“I begin this chapter,” says Davy’s account of the campaign, “at home, in Weakley County. I have just returned from a two weeks’ electioneering canvass4, and I have spoken every day to large concourses of people, with my competitor. I have him badly plagued, for he does not know as much about the ‘Government,’ the deposites [referring to the United States Bank], and the Little Flying[266] Dutchman [Van Buren], as I can tell the people; and at times he is as much bothered as a fly in a tar-pot to get out of the mess. His name is Adam Huntsman; he lost a leg in an Indian fight, they say, during the last war, and the Government run him on account of his military services. I tell him in my speech that I have great hopes of writing one more book, and that shall be the second fall of Adam, for he is on the Eve of an Almighty6 thrashing. He relishes7 the joke about as much as a doctor does his own physic. I handle the administration without gloves, and I do believe I will double my competitor, if I have a fair shake, and he does not work like a mole8 in the dark. Jacksonism is dying here faster than it ever sprung up, and I predict that ‘The Government’ will be the most unpopular man, in one year more, that ever had any pretensions9 to the high place he now fills. Four weeks from to-morrow will end the dispute in our elections, and if old Adam is not beaten out of his hunting-shirt, my name isn’t Crockett.”
This was Davy’s state of mind in July, 1835. The election took place about the 1st of August, and[267] he had yet to learn that many of the fair words received, and many of the promises, were of no more value, to use his own words, “than a flash in the pan when you have a good shot at a fat bear.”
Under the special directions of Andrew Jackson, every means of beating Davy Crockett was put in practice. Copies of the Globe, franked by his opponents, accused Davy of collecting excess mileage10, of being a traitor11 to the interests of his State, of fawning12 upon the aristocrats13 of the Eastern States, of everything that could be urged against him. When the die was cast, he writes, in the gloom of defeat, these words:
“August 11, 1835. I am now at home in Weakley County. My canvass is over, and the result is known. Contrary to all expectations, I am beaten two hundred and thirty votes, from the best information I can get; and in this instance, I may say, bad is the best.... I have been told by good men that some of the managers of the union Bank [at Jackson] were heard to say, on the day of election, that they would give twenty-five dollars[268] a vote for enough votes to elect Mr. Huntsman. This is a pretty good price for a vote, and in ordinary times a round dozen might be got for the money.
“As my country no longer requires my services, I have made up my mind to go to Texas. My life has been one of danger, toil14, and privation, but these difficulties I had to encounter at a time when I considered it nothing more than right good sport to surmount15 them. Now I start anew upon my own hook, and God only grant that it may be strong enough to support the weight hung upon it. I have a new row to hoe, a long and rough one, but, come what will, I’ll go ahead!”
At a general meeting in his district Davy spoke5 for the last time to the voters of western Tennessee. Recounting his services, and the unfair methods by which he thought himself to have been beaten, he made a pretty strong talk, and concluded by saying that he could not think it a fair fight; but that he was done with politics for the present, and that he was going to Texas.
In all stories of Davy’s life, the poem said to[269] have been written by himself, on the eve of his departure for Texas, is given a prominent place. In his own story he says that it was as “zigzag as a worm fence” when first written, but was overhauled16 by one Peleg Longfellow, who could hardly have been a relative of H. W. Longfellow. After this and much lopping of some lines and stretching out of others, Davy says he wished he might be shot if wasn’t worse than ever. This is the concluding verse of the poem:
“Farewell to my country! I fought for thee well,
In peace or in war I have stood by thy side.
My country, for thee I have lived—would have died!
But I am cast off, my career is now run,
Where the wild savage roves, and the broad prairies spread,
The fallen—despised—will again—Go Ahead!”
Having now determined20 to “cut out and quit the States until honest men should have a chance to work their way to the head of the heap,” Davy said good-by to his friends and his family, and started for Mills’ Point, to take a boat down the river.
[270]
“The thermometer stood somewhat below freezing point,” he says, “as I left my wife and children; still there was some thawing21 about the eyelids22, a thing that had not happened since I ran away from my father’s house when a thoughtless, vagabond boy. I dressed myself in a clean hunting-shirt, put on a new fox-skin cap with the tail hanging behind, took hold of my rifle ‘Betsy,’ which all the world knows was presented to me by the patriots23 of Philadelphia, and, thus equipped, started off to go ahead in a new world.”
