Crockett, who was the most vigorous and athletic of the three, leaving Robinson and Rich in the camp, set out in pursuit of the runaways.

It was a rough and dreary path he had to tread.

There was no comfortable road to traverse, but a mere path through forest, bog, and ravine, which, at times, it was difficult to discern.

He had hills to climb, creeks to ford, swamps to wade through.

Hour after hour he pressed on, but the horses could walk faster than he could.