Not long after this, another occurrence took place characteristic of frontier life.

Joseph Hawkins, a brother of David's mother, crossed the mountains and joined the Crockett family in their forest home.

One morning he went out to shoot a deer, repairing to a portion of the forest much frequented by this animal.

As he passed a very dense thicket, he saw the boughs swaying to and fro, where a deer was apparently browsing.

Very cautiously he crept within rifle-shot, occasionally catching a glimpse, through the thick foliage, of the ear of the animal,--as he supposed.
Taking deliberate aim he fired, and immediately heard a loud outcry.
Rushing to the spot, he found that he had shot a neighbor, who was there gathering grapes.