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diff --git a/old/dchef10h.htm b/old/dchef10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2205d1b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/dchef10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4083 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<title>The Daughter of the Chieftain</title> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Daughter of the Chieftain, by Edward S. Ellis +#4 in our series by Edward S. Ellis + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Daughter of the Chieftain + The Story of an Indian Girl + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7493] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on May 10, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DAUGHTER OF THE CHIEFTAIN *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>The Daughter of the Chieftain</h1> +<br> +<h2>The Story of an Indian Girl</h2> +<br><br> +<h3>by Edward S. Ellis.</h3> +<br><br><br><br> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_ONE">CHAPTER ONE: OMAS, ALICE, AND +LINNA</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_TWO">CHAPTER TWO: DANGER IN THE +AIR</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_THREE">CHAPTER THREE: JULY THIRD, +1778</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_FOUR">CHAPTER FOUR: THE EASTERN +SHORE</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_FIVE">CHAPTER FIVE: IN THE WOODS</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_SIX">CHAPTER SIX: PUSHING EASTWARD</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_SEVEN">CHAPTER SEVEN: JABEZ ZITNER</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_EIGHT">CHAPTER EIGHT: LINNA'S +WOODCRAFT</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_NINE">CHAPTER NINE: IN A CIRCLE</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_TEN">CHAPTER TEN: NEAR THE END</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_ELEVEN">CHAPTER ELEVEN: ALL IN +VAIN</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_TWELVE">CHAPTER TWELVE: CONCLUSION</a></h3> +<br><br><br><br> +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_ONE"></a>CHAPTER ONE: OMAS, +ALICE, AND LINNA</h1> + +<p>I don't suppose there is any use in trying to find out when +the game of "Jack Stones" was first played. No one can tell. It +certainly is a good many hundred years old.</p> + +<p>All boys and girls know how to play it. There is the little +rubber ball, which you toss in the air, catch up one of the odd +iron prongs, without touching another, and while the ball is +aloft; then you do the same with another, and again with another, +until none is left. After that you seize a couple at a time, +until all have been used; then three, and four, and so on, with +other variations, to the end of the game.</p> + +<p>Doubtless your fathers and mothers, if they watch you during +the progress of the play, will think it easy and simple. If they +do, persuade them to try it. You will soon laugh at their +failure.</p> + +<p>Now, when we older folks were young like you, we did not have +the regular, scraggly bits of iron and dainty rubber ball. We +played with pieces of stones. I suspect more deftness was needed +in handling them than in using the new fashioned pieces. +Certainly, in trials than I can remember, I never played the game +through without a break; but then I was never half so handy as +you are at such things: that, no doubt, accounts for it.</p> + +<p>Well, a good many years ago, before any of your fathers or +mothers were born, a little girl named Alice Ripley sat near her +home playing "Jack Stones." It was the first of July, 1778, and +although her house was made of logs, had no carpets or stove, but +a big fireplace, where all the food was made ready for eating, +yet no sweeter or happier girl can be found today, if you spend +weeks in searching for her. Nor can you come upon a more lovely +spot in which to build a home, for it was the famed Wyoming +Valley, in Western Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>Now, since some of my young friends may not be acquainted with +this place, you will allow me to tell you that the Wyoming Valley +lies between the Blue Ridge and the Alleghany Mountains, and that +the beautiful Susquehanna River runs through it.</p> + +<p>The valley runs northeast and southwest, and is twenty-one +miles long, with an average breadth of three miles. The bottom +lands -- that is, those in the lowest portion -- are sometimes +overflowed when there is an unusual quantity of water in the +river. In some places the plains are level, and in others, +rolling. The soil is very fertile.</p> + +<p>Two mountain ranges hem in the valley. The one on the east has +an average height of a thousand feet, and the other two hundred +feet less. The eastern range is steep, mostly barren, and abounds +with caverns, clefts, ravines, and forests. The western is not +nearly so wild, and is mostly cultivated.</p> + +<p>The meaning of the Indian word for Wyoming is "Large Plains," +which, like most of the Indian names, fits very well indeed.</p> + +<p>The first white man who visited Wyoming was a good Moravian +missionary, Count Zinzendorf -- in 1742. He toiled among the +Delaware Indians who lived there, and those of his faith who +followed him were the means of the conversion of a great many red +men.</p> + +<p>The fierce warriors became humble Christians, who set the best +example to wild brethren, and often to the wicked white men.