Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-17
"We'll soon settle that matter 4"

Y" w uOIOi tllc htbellpI uHLll tIlo succeed
ing day.
But the weather continued growing cold
or and colder, and the second day WA.
found more intensely severe than the for.
mel so that he reluctantly consented to
remain another night at his friends
When the third morning dawned, the lher.
m0metfr was below zeio.
Crockett by this time had become unea.
sy. The cold weather had evidently set in
and there could nothing be gained by pro.
crastnatDg the matter for an entire week
He was fearful too that his family were
suffering, and he would not consent to re.
main any longer. So he shouldered his
rife and set out on his return.
When he came to The broad overflow Of
water he found it frozen over. lie step
ped carefully upon 1t. and it cracked and
bent beneath him, but still bore h weight
ard he vcnturcd forth This was pleas
ant condition of ,hngs, if the frozen sheet
would only carry him entirely across.
But in The midst of his pleasant mcdta-
tions the ice suddenly broke and he found
himself clasped in The chilling current be-
nealh. However, he did not allow him
self to 20 entirely beneath the surface, but
caught upon the projecting ice, and drew
his body forth. He now experimental to
see whether the ice had sufficient strength
to bear his body when extended. but found
that it was too thin even 10 do that.
With The same resolution, that was
never daunled by difficulty. he began cut
ting his way before him with his tona-
hawk. This was IL most painful and try.
ing means of progression, but il was he
only one left. Prudence commanded him
to withdraw, for nine -tenhs of the danger
and difficulty were still before him. but
Crockett dill not originate the advice be
sure you are right, then 90 ahead that it
might be followed by others alone. lie
had made mp his mind to- 90 home, and as
long as he had the elower to move, nothing
could prevent him.
After making his way in this manner
for some distance. lie found the ice some
what stronger, and clambering upon its
surface, hurried along for few yards,
when it again gave way, and he went
through rs delightfully."- rs before. He had
his " bearings" and sustaining his weight
by means of the projecting ice, he cut his
way with the tOmahawk until he reached
the log which had served him so treacher-
ously on his previous trip. This w;ts now
frozen fast, and lie passed over it in safely.
When the submerged log WIS reached,
it was found that the current WAS so swift
that it had not frozen, and Crockett made
his way over this precisely rs he did when
on his way to his brother -in-law From
this point he noticed that there WAS IL
"path' to The opposite shore; that is, the
ice was broken, rs though some person or
animal had been through to the log, and
then turned back.
He soon reached the shore, where the
intense cold froze HIS clothes to his body.
and he could walk only with the greatest
difficulty, and when he reached the door
his limbs were so benumbed that he could
scarcely stand.
Under the aifectiOnate care of his wife
he soon " thawed out" and was himself
again, ready on the morrow 10 engage in
his lavorie bear-hunt.
When Crockett was thoroughly " recon
silucted,N he went to bed, and had ter
rifle dream of an encounter with burly
African.
1t mny not be generally known TO our
readel., but it is Il curious superstition
among tie hunters, that Il dream like this
is sure prognostic of IL bear.light. We
have met old wUo,Imrn who have told us
that they had been repeatedly advised in
his manner, and that never had it failed
Colonel Crockett shared that singular
superstition, and when he arose in the
morning, he informed hi, famlly that. in.
asmuch us he had been notified of what
was 10 come, it devolved upon him tc
make every preparation to perform his
part satisfactorily.
Crockett had several men to work lol
him, and these decided to accompany him
upon his hunting expedition.
Upon going out in the morning, it was
found that line, drizzImg rain had fallen
all night, and having frozen us it fell, the
ground and leaves, the tree,trunks anC
,heir branches, We're incased in quite Il
sh citing ol ice.
This was rather an uninviting prospect
but not lOrbIdding enough to deter The
hunters rom their contemplated sport
Calling The dogs the three started.
The brittle ice cracked and crushed be.
meath their feet until they got fairly into
tie woods, when it was found that lht
branches overhead had caught and retain
ed 50 much OF the failing sieet that it was
comparatively easy walking
At this point, Crockett'S companions
announced their intention of hun,ing iol
turkeys.
You had better join u.s." they said. II
will be IN easy thing TO bring doWna doz
cn or twenty"
If you can do that, there will be NJ
need OF my help, then. thank you. In
after bears just now"
Calling OH his dogs, tie hunter babe hi!
friends good-by, and started oil III quest o
II bier game. Going up the river half {;
dozen miles he struck across the main
land nn,il he reached the Obion, scvcla
miles distant. When here terrible storm
OF sleet was raging, and the line, needle
like points Of hail stuck his lace with d
sharp, singing sensation, rs If they were
tine shot hurled through air.
All 1T once, his dogs started Il flock o
turkeys. Crockett shot two Of the finest
and singing them over his shoulder, press
Ell ON. Sill the storm ragged, until, some
what exhausted, lie sat down upon II fall
en- Tree 10 rest himself, and to prepare fol
a more vigorous prosecution Of his hunt.
Crockett had sat there few moments
when his attention was arrested by the
curious action of one Of his dogs. This
creature ran to log near by, and aflel
smelling around it for II few moments, ht
pointed his st to the sky, then gave Ut
lcrance to IL long, peculiar whine, and
darled away, followed by the other dog
This was done with such IN evident intcn.
ton of attracting the hunters attention,
| that he sat and watched them for II while
before stirring from his position.
He soon saw that game had been scent
ed and arising from The log, started after
them. They Immediately hurried away,
and were heard barking very clamorously
at Il large tree but glance showed that,
in hunters parlance, they were barking
up he wrong tree" as no game at all was
visible.
Somewhat puzzled to account for this
mistake Of his faithful animals, Crockett
stood looking ut them II moment, when
they plunged away, and began barking us
fiercely as ever up another tree. Upon
following them up, it WAS found that they
had repeated they blunder.
This same thing was done fully half II
dozen times, by which time the hunter had
lost so much patience that he determined
TO shoot the leading dog if he deceived
.,VaNf al.