Evening star., 1955-05-03
THE STORY OF CHAPTER THREE
Davy Crockett Dov. First Roeeoo"
IA
The Story So Far


Next day the swollen Noichucky River left its banks.
Davy helped Pa, Ma and his brothers what they
could and get his little sisters to high ground Then
water flooded into the cabin and destroyed the mill II
Davys could carry his long rife to neghbOr Gabreaths
without help. Pa said, he'd teach him to shoot it. Davy
bone tired he dried in front of the Gabreaths
fire. But he'd tOted the rifle the whole way
It was fine October afternoon. The sun shone
brightly. A little wind rppled the waters of the
Holston River. And a log canoe moved swiftly down
the stream
Davy kneeled in the bow of the boat He was
happy. So happy that he couldn't keep quiet First
he whstled and then he sang as he and Bill pushed
their paddles through the water.
MET Mr. Catfish coming down the stream
Davy chanted,
"says Mr. Catfish What do you mean?'
Caught Mr.. Catfish by the snout-"
"And turned Mr. Catfish wrong side out"
Bill joined in from the stern of the boat. Here we
are, Davy."
He swung the canoe to the left bank of the river.
moment later he and Davy had hauled it part way
up on shore
Bill hid the paddles in the bushes. Davy took
rifle from the canoe and propped it against tree.
He looked down at the five squirrels and the ring
tailed which lay in the bottom OF the boat.
"I'u carry the coon" he announced proudly.
You've right to- Bill agreed "You killed it'll
And for a 10-year-old that was mighty fine shot"
Davy grinned. "Im all through with hunting
birds and little things, I've shot coon," he
boasted. "Some day aim to get me bear"
He picked up the raccoon and looked it over.
do you reekpn &c m its big enough SOS Ma can make me
eff you don't get swelled head over shooting
it," Bill replied
Gathering up the squirrels, he stuffed them
inside his deerskin shirt Then he glanced at the
"Wow!" he exclaimed, reaching for the rifle
1ts most time for wagoners to be rollng up 10 our
house"
"Pa will be mad as hornet if we're not home to
tend to the horses" Davy said quickly. I'm going
to hurry"
He pushed his way through the bushes and
started up the path which led from the river to
log house.
It was rough, two-story house, with log barn
just behind it. The yard around the house was bare
and half full of sturps
A winding road ran past the house And
wooden sign over the doorway swung back and forth
in the wind. It sad CROCKETTS TAVERN:
Davy remembered the day that Pa had decided
family had stayed in Tom Gabreath's cabin while
Pa looked around for place to live. He had found
some land near the Holston River, about Is miles
to the west
''The lands near settlement, and it's close to
road" Pa had told Ma and the Others when he re-
turned to the cabin. II aim to build good house
there And to open tavern where folks can come TO
eat and spend the night"
"A tavernl" Ma had exclaimed in dismay. "You
don't know how to run tavern"
"I can learn" Pa said. And that's just what he
had tried to do.
Everyone in the family except Baby Sally and
little Jane had worked hard to help him. But Pa
hadn't had much money to spend in starting this
business And the tavern was poor-looklng
place
The road which past it was busy one.
It stretched from Abingdon in Virginia to the little
town of Knoxville in Tennessee. From there it ran
west through the wilderness as far as the setteent
of Nashville.
Families used that road, going west in wagons
and carts to settle homes. Hunters and trappers
used it, heading east with pack horses loaded with
furs.
Drovers travelled over it, driving cattle to sell to
farmers in Virginia and Kentucky. And wagoners
rolled along it, in big covered wagons carrying
freight between the settlements in the West and the
towns in the East
Manv of these travellers looked at Pa Crockett's
tavern and passed it by. But sometimes hunter or
a trapper or drover stopped to spend the night.
And wagoners arrived nearly every day.
Often there were eight or 10 huge white-topped
wagons in the tavern yard by sundown. Then Pa
talked to the men. Ma cooked the evening meal
And the boys unhtched the horses and carried water
to the watering trough
Davv liked the Wagoners, for they were jolly
lot of men But he didn't like caring for the horses,
No wagoners here yet" he cried joyfully to Bill
as the two boys drew near the tavern I'm going
to show my coon to Ma"
Bill nodded and stopped to fasten his moe
casins, which were both united. Davy ran ahead,
across the yard and around to the front of the house
Jim was sitting the log doorstep, scrapng
out cows horn. long-eared black-and-tan dog
lay at his feet The hound got up to greet Davy and
to sniff at the raccoon.
Davy held it high, out of the dogs reach. Get
down, Zip" he commanded. He spoke to jim
"Wheres Map" he asked.
Inside fixing supper" Jim replied: VINO gave
Davys face turned scarlet. Its not squirrel!
he exclaimed hoty. cts "a" Suddenly he stopped
Even Jims teasing couldn't make him angry today.
Its my first raccoon" he replied proudly. DO
you want to know how got it?"
"Sure do' Jim replied.
"Well," Davy said, with twinkle in his eyes,
"It was this way Bill had the rifle and he was back
Mr.. Coon high up in a tree.
"Wel couldn't shoot him without gun So