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As to the start of the great wagon train, little time, indeed, remained

For days, in some instances for weeks, the units of the train had lain

here on the border, and therestless Some had come a

thousand miles and noere keen to start out for rass was up The men from Illinois, Indiana,

Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas fretted on the leash

All along the crooked river front, on both sides froreat spring caravan lay encamped, or

housed in town Now, on the last days of the rendezvous, a sort of

hysteria seized the multitude The sound of rifle fire was like that of

a battle--everywent

on everywhere Soht a druan to sound their

su, at such times as the performers

could spare from drink

The Indians of the friendly tribes--Otos, Kaws, Osages--cos of the whites The

straggling street of each of the near-by river toas full of ons The treble line of white tops, end to end, lay like a vast

serpent, curving, ahead to the West Rivalry for the head of the colule set a thousand uncoördinated wheels

spasanization, system were as yet unknown in