ated the monster's brain and he fell
dead. The dogs and their master seemed to rejoice alike in their great
achievement.

By the route which Crockett had pursued, he was about twelve miles from
home. Leaving the huge carcass where the animal had fallen, he
endeavored to make a straight line through the forest to his cabin.
That he might find his way back again, he would, at every little
distance, blaze, as it was called, a sapling, that is, chip off some of
the bark with his hatchet. When he got within a mile of home this was
no longer necessary.

The other two men had already returned to the cabin. As the wolves
might devour the valuable meat before morning, they all three set out
immediately, notwithstanding their fatigue and the still raging storm,
and taking with them four pack-horses, hastened back to bring in their
treasure. Crockett writes:

"We got there just before dark, and struck a fire, and commenced
butchering my bear. It was some time in the night before we finished
it. And I can assert, on my honor, that I believe he would have weighed
six hundred pounds. It was the second largest I ever saw. I killed one,
a few years after, that weighed six hundred and seventeen pounds. I now
felt fully compensated for my sufferings in going back after my powder;
and well satisfied that a dog might sometimes be doing a good business,
even when he seemed to be barking up the wrong tree.

"We got our meat home, and I had the pleasure to know that we now had a
plenty, and that of the best; and I continued through the winter to
supply my family abundantly with bear-meat, and venison from the woods."

In the early spring, Crockett found that he had a large number of
valuable skins on hand, which he had taken during the winter. About
forty miles southeast from Crockett's cabin, in the heart of Madison
County, was the thriving little settlement of Jackson. Crockett packed
his skins on a horse, shouldered his rifle, and taking his hardy little
son for a companion, set off there to barter his peltries for such
articles of household use as he could convey back upon his horse. The
journey was accomplished with no more than the ordinary difficulties. A
successful trade was effected, and with a rich store of coffee, sugar,
powder, lead, and salt, the father and son prepared for their return.

Crockett found there some of his old fellow-soldiers of the Creek War.
When all things were ready for a start, he went to bid adieu to hi