Good fellowship prevailed as strangers met, each anxious to learn something of those who might by chance become his neighbors in line.

Among the pleasant acquaintances made that day, was Mr. J.Q.  Thornton, a young attorney from Quincy, Illinois, who, with his invalid wife, was emigrating to Oregon.  He informed us that himself and wife and ex-Governor Boggs and family, of Missouri, were hourly expecting Alphonso Boone, grandson of Daniel Boone; and that as soon as Boone and his family should arrive from Kentucky, they would all hasten on to join Colonel Russell’s California company, which was already on the way, but had promised to await them somewhere on the Kansas River.

It was then believed that at least seven thousand emigrant wagons would go West, through Independence, that season.  Obviously the journey should be made while pasturage and water continued plentiful along the route.  Our little party at once determined to overtake Colonel Russell and apply for admission to his train, and for that purpose we resumed travel early on the morning of May twelfth.

As we drove up Main Street, delayed emigrants waved us a light-hearted good-bye, and as we approached the building of the American Tract Society, its agent came to our wagons and put into the hand of each child a New Testament, and gave to each adult a Bible, and also tracts to distribute among the heathen in the benighted land to which we were going.  Near the outskirts of town we parted from William Donner, took a last look at Independence, turned our backs to the morning sun, and became pioneers indeed to the Far West.

[Illustration:  The camp attacked by Indians]

[Illustration:  Our stealthy foes]

CHAPTER II

IN THE TERRITORY OF KANSAS—­PRAIRIE SCHOONERS FROM SANTA FE TO INDEPENDENCE, MO.—­LIFE en route—­THE BIG BLUE—­CAMP GOVERNMENT—­THE Blue Rover.

During our first few days in the Territory of Kansas we passed over good roads, and through fields of May blossoms musical with the hum of bees and the songs of birds.  Some of the party rode horseback; others walked in advance of the train; but each father drove his own family team.  We little folk sat in the wagons with our dolls, watching the huge white-covered “prairie schooners” coming from Santa Fe to Independence for merchandise.  We could hear them from afar, for the great wagons were drawn by four or five span of travel-worn horses or mules, and above the hames of each poor beast was an arch hung with from three to five clear-toned bells, that jingled merrily as their carriers moved along, guided by a happy-go-lucky driver, usually singing or whistling a gleeful tune.  Both man and beast looked longingly toward the town, which promised companionship and revelry to the one, and rest and fodder to the other.