The political campaign was beginning to seethe with excitement. In the Eastern States some considerations of decency prevented utter recklessness in political warfare, but in a State which had not yet outgrown the knife and pistol methods of meeting slander, the owner of a paper had no idea of hanging for a lamb, when he might easily take a sheep. The choicest billingsgate and the most ingenious lying, emanating from all parts of a candidate’s district at once, made fighting the slanderers almost too big a contract for one man. But the rifle was always carried, or a pair of clumsy pistols ready, and license of speech was thereby restricted in public. At one of the meetings Davy was asked why all the Congressmen were not given rifles like his. He answered that he got the gun for being honest and supporting his country, instead of “bowing down and worshipping an idol”――the idol, of course, being Andrew Jackson. The big fellow who was thus answered replied with a rather incredulous air that the statement was pretty strong. “No stronger than true,” was the quick response, as each man went his way. In everything Davy seems to have been certain that he was right. In his simple faith, he thought himself sure of the support of all honest men, forgetting that even honest men may “see through a glass darkly,” and differ much. XX. OFF FOR TEXAS Davy is defeated for Congress――Another scalp for Old Hickory――Davy’s defeat is a crushing blow――He decides to go to Texas――Takes a sad leave of his family and sets forth in hunting suit with “Betsy” over his shoulder――On board the _Mediterranean_ to Helena――The eighty thousand dollar fund, of which Bowie, Fannin, Travis, and Crockett are named as trustees――More about Texas affairs――Davy starts from Little Rock for Fulton, on the way to San Antonio――The travelling parson and the Washita――Davy’s faith in God――Meets with Thimblerig, the gambler――The gambler enlists with Colonel Crockett.