Leaving the huge carcass where the animal had fallen, he endeavored to make a straight line through the forest to his cabin.
That he might find his way back again, he would, at every little distance, blaze, as it was called, a sapling, that is, chip off some of the bark with his hatchet.

When he got within a mile of home this was no longer necessary.
The other two men had already returned to the cabin.

As the wolves might devour the valuable meat before morning, they all three set out immediately, notwithstanding their fatigue and the still raging storm, and taking with them four pack-horses, hastened back to bring in their treasure.

Crockett writes: "We got there just before dark, and struck a fire, and commenced butchering my bear.

It was some time in the night before we finished it.