106 
KANSAS. 
Runners have gone to Missouri, and there will be a battle fought 
this morning.” 
The simple question asked was, “Where? ” 
And the brief reply, “ Down here on the plain,” was only a 
little startling. 
The horseman drove away, and we heard already the sound of 
-the drum, and the quick words of the captain of the little band 
of rescuers, as they came upon the brow of the hill beyond us. 
Scarcely had the fire been built ere the simple word, “ Halt! ” in 
a tone of command, was spoken, and a line fronting the house 
quickly formed. The slight form of the leader stood a little 
nearer the door; and, when his peculiarly dry manner of speech 
fell upon the ear in his brief inquiry, “ Is Dr. R. in ? ” his iden¬ 
tity was also known. The doctor opened the door, and invited 
them in. 
The fact of the rescue was stated, and Mr. Branson, being in 
the ranks, was ordered to “ step forward, and tell his story,” 
which he did with much feeling, and with the appearance of a 
person who is heart-broken. I shall never forget the appearance 
of the men in simple citizen’s dress, some armed and some un¬ 
armed, standing in unbroken line, just visible in the breaking light 
of a November morning. This little band, of less than twenty 
men, had, through the cold and upon the frozen ground, walked 
ten miles since nine o’clock of the previous evening. Mr. Bran¬ 
son, a large man, of fine proportions, stood a little forward of the 
line, with his head slightly bent, which an old straw hat hardly 
protected from the cold, looking as though, in his hurry of de¬ 
parture from home in charge of the ruffianly men, he took what¬ 
ever came first. As he, in simple, unaffected style, told of this 
outrage upon humanity, we felt that, as in days when men left 
their ploughs in the furrows at their country’s call, so now have 
come again “ days which try men’s souls,” and that this may be 
the beginning of a contest which shall drench the whole country 
in blood. Now, as then, w T e need strong hearts to battle for the 
right — to die, it may be, if the sacrifice is needed. 
The drum beat again, and the rescuers and rescued passed 
lown to Lawrence. After telling E. she had better take another 