</p> + +<p>More than twenty years before the Revolution settlers began +making their way into the Wyoming Valley. You would think their +only trouble would be with the Indians, who always look with +anger upon intruders of that kind, but really their chief +difficulty was with white people.</p> + +<p>Most of these pioneers came from Connecticut. The successors +of William Penn, who had bought Pennsylvania from his king, and +then again from the Indians, did not fancy having settlers from +other colonies take possession of one of the garden spots of his +grant.</p> + +<p>I cannot tell you about the quarrels between the settlers from +Connecticut and those that were already living in Pennsylvania. +Forty of the invaders, as they may be called, put up a fort, +which was named on that account Forty Fort. This was in the +winter of 1769, and two hundred more pioneers followed them in +the spring. The fort stood on the western bank of the river.</p> + +<p>The Pennsylvanians, however, had prepared for them, and the +trouble began. During the few years following, the New Englanders +were three times driven out of the valley, and the men, women, +and children were obliged to tramp for two hundred miles through +the unbroken wilderness to their old homes. But they rallied and +came back again, and at last were strong enough to hold their +ground. About this time the mutterings of the American Revolution +began to be heard, and the Pennsylvanians and New Englanders +forgot their enmity and became brothers in their struggle for +independence.</p> + +<p>Among the pioneers from Connecticut who put up their old +fashioned log houses in Wyoming were George Ripley and his wife +Ruth. They were young, frugal, industrious, and worthy people. +They had but one child -- a boy named Benjamin; but after awhile +Alice was added to the family, and at the date of which I am +telling you she was six years and her brother thirteen years +old.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ripley was absent with the continental army under General +Washington, fighting the battles of his country. Benjamin, on +this spring day, was visiting some of his friends further down +the valley; so that when Alice came forth to play "Jack Stones" +alone, no one was in sight, though her next neighbor lived hardly +two hundred yards away.</p> + +<p>I wish you could have seen her as she looked on that summer +afternoon. She had been helping, so far as she was able, her +mother in the house, until the parent told her to go outdoors and +amuse herself. She was chubby, plump, healthy, with round pink +cheeks, yellow hair tied in a coil at the back of her head, and +her big eyes were as blue, and clear, and bright as they could +be.</p> + +<p>She wore a brown homespun dress -- that is to say, the +materials had been woven by the deft fingers of her mother, with +the aid of the old spinning wheel, which in those days formed a +part of every household. The dark stockings were knitted by the +same busy fingers, with the help of the flashing needles; and the +shoes, put together by Peleg Quintin, the humpbacked shoemaker, +were heavy and coarse, and did not fit any too well.</p> + +<p>The few simple articles of underwear were all homemade, clean, +and comfortable, and the same could be said of the clothing of +the brother and of the mother herself.</p> + +<p>Alice came running out of the open front door, bounding off +the big flat stone which served as a step with a single leap, +and, running to a spot of green grass a few yards away, where +there was not a bit of dirt or a speck of dust, she sat down and +began the game of which I told you at the opening of this +story.</p> + +<p>Alice was left handed. So when she took position, she leaned +over to the right, supporting her body with that arm, while with +the other hand she tossed the little jagged pieces of stone +aloft, snatching up the others, and letting the one that was +going up and down in the air drop into her chubby palm.</p> + +<p>She had been playing perhaps ten minutes, when she found +someone was watching her.</p> + +<p>She did not see him at first, but heard a low, deep "Huh!" +partly at one side and partly behind her.</p> + +<p>Instead of glancing around, she finished the turn of the game +on which she was engaged just then. That done, she clasped all +the Jack Stones in her hand, assumed the upright posture, and +looked behind her.</p> + +<p>"I thought it was you, Omas," she said with a merry laugh; "do +you want to play Jack Stones with me?"</p> + +<p>If you could have seen the person whom she thus addressed, you +would have thought it a strange way of speaking.</p> + +<p>He was an Indian warrior, belonging to the tribe of Delawares. +Those who knew about him said he was one of the fiercest red men +that ever went on the warpath. A few years before, there had been +a massacre of the settlers, and Omas was foremost among the +Indians who swung the tomahawk and fired his rifle at the white +people.</p> + +<p>He was tall, sinewy, active, and powerful. Three stained eagle +feathers were fastened on his crown in the long black hair, and +his hunting shirt, leggings, and moccasins were bright with +different colored beads and fringes. In the red sash which passed +around his waist were thrust a hunting knife and tomahawk, while +one hand clasped a cumbersome rifle, which, like all firearms of +those times, was used with ramrod and flintlock.