It appears that up to this time Davy’s account of his life had been taken down by the editor of his book or an assistant. From time to time more was added, evidently from notes or messages sent from the frontier. Manifestos signed by Davy Crockett bear no trace of his style, nor do the concluding chapters of his book, which he never saw completed. Whoever helped the rounding out of his narrative24 could easily have followed Davy in his wanderings, and it must be taken for granted that this was done. All through the book there is a random25 way of telling the story, but in no case,[271] after careful study, does there appear any discrepancy26.
When Davy boarded the steamer Mediterranean at the Point, he was welcomed by many prominent men on the way to Arkansas and Texas. The steamboat was one of the finest on the river, and before her gangway was aboard, and the slowly turning paddle-wheels had sent the surging waves against the muddy banks, Davy was the centre of a group of bankers, soldiers, Indian-fighters, gamblers, speculators, and all that then made the river their highway. They were interested in the future of Texas, and were determined to make it free of Mexican rule. In the spectacular figure of the famous scout27, bear-hunter, and Congressman28, they saw a new ideal. Such a history as his was rare to their experiences. They knew he might be relied upon for courage and honesty. When the Mediterranean tied up at Helena, in a storm, a subscription29 of eighty thousand dollars for the Texan cause was made up on board. Davy Crockett, James Bowie, Colonel Hawkins, Captain Travis, and Captain Fannin were made trustees of this[272] fund. Every one of these names is blazoned30 upon the Texan scroll31 of fame. The money was paid in, put in charge of John Slidell, Governor White, and S. S. Prentiss, and was all used in freeing Texas from Mexico.
Davy is said to have gone to New Orleans, and is known to have visited Natchez, stirring up the more peaceable to active interest in the affairs of the Americans threatened by the new attitude of the Mexican Government. For three years all Mexican troops had been kept out of Texas; the latest news told of the coming of General Cos with a strong force, and the garrisoning32 of San Antonio by several hundred Mexican soldiers, selected, by orders from Santa Anna, from the lowest classes, men who were ever ready to cut throats, plunder33, or insult the colonists34. With the money subscribed35, the gathering36 of supplies for the “inevitable conflict” went rapidly forward. The return of Stephen F. Austin, after eight months’ captivity37 in Mexican prisons, brought a new force into the field. The Americans cast bullets, looked to their priming, and built adobe38 forts under pretense39 of building[273] homes. The slow ferment40 of racial hatred41, the antipathies42 of men who worshipped God in different ways or not at all, the cherishing of the memories of murderous deeds on both sides, grew slowly into a flood of passion, fed by every heart-throb day and night.
After various journeys along and about the Red River, Davy started for the front, where the old city of San Antonio de Bejar stood forever the centre of bloody43 tragedies and bitter strife44. After being entertained in true Western style at Little Rock, he set forth for Fulton, one hundred and twenty miles across country. The citizens had given him a horse and saddle, and the company of four or five men, bound for Washita River, gave the party the appearance of a band of scouts45. After a ride of fifty miles they drew near the river, when sounds of music were heard. “Hail Columbia” rolled across the fringe of alders46 along the banks, but when they raised their voices in a cheer the playing stopped, to again break into that old sad song of vanished hopes, “Over the Water to Charlie.” Putting spurs to their tired horses, they[274] came to the river’s edge, to look upon the spectacle of a travelling parson whom they had seen at Little Rock, sitting in a sulky in the middle of the swirling47 stream. His horse could barely keep his feet, and yet the parson played with a composure that told of his faith in a higher power. He had fiddled48 for more than an hour, not daring to turn or venture on, and when he was rescued by Davy’s company he was about used up.
From this point Davy went on towards Fulton with the preacher, as far as Greenville. As they rode along, the old parson spoke so warmly of the bountiful works of Providence49 that his faith was imparted to his companion. “We were alone in the wilderness,” wrote Davy, “but all things told me that God was there. The thought renewed my strength and courage. I had left my country; felt somewhat like an outcast; but now I was conscious that there was One still watching over me. My soul leaped with joy at the thought: I never felt so grateful in all my life; I never before loved God so sincerely. I felt that I still had a friend.”
