An unsmiling gravity marked them all.

When the dusky velvet of the prairie night settled on almost the last day of the rendezvous it brought a general feeling of anxiety, dread, uneasiness, fear.

Now, indeed, and at last, all these realized what was the thing that they had undertaken.
To add yet more to the natural apprehensions of men and women embarking on so stupendous an adventure, all manner of rumors now continually passed from one company to another.

It was said that five thousand Mormons, armed to the teeth, had crossed the river at St.Joseph and were lying in wait on the Platte, determined to take revenge for the persecutions they had suffered in Missouri and Illinois.

Another story said that the Kaw Indians, hitherto friendly, had banded together for robbery and were only waiting for the train to appear.