The sound of rifle fire was like that of a battle--every man was sighting-in his rifle.

Singing and shouting went on everywhere.

Someone fresh from the Mexican War had brought a drum, another a bugle.

Without instructions, these began to sound their summons and continued all day long, at such times as the performers could spare from drink.
The Indians of the friendly tribes--Otos, Kaws, Osages--come in to trade, looked on in wonder at the revelings of the whites.

The straggling street of each of the near-by river towns was full of massed wagons.