The people of the Territory looked on in amazement.

The boys jeeringly called the Committee of Public Safety "The Committee of the Public Safety Valve." The writer had given his testimony before the Investigating Committee while they were yet in Lawrence.

A number of South Carolinians had been present while this testimony was being given, and they had protested in a towering rage, "We will shoot Butler on sight." It was evident the town had to be given up to the tender mercies of this mob of ruffians.

There was nothing to be gained by remaining, and the writer, sick at heart, went back to Atchison county; but he afterwards returned to see the blackened ruins of the desolated town.
On May 21st the monster _posse_, led on by Marshal Donaldson and Deputy Marshal Fain, gathered around the doomed city.

The town was quiet--unusually so.