s were enjoying the richest
of pasturage, they, with their keen appetites, enjoyed a more delicious
feast than far-famed Delmonico ever provided for his epicurean guests.

The happy party, rejoicing in the present, and taking no thought for
the morrow, spent the night in this camp of feasting. The next morning
they were reluctant to leave such an inviting hunting-ground. Crockett
and Vanzant again took to their rifles, and strolled into the forest in
search of game. Soon they came across a fine buck, which seemed to have
tarried behind to watch the foe, while the rest of the herd, of which
he was protector, had taken to flight. The beautiful creature, with
erect head and spreading antlers, gallantly stopping to investigate the
danger to which his family was exposed, would have moved the sympathies
of any one but a professed hunter. Crockett's bullet struck him,
wounded him severely, and he limped away. Hotly the two hunters
pursued. They came to a large tree which had been blown down, and was
partly decayed. An immense grizzly bear crept growling from the hollow
of this tree, and plunged into the forest. It was in vain to pursue
him, without dogs to retard his flight. They however soon overtook the
wounded buck, and shot him. With this treasure of venison upon their
shoulders, they had but just returned to their camp when the main body
of the army came up. The game which Crockett had taken, and upon which
they had feasted so abundantly, if divided among twelve hundred men,
would not have afforded a mouthful apiece.

The army was in the most deplorable condition of weakness and hunger.
Ere long they reached the Coosa, and followed up its eastern bank.
About twenty miles above the spot where they struck the river there was
a small military post, called Fort Decatur. They hoped to find some
food there. And yet, in that remote, almost inaccessible station, they
could hardly expect to meet with anything like a supply for twelve
hundred half-famished men.

Upon reaching the river, Crockett took a canoe and paddled across. On
the other shore he found an Indian. Instead of shooting him, he much
more sensibly entered into relations of friendly trade with the savage.
The Indian had a little household in his solitary wigwam, and a small
quantity of corn in store. Crockett wore a large hat. Taking it from
his head, he offered the Indian a silver dollar if he would fill it
with corn. But the little bit of silver, with enigmatical