mpt to cross, at every hazard, and notwithstanding all
remonstrances. He obtained a leaky canoe, which was half stranded upon
the shore, and pushed out on his perilous voyage. He tied his little
bundle of clothes to the bows of the boat, that they might not be
washed or blown away, and soon found himself exposed to the full force
of the wind, and tossed by billows such as he had never dreamed of
before. He was greatly frightened, and would have given all he had in
the world, to have been safely back again upon the shore. But he was
sure to be swamped if he should attempt to turn the boat broadside to
the waves in such a gale. The only possible salvation for him was to
cut the approaching billows with the bows of the boat. Thus he might
possibly ride over them, though at the imminent peril, every moment, of
shipping a sea which would engulf him and his frail boat in a watery
grave.

In this way he reached the shore, two miles above the proper
landing-place. The canoe was then half full of water. He was drenched
with spray, which was frozen into almost a coat of mail upon his
garments. Shivering with cold, he had to walk three miles through the
forest before he found a cabin at whose fire he could warm and dry
himself. Without any unnecessary delay he pushed on until he crossed
the extreme western frontier line of Virginia, and entered Sullivan
County, Tennessee.

An able-bodied young man like David Crockett, strong, athletic, willing
to work, and knowing how to turn his hand to anything, could, in the
humblest cabin, find employment which would provide him with board and
lodging. He was in no danger of starving. There was, at that time, but
one main path of travel from the East into the regions of the boundless
West.

As David was pressing along this path he came to a little hamlet of log
huts, where he found the brother whom he had left when he started from
home eighteen months before with the drove of cattle. He remained with
him for two or three weeks, probably paying his expenses by farm labor
and hunting. Again he set out for home. The evening twilight was
darkening into night when he caught sight of his father's humble cabin.
Several wagons were standing around, showing that there must be
considerable company in the house.

With not a little embarrassment, he ventured in. It was rather dark.
His mother and sisters were preparing supper at the immense fireside.
Quite a group of teamsters were scattered around t