In the Current of the Revolution 5 



himself, who prayed every night ; and their compan- 

 ions, though they did not take part in the praying, 

 did not interrupt it. Their journey through the mel- 

 ancholy and silent wilderness resembled in its inci- 

 dents the countless other similar journeys that were 

 made at that time and later. They suffered from 

 cold and hunger and lack of shelter; they became 

 footsore and weary, and worn out with driving the 

 pack-horses. On the top of the lonely Cumberland 

 Mountains they came upon the wolf-eaten remains 

 of a previous traveler, who had recently been killed 

 by Indians. At another place they met four men 

 returning cowards, whose hearts had failed them 

 when in sight of the promised land. While on the 

 great Indian war-trail they killed a buffalo, and 

 henceforth lived on its jerked meat. One night the 

 wolves smelt the flesh, and came up to the camp-fire ; 

 the strong hunting-dogs rushed out with clamorous 

 barking to drive them away, and the sudden alarm 

 for a moment made the sleepy wayfarers think that 

 roving Indians had attacked them. When they 

 reached Crab Orchard their dangers were for the 

 moment past ; all travelers grew to regard with affec- 

 tion the station by this little grove of wild apple- 

 trees. It is worthy of note that the early settlers 

 loved to build their homes near these natural or- 

 chards, moved by the fragrance and beauty of the 

 bloom in spring. 5 



5 There were at least three such "Crab-Orchard" stations 

 in Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The settlers used the 

 word "crab" precisely as Shakespeare does. 



