“A remarkable country this, for owls,” he thought, as he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Just then an owl, whose hooting had sounded at a distance, suddenly uttered a peculiar cry close to the camp. In a moment, young Jackson was the widest awake man in Tennessee. He grasped his rifle, and crept cautiously to where his friend Searcy was sleeping, and woke him quietly. “Searcy,” said he, “raise your head and make no noise.” “What’s the matter?” asked Searcy. “The owls--listen--there--there again! Isn’t that a little _too_ natural?” “Do you think so?” asked Searcy. “I know it,” replied young Jackson. “There are Indians all around us. I have heard them in every direction. They mean to attack before daybreak.” In a few minutes, the men of the camp were aroused. The experienced woodsmen among them listened to the hooting, and agreed with young Jackson, that there were Indians in the forest. Jackson advised that the camp should be instantly and quietly broken up, and the march resumed. This was done, and the company heard nothing more of the savages. But a party of hunters who reached the same camping-ground an hour after the company had left it, lay down by the fires and slept. Before day dawned, the Indians were upon them, and killed all except one of the party. But the long train of emigrants, men, women and children, were safely continuing their wearisome journey through the Wilderness. At last, they reached Nashville to the joy of the settlers there. And a great piece of news young Andrew Jackson brought with him to Nashville--the Constitution of the United States had just been ratified and adopted by a majority of the States of the Union. _James Parton_ (_Retold_) FORT MIMS The War of 1812 was made terrible by an uprising of the Indians. The Creeks, incited and armed by British officers, attacked Fort Mims in Alabama, and, with unspeakable atrocities, massacred over five hundred helpless men, women, and children. The howling savages at their bloody work made so hideous a scene, that even their Chief, a half-breed Indian named Weatherford, was filled with horror. He tried to protect the women and children. But his savage followers broke all restraint, and nothing could stop their cruel butchery. The Creeks ended by setting fire to the ruins of the fort. This Indian massacre at Fort Mims was one of the bloodiest in history. The news reached Tennessee, arousing the country. Andrew Jackson rose from a sick-bed, called together an army of volunteers, and led them against the Creeks. DAVY CROCKETT _“Go ahead!” Davy Crockett’s motto_ When Andrew Jackson called for volunteers to punish the Creeks, Davy Crockett, the famous Tennessee bear-hunter, came hurrying to enlist. He was a backwoodsman, born and reared in a log cabin in the Wilderness. Armed with his long rifle and hunting-knife, dressed in a hunting-shirt and fox-skin cap with the tail hanging down behind, he was a picturesque figure.