rom the hut of David
Crockett, on the western bank of Rutherford's Fork, one of the
tributaries of Obion River. He had brought with him a keg of powder for
Crockett, which had not yet been delivered.

The region all around was low and swampy. The fall rains had so swollen
the streams that vast extents of territory were inundated. All the
river-bottoms were covered with water. The meadows which lined the
Obion, where Crockett would have to pass, were so flooded that it was
all of a mile from shore to shore.

The energy which Crockett displayed on the difficult and perilous
journey, illustrates those remarkable traits of character which have
given him such wide renown. There must be something very extraordinary
about a man which can make his name known throughout a continent. And
of the forty millions of people in the United States, there is scarcely
one, of mature years, who has not heard the name of David Crockett.

When Crockett told his wife that he had decided to go to his brother's
for the powder, she earnestly remonstrated, saying that it was at the
imminent hazard of his life. The ground was covered with snow. He would
have to walk at least a mile through icy water, up to his waist, and
would probably have to swim the channel. He then, with dripping
clothes, and through the cold wintry blast, would have to walk several
miles before he could reach his brother's home. Crockett persisted in
his determination, saying, "I have no powder for Christmas, and we are
out of meat."

He put on some woollen wrappers and a pair of deerskin moccasins. He
then tied up a small bundle; of clothes, with shoes and stockings,
which he might exchange for his dripping garments when he should reach
his brother's cabin. I quote from his own account of the adventure.

"I didn't before know how much a person could suffer and not die. The
snow was about four inches deep when I started. And when I got to the
water, which was only about a quarter of a mile off, it looked like an
ocean. I put in, and waded on till I came to the channel, where I
crossed that on a high log. I then took water again, having my gun and
all my hunting tools along, and waded till I came to a deep slough,
that was wider than the river itself. I had often crossed it on a log;
but behold, when I got there no log was to be seen.

"I know'd of an island in the slough, and a sapling stood on it close
to the side of that log, which was now entirely under water. I know'