</p> + +<p>Omas would have had a rather pleasing face had he let it +alone; but his people love bright colors, and he was never seen +without a lot of paint daubed over it. This was made up of black, +white, and yellow circles, lines, and streaks that made him look +frightful.</p> + +<p>But Alice was not scared at all. She and Omas were old +friends. Nearly a year before, he stopped at their cabin one +stormy night and asked for something to eat. Mrs. Ripley gave him +plenty of coarse brown, well baked bread and cold meat, and +allowed him to sleep on the floor until morning.</p> + +<p>Benjamin was rather shy of the fierce looking Delaware, but +Alice took to him at first. She brought him a basin of water, and +asked him to please wash his face.</p> + +<p>The startled mother gently reproved her; but Omas did that +which an Indian rarely does -- smiled. He spoke English unusually +well, and knew why the child had proposed to him to use the +water.</p> + +<p>He told her that he had a little girl that he called Linna, +about the same age as Alice. Upon hearing this, what did Alice +do, but climb upon the warrior's knee and ask him to tell her all +about Linna. Well, the result was, that an affection was formed +between this wild warrior and the gentle little girl.</p> + +<p>Omas promised to bring his child to see Alice, who, with her +mother's permission, said she would return the visit. There can +be no doubt that the Delaware often went a long way out of his +course, for no other reason than to spend an hour or less with +Alice Ripley. The brother and mother always made him feel +welcome, and to the good parent the influence of her child upon +the savage red man had a peculiar interest which nothing else in +the world could possess for her. So you understand why it was +that Alice did not start and show any fear when she looked around +and saw the warrior standing less than ten feet off, and +attentively watching her.</p> + +<p>"You can't play Jack Stones as well as I," she said, looking +saucily up at him.</p> + +<p>"I beat you," was his reply, as he strode forward and sat down +cross legged on the grass.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see you do it! You think you're very smart, don't +you?"</p> + +<p>A shadowy smile played around the stern mouth, and the +Delaware, who had studied the simple game long enough to +understand it, began the sport under the observant eyes of his +little mistress.</p> + +<p>While both were intent on the amusement, Mrs. Ripley came to +the door and stood wonderingly looking at them.</p> + +<p>"It does seem as if Indians are human beings like the rest of +us," was her thought; "but who could resist her gentle ways?"</p> + +<p>Up went the single stone in the air, and Omas grabbed the +batch that were lying on the ground, and then caught the first as +it came down.</p> + +<p>"That won't do!" called Alice, seizing the brawny hand, which +-- sad to say -- had been stained with blood as innocent as hers; +"you didn't do that fair!"</p> + +<p>"What de matter?" he asked, looking reproachfully into the +round face almost against his own.</p> + +<p>"I'll show you how. Now, I lay those three on the ground like +that. Then I toss up this, pick up one without touching any of +the others, keep it in my hand and pick up the next -- see?"</p> + +<p>She illustrated her instruction by her work, while her pupil +listened and stared.</p> + +<p>"I know -- I know," he said quickly. "I show you." Then the +wag of a Delaware tossed the first stone fully twenty feet aloft, +caught up the others, and took that on the fly.</p> + +<p>"I never saw anybody as dumb as you," was the comment. "What +is the use of your trying? You couldn't learn to play Jack Stones +in ever so long."</p> + +<p>She was about to try him again, when, childlike, she darted +off upon a widely different subject, for it had just come into +her little head.</p> + +<p>"Omas, when you were here the other day, you promised that the +next time you came to see me you would bring Linna."</p> + +<p>"Dat so -- Omas promise."</p> + +<p>"Then why haven't you done as you said?"</p> + +<p>"Omas never speak with double tongue; he bring Linna with +him."</p> + +<p>"You did? -- where is she?" asked Alice, springing to her +feet, clasping her hands, and looking expectantly around.</p> + +<p>The Delaware emitted a shrill, tremulous whistle, and +immediately from the wood several rods behind them came running +the oddest looking little girl anyone could have met in a long +time.</p> + +<p>Her face was as round as that of Alice, her long, black hair +hung loosely over her shoulders, her small eyes were as black as +jet, her nose a pug, her teeth as white and regular as were ever +seen, while her dress was a rude imitation of her father's except +the skirt came below her knees. Her feet were as small as a +doll's, and encased in the beaded little moccasins, were as +pretty as they could be.</p> + +<p>"That is Linna," said the proud father as she came obediently +forward.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_TWO"></a>CHAPTER TWO: DANGER +IN THE AIR</h1> + +<p>Little Linna, daughter of Omas, the Delaware warrior, was of +the same age as Alice Ripley. The weather was warm although she +wore tiny moccasins to protect her feet, she scorned the +superfluous stockings and undergarments that formed a part of the +other's apparel.</p> + +<p>Her hair was as black, abundant, and almost as long as her +father's; but her face was clean, and, perhaps in honor of the +occasion, she, too, sported a gaudy eagle feather in her +hair.