The dogs were essential in hunting bears.

By their keen scent they would find the animal, which fact they would announce to the hunter by their loud barking.

Immediately a fierce running fight would ensue.

By this attack the bear would be greatly retarded in his flight, so that the hunter could overtake him, and he would often be driven into a tree, where the unerring rifle-bullet would soon bring him down.
The storm of sleet still raged, and nothing could be more gloomy than the aspect of dreariness and desolation which the wrecked forest presented with its dense growth of briers and thorns.

Crockett toiled through the storm and the brush about six miles up the river, and saw nothing.