So they rowed through the bitter morning hours.
Leavenworth and other towns were saluted, crowds always cheering on the
banks, and the following afternoon, almost frozen, they landed at
Kansas City, where for two miles the bank was a solid mass of humanity.
Among those who greeted them was an uncle whom Paul had never seen, Mr.
Peter Behan, a famous guide and one of the first who ever piloted a
wagon train across the plains to California. The voyagers were tendered
the freedom of the city and were hospitably entertained. Next morning
the journey was resumed amid deafening plaudits.
Speed was now the one thing necessary and Boyton knew there would be
some chance of finishing their trip on skates if they did not reach
St. Louis ahead of the cold wave that was setting down the river. They
passed the United States snag boat, Wright, directly after leaving
Kansas City and in the evening paddled by Berlin. Wild geese and ducks
were still seen in great numbers at places and several mud hens were run
down and killed. At Camden and many other towns, bonfires were built by
the enthusiastic citizens who were determined to catch sight of the
hardy navigator, whether he passed by in the night or day.
They had now four hundred miles ahead of them.
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