</p> + +<p>She bounded out of the green wood like a fawn, but as she drew +near her parent and Alice, her footsteps became slower, and she +halted a few paces away, hung her head, with her forefinger +between her pretty white teeth -- for all the world like any +white girl of her years.</p> + +<p>But Alice did not allow her to remain embarrassed. She had +been begging for this visit, and now, when she saw her friend, +she ran forward, took her little plump hand and said -- "Linna, I +am real glad you have come!"</p> + +<p>Omas had risen to his feet, and watched the girls with an +affection and interest which found no expression on his painted +face. His child looked timidly up to him and walked slowly +forward, her hand clasped in that of Alice. She did not speak, +but when her escort sat down on the grass, she did the same.</p> + +<p>"Linna, do you know how to play Jack Stones?" asked Alice, +picking up the pebbles.</p> + +<p>Linna shook her head quickly several times, but her lips +remained mute.</p> + +<p>"Your father thought he knew how, but he don't; he doesn't +play fair, either. Let me show you, so you can beat him when you +go home."</p> + +<p>Alice set to work, while the bright black eyes watched every +movement.</p> + +<p>"Now do you want to try it?" she asked, after going through +the game several times.</p> + +<p>Linna nodded her head with the same birdlike quickness, and +reached out her chubby hand.</p> + +<p>Her father and Alice watched her closely. She made several +failures at first, all of which were patiently explained by her +tutor; by and by she went through the performance from beginning +to end without a break.</p> + +<p>Alice clapped her hands with delight, and Omas -- certain that +no grownup person saw him -- smiled with pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't she know how to talk?" asked Alice, looking up at the +warrior. Omas spoke somewhat sharply to his child in the Delaware +tongue. She startled, and looking at Alice, asked --</p> + +<p>"Do -- yoo think me play well?"</p> + +<p>Alice was delighted to find she could make herself understood +so easily. It was wonderful how she had learned to speak English +so early in life.</p> + +<p>"I guess you can," was the ready reply of Alice; "your father +can't begin to play as well. When you go home you can show your +mamma how to play Jack Stones. Have you any brothers and +sisters?"</p> + +<p>"No; me have no brother -- no sister."</p> + +<p>"That's too bad! I've got a big brother Ben. He isn't home +now, but he will be here to supper. He's a nice boy, and you will +like him. Let's go in the house now to see mamma, and you can +teach me how to talk Indian."</p> + +<p>Both girls bounded to their feet, and hand in hand, walked to +the door, with Omas gravely stalking after them.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley had learned of the visitor, and stood on the +threshold to welcome her. She took her by the hand and led her +inside. Omas paused, as if in doubt whether he should follow; but +her invitation to him was so cordial, that he stepped within and +seated himself on a chair.</p> + +<p>That afternoon and night could never be forgotten by Alice +Ripley. In a very little while she and her visitor were on the +best of terms; laughing, romping, and chasing each other in and +out of doors, just as if they were twin sisters that had never +been separated from each other.</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Ripley asked Omas for how long a time he could leave +his child with them, he said he must take her back that evening. +His wigwam was a good many miles away in the woods, and he would +have to travel all night to reach the village of his tribe.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley, however, pleaded so hard, that he consented to +let his child stay until he came back the next day or soon +thereafter for her.</p> + +<p>When he rose to go, the long summer day was drawing to a +close. He spoke to Linna in their native tongue. She was sitting +on the floor just then, playing with a wonderful rag baby, but +was up in a flash, and followed him outside.</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment and she will come back," said Mrs. Ripley to +her own child. She knew what the movement meant: Omas did not +wish anyone to see him and Linna.</p> + +<p>On the outside he moved to the left, and glanced around to +make sure that no person was looking that way. Then he lifted the +little one from the ground; she threw her arms around his neck, +and he pressed her to his breast and kissed her several times +with great warmth. Then he set her down, and she ran laughing +into the house, while he strode off to the woods.</p> + +<p>But at the moment of entering them he stopped abruptly, +wheeled about, and walked slowly back toward the cabin.</p> + +<p>Upon the return of Linna, Mrs. Ripley stepped to the front +door to look for her son. He was not in sight, but Omas had +stopped again hardly a rod distant. He stood a moment, looking +fixedly at her, and then beckoned with his free hand for her to +approach.</p> + +<p>Without hesitation she stepped off the broad flat stone and +went to him.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Omas?" she asked in an undertone, pausing in +front of him, and gazing up into the grim, painted +countenance.