Davy’s experience as a scout now began. Major Gibson, who was about to go into the Coosa country to get information about the Indians, asked Captain Jones to let him have two men who could be relied upon as woodsmen and riflemen. The Captain called Davy, who was now twenty-seven, and strong and healthy, with a full beard. Davy expressed his willingness to join the scouting expedition, if he might choose his own mate. This being granted, he picked out a friend named George Russell. When Gibson saw Russell he said he hadn’t beard enough to suit him; he wanted men, not boys. At this Davy’s dander was up, and he told the Major that by this rule a goat would have the call over a man; that he knew what sort of a man Russell was, and that he was not likely to be left behind on a march. Seeing Davy’s warmth, the Major relented and took them both. The temper of the Western volunteers recalls Maclay’s story of the backwoodsman who took part, on board of the _Hyder Ally_, in Cape May Roads, in the fight with the _General Monk_. He stood near Lieutenant Barney in the action, picking off the enemy with the same deliberation with which he reloaded under a sharp fire. His Buck County blood was up, but his curiosity was not asleep; twice he turned to Barney to ask the same question: “Say, Cap, who made this gun I’m using?” Resenting such a breach of naval decorum in a marine, Barney answered him roughly, ignoring the question. But as it was again asked, he sharply inquired his reason for wanting to know. “W-a-al,” replied the man, with the drawl peculiar to the mountaineers, “this ’ere bit of iron is jes’ the best smoothbore I ever fired in my life.” With the mountaineers’ independence, Andrew Jackson had strenuous dealings before the end of the Creek War. VI. FOLLOWING INDIANS Scouting in the Cherokee country――The Red Sticks on the move――A scared darky comes into camp on the run――Davy makes a sixty-mile ride――Colonel Coffee shows scant appreciation of Davy’s efforts――Old Hickory in command of a hungry army――Burning Black Warrior’s town――The cane-brake and the hogs――More news of the Red Sticks――The Battle of Tallushatchee――One hundred and eighty-five Indians slain――A squaw kills Lieutenant Moore with an arrow.