then beyond
rifle-shot, and kept so, luring him on quite a distance. At length he
saw two other fine bucks, both of which he shot. The intellectual
culture of the man may be inferred from the following characteristic
description which he gives of these events:

"I saw two more bucks, very large fellows too. I took a blizzard at one
of them, and up he tumbled. The other ran off a few jumps and stopped,
and stood there until I loaded again and fired at him. I knocked his
trotters from under him, and then I hung them both up. I pushed on
again, and about sunset I saw three other bucks. I down'd with one of
them, and the other two ran off. I hung this one up also, having killed
six that day.

"I then pushed on till I got to the hurricane, and at the lower edge of
it, about where I expected the boat was. Here I hollered as hard as I
could roar, but could get no answer. I fired off my gun, and the men on
the boat fired one too. But, quite contrary to my expectations, they
had got through the timber, and were about two miles above me. It was
now dark, and I had to crawl through the fallen timber the best way I
could; and if the reader don't know it was bad enough, I am sure I do.
For the vines and briers had grown all through it, and so thick that a
good