</p> + +<p>The Delaware returned the look for a few seconds, as if +studying how to say what was in his mind. Then in a voice lower +even than hers, he said -- "You -- little girl -- big boy -- go +way soon -- must not stay here."</p> + +<p>"Why do you say that, Omas?"</p> + +<p>"Iroquois like leaves on trees -- white men, call Tories -- +soon come down here -- kill all white people -- kill you -- kill +little girl, big boy -- if you stay here."</p> + +<p>The pioneer's wife had heard the same rumors for days past. +She knew there was cause for fear, for nearly all the able bodied +men in Wyoming were absent with the patriot army, fighting for +independence. The inhabitants in the valley had begged Congress +to send some soldiers to protect them, and the relatives of the +women and children had asked again and again that they might go +home to save their loved ones from the Tories and Indians; but +the prayer was refused. The soldiers in the army were too few to +be spared, and no one away from Wyoming believed the danger as +great as it was.</p> + +<p>But the people themselves knew the peril, and did their best +to prepare for it. But who should know more about the Indians and +Tories than Omas, the great Delaware warrior?</p> + +<p>When, therefore, he said these words to Mrs. Ripley, that +woman's heart beat faster. She heard the laughter and prattle of +the children in the house, and she thought of that bright boy, +playing with his young friends not far away.</p> + +<p>"Where can we go?" she asked, in the same guarded voice.</p> + +<p>"With Omas," was the prompt reply; "hide in wigwam of Omas. +Nobody hurt palefaced friend of Omas."</p> + +<p>It was a trying situation. The brave woman, who had passed +through many dangers with her husband, knew what a visit from the +Tories and Indians meant; but she shrank from leaving Wyoming, +and all her friends and neighbors.</p> + +<p>"When will they come?" she asked; "will it be in a few weeks +or in a few days?"</p> + +<p>"Getting ready now; Brandt with Iroquois -- Butler with Tory +-- soon be here."</p> + +<p>"But do you mean that we shall all go with you tonight?"</p> + +<p>The Delaware was silent for a few seconds. His active brain +was busy, reviewing the situation.</p> + +<p>"No," he finally said; "stay here till Omas come back; then go +with him -- all go -- den no one be hurt."</p> + +<p>"Very well; we will wait till you come to us again. We will +take good care of Linna."</p> + +<p>And without another word the Delaware turned once more, strode +to the forest, which was then in fullest leaf, and vanished among +the trees.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley walked slowly back to the door. On the threshold +she halted, and looked around again for her absent boy. It was +growing dark, and she began to feel a vague alarm for him.</p> + +<p>A whistle fell on her ear. It was the sweetest music she had +ever heard, for it came from the lips of her boy.</p> + +<p>He was in sight, coming along the well worn path that led in +front of the other dwellings and to her own door. When he saw +her, he waved his hand in salutation, but could not afford to +break in on the vigorous melody which kept his lips puckered.</p> + +<p>She saw he was carrying something on his shoulder. A second +glance showed that it was one of the heavy rifles used by the +pioneers a hundred years ago. The sight -- taken with what Omas +had just said -- filled her heart with forebodings.</p> + +<p>She waited until the lad came up. He kissed her +affectionately, and then in the offhand manner of a big boy, let +the butt of the gun drop on the ground, leaned the top away from +him, and glancing from it to his mother, asked -- "What do you +think of it?"</p> + +<p>"It seems to be a good gun. Whose is it?"</p> + +<p>"Mine," was the proud response. "Colonel Butler ordered that +it be given to me, and I'm to use it, too, mother."</p> + +<p>"For what purpose?"</p> + +<p>"The other Colonel Butler -- you know he is a cousin to ours +-- has got a whole lot of Tories" (who, you know, were Americans +fighting against their countrymen) "and Indians, and they're +coming down to wipe out Wyoming; but I guess they will find it a +harder job than they think."</p> + +<p>And to show his contempt for the danger, the muscular lad +lifted his weighty weapon to a level, and pretended to sight it +at a tree.</p> + +<p>"I wish that was a Tory or one of those Six Nation Indians -- +wouldn't I drop him!"</p> + +<p>The mother could not share the buoyancy of her son. She +stepped outside, so as to be beyond the hearing of the little +ones.</p> + +<p>"Omas has been here; that is his little girl that you hear +laughing with Alice. He has told me the same as you -- the Tories +and Indians are coming, and he wants us to flee with him."</p> + +<p>"What does he mean by that?" asked the half indignant boy.</p> + +<p>"He says they will put us all to death, and if we do not go +with him, we will be killed too."</p> + +<p>The handsome face of Benjamin Ripley took on an expression of +scorn, and as he straightened up, he seemed to become several +inches taller.</p> + +<p>"He forgets that I am with you! Omas is very kind; but he and +his Tory friends had better look out for themselves. Why, with +the men at the fort, Colonel Butler will have several +hundred."</p> + +<p>"But they are mostly old men and boys."