They had never before seen men who could write with a journalist's ordinary rapidity, and were greatly surprised at the large number of pages we succeeded in passing over.

We were repeatedly interrupted, until forced to make a request to be let alone.

The negroes took every opportunity to look at us, and, when none but ourselves could see them, they favored us with choice bits of local information.

When we departed, late in the afternoon, four stout negroes ferried us across the river.
A hotel known as the California House was our stopping-place, ten miles from the Gasconade.

As an evidence of our approaching return to civilization, we found each bed at this house supplied with two clean sheets, a luxury that Springfield was unable to furnish.