But when we had got to the river they seemed to have got to the end of their programme, and there we stood.

Then some little boys, anxious to see the fun go on, told me to get on a large cotton-wood stump close by and defend myself.
I told the little fellows I did not know what I was accused of yet.

This broke the silence, and the men that had me in charge asked: "Did the Emigrant Aid Society send you here ?" "No; I have no connection with the Emigrant Aid Society." "Well, what did you come for ?" "I came because I had a mind to come.

What did you come for ?" "Did you come to make Kansas a free State ?" "No, not primarily; but I shall vote to make Kansas a free State." "Are you a correspondent of the _New York Tribune_ ?" "No; I have not written a line to the _Tribune_ since I came to Kansas." By this time a great crowd had gathered around, and each man took his turn in cross-questioning me, while I replied, as best I could, to this storm of questions, accusations and invectives.

We went over the whole ground.