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Show 62 WESTERN WILDS. < t If I was amazed at the appearance of these patriots, how much more was I confounded by their language ! Can I record their con-versation, their absurd views of political morality, their desires, their hopes ! A few were, I trust, like myself, acting from pure love of liberty, a few for the good of the republic, more from a hope of gain, and most from the pure abandon of Western character. But from the eyes of all gleamed a good nature that gave hope of social comfort and safety among them, while the cheerful frankness with which they spoke of their past indicated too plainly that a few of them felt more comfortable TO THE RENDEZVOUS. beyond the reach of legal process. One young man, whose conversa-tion showed some culture, evinced great anxiety to form a junction with the main army, and penetrate at once into the Mexican settle-ments and no wonder. I afterwards learned that he had left St. Louis impromptu, somewhat in arrears in his accounts with a bank in which he had been employed. His most intimate companion was equally eager for an early advance. The friends of a lady in Ohio, he frankly stated, had given him a great deal of trouble all uncalled for, |