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the high spirited lad, with a twinkle of his fine +hazel eyes, "add up a lot of old men and boys, and the average is +the same number of middle aged men, isn't it? Don't you worry, +mother -- things are all right. If Omas comes back, give him our +thanks, and tell him we are not going to sneak off when we are +needed at home."</p> + +<p>It was hard to resist the contagion of Ben's hopefulness. The +mother not only loved but respected him as much as she could have +done had he been several years older. He had been her mainstay +for the two years past, during which the father was absent with +the patriot army; and she came to lean upon him more and more, +though her heart sank when Ben began to talk of following his +father into the ranks, to help in the struggle for +independence.</p> + +<p>She found herself looking upon the situation as Ben did. If so +great danger threatened Wyoming, it would be cowardly for them to +leave their friends to their fate. It was clear all could not +find safety by going, and she would feel she was doing wrong if +she gave no heed to the others.</p> + +<p>Ben was tall and strong for his years, and the fact that he +had taken the gun from Colonel Butler to be used in taking care +of the settlement bound the youth in honor to do so.</p> + +<p>"It shall be as you say," said the mother; "I cannot be as +hopeful as you, but it is our duty to stay. We will not talk +about it before the children."</p> + +<p>"I want to see how a little Indian girl looks," muttered Ben +with a laugh, following his mother into the house.</p> + +<p>Alice caught sight of him, and was in his arms the next +instant, while Linna rose to her feet, and stood with her +forefinger between her teeth, shyly studying the newcomer.</p> + +<p>"Helloa, Linna! how are you?" he called, setting down his +young sister and catching up the little Indian. Not only that, +but he gave her a resounding smack on her dusky cheek.</p> + +<p>"I always like pretty little girls, and I'm going to be your +beau: what do you say? Is it a bargain?"</p> + +<p>It is not to be supposed that the Delaware miss caught the +whole meaning of this momentous question. She was a little +overwhelmed by the rush of the big boy's manner, and nodded her +head about a dozen times.</p> + +<p>"There, Alice; do you understand that?" he asked, making the +room ring with his merry laughter; "I'm to be Linna's beau. How +do you like it?"</p> + +<p>"I'm glad for you, but I -- guess -- I oughter be sorry for +Linna."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_THREE"></a>CHAPTER THREE: +JULY THIRD, 1778</h1> + +<p>While Ben Ripley was frolicking with little Alice and her +Indian friend Linna, the mother prepared the evening meal.</p> + +<p>The candles were lighted, and they took their places at the +table.</p> + +<p>All this was new and strange to Linna. In her own home, she +was accustomed to sit on the ground, and use only her fingers for +knife and fork when taking food; but she was observant and quick, +and knowing how it had been with her, her friends soon did away +with her embarrassment. The mother cut her meat into small +pieces, spread butter -- which the visitor looked at askance -- +on the brown bread, and she had but to do as the rest, and all +went well.</p> + +<p>A few minutes after supper both girls became drowsy, and Mrs. +Ripley, candle in hand, conducted them upstairs to the small room +set apart for their use.</p> + +<p>This was another novel experience for the visitor. She +insisted at first upon lying on the hard floor, for never in her +life had she touched a bed; but after awhile, she became willing +to share the couch with her playmate.</p> + +<p>Alice knelt down by the side of the little trundle bed and +said her prayers, as she always did; but Linna could not +understand what it meant. She wonderingly watched her until she +was through, and then with some misgiving, clambered among the +clothes, and the mother tucked her up, though the night was so +warm they needed little covering.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley felt that she ought to tell the dusky child about +her heavenly Father, and to teach her to pray. She therefore sat +down on the edge of the bed, and in simple words began the +wonderful story of the Saviour, who gave His life to save her as +well as all others.</p> + +<p>Alice dropped asleep right away, but Linna lay motionless, +with her round black eyes fixed on the face of the lady, drinking +in every word she said. By and by, however, the eyelids began to +droop, and the good woman ceased. Who shall tell what precious +seed was thus sown in that cabin in Wyoming, more than a hundred +years ago?</p> + +<p>While Mrs. Ripley was talking upstairs, she heard voices +below; so that she knew Ben had a visitor. As she descended, she +recognized a neighbor who lived on the other side of the +river.</p> + +<p>"I called," said he, "to tell you that you must lose no time +in moving into Forty Fort with your little girl."</p> + +<p>"You do not mean right away?"</p> + +<p>"Not tonight, but the first thing in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Is the danger so close as that?"</p> + +<p>"Our scouts report the Tory Colonel Butler with a large force +of whites and Indians marching down the valley."</p> + +<p>"But do you not expect to repel them?"</p> + +<p>"We are sure of that," was the confident reply; "but it won't +do for any of the women and children to be exposed. The Indians +will scatter, and cut off all they can. Others of our friends are +out warning the people, and we must have them all in a safe +place."