There are some that will sneer50 at Davy’s confession[275] of his faith and love, forgetting that the wandering outcast, even the worst of men, looks out sometimes from the darkest depths to the long-remembered sweetness of a mother’s smile. “How sharp the point of this remembrance is!” The careless or the hardened shrink from tender memories, but sometimes, in the moment of evil impulse or of passion’s sway, their hands by these are stayed from wickedness. In such a heart as Davy Crockett’s there will always burn the reverential fires that keep the soul alight.
At Fulton Davy took passage on a steamboat for Natchitoches, in Louisiana. As the boat puffed51 its way down the writhing52 channel of the Red River, he noticed a small cluster of passengers intent upon something that seemed to be very amusing. “I drew nigh to the cluster,” he says, “and, seated on a chest, was a tall, lank53 sea-sarpent-looking blackleg, who was interesting the passengers by his skill at thimble-rig [the shell game]; at the same time he was picking up their shillings just as fast as a hungry gobbler would a pint54 of corn.”
Noticing Davy’s interest in his actions, the[276] gambler finally urged him to make a bet; whereupon Davy, knowing the trick, named the thimble under which the pea was resting, but insisted upon lifting it himself. The pea was there, and the gambler was obliged to treat the crowd about him. After the laugh was over, “poor Thimblerig,” as Davy calls him, had to forego his game, and soon came and started a conversation with the man who had outwitted him. He seemed to be a good-natured, intelligent sort of fellow, “with a keen eye to the main chance.” “He belonged to that numerous class,” says Davy, “that you can trust as far as you can sling55 a bull by the tail, and no farther. All the time he was talking to me he was seated on a chest, playing mechanically with his pea and thimbles, as if he was afraid he would lose his sleight-of-hand.”
At Natchitoches, the gambler, deploring56 his past and the hopelessness of his leading an honest life, was told by Davy that if he could not really lead the life of an honest man, the next best thing was to die like a brave one.
“Most men are remembered as they died,” said Davy “and not as they lived.”
[277]
“You are right; but how is this to be done?”
“Come with me to Texas; cut aloof57 from your degrading habits and associates, and in fighting for freedom, regain58 your own.”
The gambler started from the table at which he was sitting, seized Davy’s hand, and exclaimed, with kindling59 eyes, “I will be a man again, and live honestly or die bravely. I will go with you to Texas.” In this way was Thimblerig enlisted60. His real name is not known.
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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enlists
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| v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的第三人称单数 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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canvass
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| v.招徕顾客，兜售；游说；详细检查，讨论 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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6
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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7
relishes
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| n.滋味( relish的名词复数 )；乐趣；（大量的）享受；快乐v.欣赏( relish的第三人称单数 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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8
mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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9
pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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mileage
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| n.里程，英里数；好处，利润 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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12
fawning
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| adj.乞怜的，奉承的v.（尤指狗等）跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的现在分词 )；巴结；讨好 | |
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13
aristocrats
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| n.贵族( aristocrat的名词复数 ) | |
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14
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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15
surmount
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| vt.克服；置于…顶上 | |
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overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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prodigal
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| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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thawing
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| n.熔化，融化v.（气候）解冻( thaw的现在分词 )；（态度、感情等）缓和；（冰、雪及冷冻食物）溶化；软化 | |
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22
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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patriots
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| 爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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24
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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25
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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26
discrepancy
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| n.不同；不符；差异；矛盾 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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Congressman
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| n.（美）国会议员 | |
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29
subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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30
blazoned
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| v.广布( blazon的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布；夸示；装饰 | |
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scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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garrisoning
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的现在分词 )； 派部队驻防 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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35
subscribed
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| v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
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36
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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37
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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38
adobe
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| n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司 | |
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39
pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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40
ferment
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| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
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41
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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42
antipathies
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| 反感( antipathy的名词复数 )； 引起反感的事物； 憎恶的对象； （在本性、倾向等方面的）不相容 | |
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43
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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44
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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45
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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46
alders
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| n.桤木( alder的名词复数 ) | |
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47
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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48
fiddled
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| v.伪造( fiddle的过去式和过去分词 )；篡改；骗取；修理或稍作改动 | |
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49
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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50
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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51
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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52
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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53
lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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54
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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55
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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deploring
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| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的现在分词 ) | |
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57
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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58
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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59
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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