CHAPTER XIII.
The news of the coming of the South Carolinians had not reached Illinois when I started for Kansas, but when I had reached Western Missouri the country was alive with excitement.Maj.Jefferson Buford had arrived with 350 soldiers, and a part of them were quartered in Atchison.

Some persons whose acquaintance I had made, and who were my friends, besought me not to go on.
The last night I stayed in Missouri was at De Kalb.

A gentleman who had come from St.Joseph stayed over night at the hotel where I put up.

He was tall of stature, with a flowing beard sprinkled with gray, and was of a remarkably dignified and impressive presence.

We conversed during the evening on general topics, but no allusion was made to the one exciting topic, on which almost all seemed ready to talk _instanter._ The next morning he overtook me.