</p> + +<p>"Will you wait for your enemies to attack the fort?"</p> + +<p>"I believe our Colonel Butler favors that; but others, and +among them myself and Ben, favor marching out and meeting +them."</p> + +<p>"That's it," added the lad, shaking his head. "I believe in +showing them we are not scared. Colonel Butler got leave of +absence to come to Wyoming; he has some regulars with him, and +with all our men and boys we'll teach the other Colonel Butler a +lesson he won't forget as long as he lives."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you think it best, we will move into the fort with +the other people until the danger is past."</p> + +<p>"Yes, mother; I will fight better knowing that you and Alice +are safe. There's Linna! What about her?"</p> + +<p>"Who's Linna?" asked the visitor.</p> + +<p>"She is the little child of Omas, the Delaware warrior. He +brought her here this afternoon to make Alice a visit, and +promised to call tomorrow for her. Will it be safe to wait until +he comes?"</p> + +<p>The neighbor shook his head.</p> + +<p>"You mustn't take any chances. Why don't you turn her loose to +take care of herself? She can do it."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't," the mother hastened to say; "Omas left her in +our care, and I must not neglect her. She will go with us."</p> + +<p>"I don't think it will be safe for her father to come after +her, when the flurry is over."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"He will be with the Iroquois, even though his tribe doesn't +like them any too well; for the Iroquois are the conquerors of +the Delawares, and drove them off their hunting grounds."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. Ripley, with a sigh; "even if he never comes +for her, she will always have a home with us."</p> + +<p>The dwelling of the Ripleys was on the eastern shore of the +Susquehanna. On the other side stood Fort Wintermoot and Forty +Fort, the former being at the upper end of the valley. That would +be the first one reached by the invaders, and the expectation was +that it would give up whenever ordered to do so, for nearly all +in it were friends of the Tories.</p> + +<p>It was evident that when Omas left his child with her friends, +and spoke of returning the next day, or soon thereafter, he did +not know how near the invasion was. Mrs. Ripley expected that +when he did learn it, he would hasten back for her.</p> + +<p>The night, however, passed without his appearance, and the hot +July sun came up over the forests on the eastern bank of the +river, and still he remained away. It looked as if he had decided +to let her take her chances while he joined the invaders in their +work of destruction and woe.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley would have been willing to wait longer, but she +was urged not to lose another hour. The frightened settlers were +not allowed to take anything but their actual necessaries with +them, for the cramped quarters in Forty Fort, where a number of +cabins were erected, would be crowded to the utmost to make room +for the hundreds who might clamor for admission. The quarters, +indeed, were so scant that many camped outside, holding +themselves ready to rush within should it become necessary.</p> + +<p>Little Linna was filled with wonder when she saw her friends +preparing to move and knew she was going with them. But she +helped in her way as much as she could and asked no questions. +There was no need, in fact, for Alice asked enough for both.</p> + +<p>And just here I must relate to you a little history.</p> + +<p>On the last days of June, 1778, Colonel John Butler, with +about four hundred soldiers -- partly made up of Tories -- and +six or seven hundred Indians, entered the head of Wyoming Valley. +As I have said, he was a cousin of Colonel Zebulon Butler, who +commanded the patriots and did all he could to check the +invaders. Reaching Fort Wintermoot, the British officer sent in a +demand for its surrender. The submission was made, and the +invaders then came down the valley and ordered the Connecticut +people to surrender Forty Fort and the settlements. Colonel +Zebulon Butler had under him, to quote the historical account, +"two hundred and thirty enrolled men, and seventy old people, +boys, civil magistrates, and other volunteers." They formed six +companies, which were mustered at Forty Fort, where the families +of the settlers on the east side of the river had taken +refuge.</p> + +<p>Colonel Zebulon Butler, upon receiving the summons, called a +council of war. This was on the 3rd of July. The officers +believed that a little delay would be best, in the hope of the +arrival of reinforcements; but nearly all the men were so +clamorous to march out and give the invaders battle, that it was +decided to do so.</p> + +<p>"You are going into great danger," remarked the leader, as he +mounted his horse and placed himself at the head of the patriots, +"but I will go as far as any of you."</p> + +<p>At three o'clock in the afternoon the column, numbering about +three hundred, marched from the fort with drums beating and +colors flying. They moved up the valley, with the river on the +right and a marsh on the left, until they arrived at Fort +Wintermoot, which had been set on fire by the enemy to give the +impression they were withdrawing from the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>As you may well believe, the movements of the patriots were +watched with deep interest by those left behind. The women and +children clustered along the river bank and strained their eyes +in the direction of Fort Wintermoot, the black smoke from which +rolled down the valley and helped to shut out their view.