The general shook the boy by the hand and had his black servant bring chairs. When they were seated, he looked at them smilingly. “You both look as though you’d been through some hard service,” said he. “We have,” replied Jack. “A full year of it. And we’ve just returned.” They then related to Jackson, in as few words as possible, the story of their expedition to locate the land grant. The general listened to the harrowing tale of the assault upon Fort Mims with frowning brows. “This is the work of Tecumseh and his brother, the wonder-worker,” said he. “And to repay it means that the Creek nation must feel the weight of the white man’s power. And they shall, if it’s in my power.” Then Jack spoke of the errand that brought them to the Hermitage, and the general nodded approvingly. “We’ll need young men like you two, who know the country, to scout ahead of our force. If you volunteer, that shall be your work.” The two thanked the officer, and left quite buoyantly, riding to the Davis place next day, and there accepting the call for service against the savages. The order went out that the volunteers were to assemble at Fayetteville in October; but before this time arrived the disturbing news came that the Indians were threatening Madison, in the Mississippi territory, which then took in a large portion of the present state of Alabama. From his sick room Jackson sent forward Colonel Coffee, a huge fighting man, who was related to him by marriage. Coffee’s command was but three hundred in number, and consisted of cavalry and mounted riflemen; but these hardy woodsmen had no fear, and rode toward Huntsville, in the threatened district. On October 4th Jackson was not able to stand on his feet, much less mount a horse, and so was not able to join his command upon the day named. However, three days later, like a gaunt ghost, he rode into camp, his will alone keeping him in the saddle. Scarcely had he taken command when a rider from Coffee’s column dashed into the camp at Fayetteville with a dispatch saying that the colonel’s small command was in danger of attack by a huge force of Indians. Camp was broken and the Tennesseeans moved forward. In spite of the fact that they had a disabled commander they marched thirty-two miles that day; the end of it found the force near Huntsville, and the news then came that Coffee’s danger was not as pressing as supposed, so Jackson at once went into camp. Next day he crossed the Tennessee River near Huntsville, and joined Coffee’s little force of horsemen. The first thing to be done now was to find a well located place to be used as a depot of supplies. Under the guidance of Jack Davis, who knew the country like a printed page, they moved up the river to Thompson’s Creek and laid out a work which the commander named Fort Deposit.