Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-05
THE STORY OF CHAPTER FIVE
Davv Crockett Dov Leaves Home
l.
The Story So Far


already bagged his first COON It's the Fourth OF July
A thrill goes through Davy the Stars and Stripes
futters at the top of the POLE Murray" ne shouts
Later Tim Taylor let's Davy fire his long rifle In the
Davys bullet misses the button but hits
the board Not bad" Tim tells him. "YOu practice lot
and YOU might become real good shot someday" The
planning to start cutting logs for school, But
Davy would rather range the woods than learn his
three Rs.
1t had been drizzling all day. Davy was soaked
to the skin He was tired of tramping along the
rough muddy road and he was tired of driving
cattle He waved his stick at big cow which was
Straying into the underbruSh.
Get over there. you bug-eyed bulfrog, he
shouted. Get there, or I'll tie your stlngy
tail right to your horns"
Mr. Jacob Siler chuckled Getting mad at them
don't do no good, Davy,' he said, walking faster to
catch up with the boy. "We stop when we get over
this hill and make camp. Then you shoot some meat
for supper, ja?'
Davy nodded soberly at the old Dutchman,
How much farther have we got to go afore we get
to that there Natural Bridge?" he asked.
"Only three hundred miles," Mr.. Sller replied
cheerfuly. "We walk hundred miles in Is days
already Do you still feel bad sometimes that you
come with me?"
Eyes" Davy replied honestly. And he pushed
on, so that he would not have to talk.
There were times when he liked driving cattle
for Mr. Siler. But there other times when he
longed to see Ma and Pa and the rest OF his family
He had left home very suddenly, All because Pa
Crockett needed money, and Mr.. Siler wanted help
in driving his cattle
The old Dutchman and his herd of cows had
arrived at the tavern one warm evening in Septem-
Der. John and Jim were away, working on farms
nearby. Bill and Wilson were busy unhltchlng
horses. So Pa had called Davy to take Mr. Sliers
cattle to the fenced-in pasture.
The bow had managed the COWS WELL and Mr..
siler was pleased. That night he told Pa that he
would like to hire Davy to drive the cattle all the
way to his farm in Virginia.
Pa looked doubtful when he heard this, and
Ma had shaken her head.
"He was only IL last MONTH" she exclaimed.
sHe's too Young to 90 so far. How will be ever man.
age to get home again?"
MI siler laughed. ooh, take care of that" he
had promised. 81 send him back with someone right
away. And pay you good money right now for his
help So you let him go, JAZZ"
He pulled his purse from his pocket and lad
it on the table.
Pa Crockett eyed it thoughtfully Times were
hard and he was not doing very well with his tav-
ern. He turned to his wife.
"You know, Ma" he said, "Davy amt much
use to me around here cause he's always off in the
woods with the rifle Half the time he don't do his
chores Maybe job like this would be good for him"
Maybe it would" Ma agreed "And if Mr. siler
will send him home quick"
ia! Ja!" Mr. ser broke in "I do that
And so the matter had been settled.
That night Davy had been putfed up with prloe
because he was going away on long Journey BUT
his heart sank the next morning when Ma HANDED
him knapsack full of clothing and kissed nm
good-by.
clapped him on the back and told him to mind Mr.
Siler And he had laughed at Becky when she cried
and said she'd never see him again. Then ne mao
set out whstling loudly so that no one would know
how badly he felt.
Ever since that morning he and Mr.. siler had
been travelling together From dawn until late after
noon each day they had driven the cattle over the
rough road which led northeast to Natural Bridge:
They had climbed high hills and splashed
through creeks: They had passed through village
and through several small settlements.
Once they had spent the night in tavern
Twice they had slept in log farmhouses. But most
of the time they had made camp by the roadside
wherever Mr. Siler wanted to stop.
II hope the old man can find us good place
tonight" Davy thought. "A nice dry place, where
we can build fire.
He had reached the top of the hill by this time
He looked about quickly Suddenly he shouted for
ioy Turning around, he called back to Mr. Siler,
who was putting up the hill some distance behind
"Hev Mr.. sler!" he cried There's an empty
cabin here back from the road apiece An old one
that's kind Of tumbling down. I'll drive the critters
into the clearing"
Davy ran to the head of the herd and turned
the back. AS soon as they were feeding peace
fully he looked over the cabin.
The door sagged open and the root was partly
gone. But the chimney still standing. And there
were few sticks of partly burned wood IN the
fireplace.
opened it quickly He rummaged around until he
found the finder box which Ma had packed with his
extra shirt BY the time Mr.. Siler arrived the boy
had fire going.
The old Dutchman was delighted "Davy, you
get us rabbit now" he said, handing Davy his.
rifle. II have bread we bought in Blue Plum settle
ment this morning So we eat good and sleep dry
and tomorrow we feel fine Jazz
"Ja" Davy agreed with a grin He had for
gotten already how homesick he had been Just
short time before Whistng gayly he struck off for
the woods behind the cabin. In less than an hour
he was back with fat rabbit.
Mr. Siler had watered the cows at nearby
stream and had found wood for the fire 1t was
damp and it smoked when he laid it on the flames.
But it was soon burning brightly.