The Indians had recently made this discovery, and were, in ever-increasing numbers, exploring the regions in hunting-bands.  Crockett does not seem to have had much appreciation of the beautiful.  In selecting a spot for his hut, he wished to be near some crystal stream where he could get water, and to build his hut upon land sufficiently high to be above the reach of freshets.  It was also desirable to find a small plain or meadow free from trees, where he could plant his corn; and to be in the edge of the forest, which would supply him with abundance of fuel.  Crockett found such a place, exactly to his mind.  Being very fond of hunting, he was the happiest of men.  A few hours’ labor threw up a rude hut which was all the home he desired.  His rifle furnished him with food, and with the skins of animals for bed and bedding.  Every frontiersman knew how to dress the skin of deer for moccasins and other garments.  With a sharpened stick he punched holes through the rank sod, and planted corn, in soil so rich that it would return him several hundred-fold.

Thus his tastes, such as they were, were gratified, and he enjoyed what to him were life’s luxuries.  He probably would not have been willing to exchange places with the resident in the most costly mansion in our great cities.  In a few days he got everything comfortable around him.  Crockett’s cabin, or rather camp, was on the eastern side of the Obion River.  Seven miles farther up the stream, on the western bank, a Mr. Owen had reared his log house.  One morning, Crockett, taking the young man Henry and his son with him, set out to visit Mr. Owen, his nearest neighbor.  He hobbled his horse, leaving him to graze until he got back.

They followed along the banks of the river, through the forest, until they reached a point nearly opposite Owen’s cabin.  By crossing the stream there, and following up the western bank they would be sure to find his hut.  There was no boat, and the stream must be swum or forded.  Recent rains had caused it to overflow its banks and spread widely over the marshy bottoms and low country near by.  The water was icy cold.  And yet they took to it, says Crockett, “like so many beavers.”

The expanse to be crossed was very wide, and they knew not how deep they should find the channel.  For some distance the water continued quite shoal.  Gradually it deepened.  Crockett led the way, with a pole in his hand.  Cautiously he sounded the depth before him, lest they should fall into any slough.  A dense growth of young trees covered the inundated bottom over which they were wading.  Occasionally they came to a deep but narrow gully.  Crockett, with his hatchet, would cut down a small tree, and by its aid would cross.

At length the water became so deep that Crockett’s little boy had to swim, though they evidently had not yet reached the channel of the stream.  Having waded nearly half a mile, they came to the channel.  The stream, within its natural banks, was but about forty feet wide.  Large forest-trees fringed the shores.  One immense tree, blown down by the wind, reached about halfway across.  Crockett, with very arduous labor with his hatchet, cut down another, so that it fell with the branches of the two intertwining.