</p> + +<p>There was hardly one among the spectators that had not a loved +relative with the defenders. It might be a tottering grandfather, +a sturdy son, who, though a boy, was inspired with the deepest +fervor, and eager to risk his life for the sake of his mother or +sister, whose hearts almost stopped beating in the painful +suspense which must continue until the battle was decided.</p> + +<p>Alice was too young fully to understand the peril in which Ben +was placed. She had kissed him goodbye when he ran to take his +place with the others, and, with a light jest on his lips about +her and Linna, he had snatched a kiss from the little Delaware's +swarthy cheek.</p> + +<p>The mother added a few cheering words to the children, and it +was a striking sight when they and a number of others, about +their age or under, began playing with all the merriment of +children who never dream that the world contains such afflictions +as sorrow, woe, and death.</p> + +<p>It was easy to follow the course of the patriots for a time +after they were beyond sight, by the sound of their drums and the +shrill whistling of several fifes.</p> + +<p>In those days it was much more common than now for people to +drink intoxicating liquors. Just before the patriots started up +the valley, I am sorry to say, a few of the men drank more than +they should. It has been claimed by some that but for this things +would have gone differently on that day, which will live for ever +as one of the saddest in American history.</p> + +<p>By and by the anxious people near the fort noticed that the +sound of drums and fifes had ceased, and the reports of firearms +were heard.</p> + +<p>They knew from this that the opposing forces were making ready +for the conflict, and the suspense became painful indeed.</p> + +<p>Then amid the rattle of musketry sounded the whoops of the +Iroquois. The battle was on. Fighting began about four o'clock in +the afternoon. Colonel Zebulon Butler ordered his men to fire, +and at each discharge to advance a step. The fire was regular and +steady, and the Americans continued to gain ground, having the +advantage where it was open. Despite the exertions of the +invaders, their line gave way, and but for the help of the +Indians they would have been routed.</p> + +<p>The flanking party of red men kept up a galling fire on the +right, and the patriots dropped fast. The Indians on the Tory +left were divided into six bands who kept up a continuous yelling +which did much to inspirit each other, while the deadly aim told +sadly upon the Americans.</p> + +<p>The most powerful body of Indians was in a swamp on the left +of the patriots, and by and by they outflanked them. The +Americans tried to manoeuvre so as to face the new danger, but +some of them mistook the order for one to retreat. Everything was +thrown into confusion.</p> + +<p>Colonel Zebulon Butler, seeing how things were going, galloped +up and down between the opposing lines, calling out -- "Don't +leave me, my children. Stand by me and the victory is ours!"</p> + +<p>But it was too late. The patriots could not be rallied. They +were far outnumbered, and once thrown into a panic, with the +captain of every company slain, the day was lost.</p> + +<p>You cannot picture the distress of the women, children, and +feeble old men waiting at Forty Fort the issue of the battle.</p> + +<p>The sorrowful groups on the bank of the river listened to the +sounds of conflict, and read the meaning as they came to their +ears.</p> + +<p>The steady, regular firing raised their hopes at first. They +knew their sons and friends were fighting well, despite the +shouts of the Indians borne down the valley on the sultry +afternoon.</p> + +<p>By and by the firing grew more scattering, and instead of +being so far up the river as at first, it was coming closer.</p> + +<p>This could mean but one thing; the patriots were retreating +before the Tories and Indians.</p> + +<p>One old man, nearly four score years of age, who pleaded to go +into the battle, but was too feeble, could not restrain his +feelings. He walked back and forth, inspired with new strength +and full of hope, until the scattered firing and its approach +left no doubt of its meaning.</p> + +<p>He paused in his nervous, hobbling pace, and said to the white +faced women standing breathlessly near -- "Our boys are +retreating: they have been beaten -- all hope is gone!"</p> + +<p>The next moment two horsemen galloped into sight. "Colonel +Butler and Colonel Denison!" said the old man, recognizing them; +"they bring sad news."</p> + +<p>It was true. They rode their horses on a dead run, and reining +up at the fort, where the people crowded around them, they leaped +to the ground, and Colonel Butler said -- "Our boys have been +driven from the field, and the Tories and Indians are at their +heels!"</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_FOUR"></a>CHAPTER FOUR: THE +EASTERN SHORE</h1> + +<p>Young Ben Ripley made a good record on that eventful 3rd of +July. He loaded and fired as steadily as a veteran. The smoke of +the guns, the wild whooping of the Iroquois Indians, the sight of +his friends and neighbors continually dropping to the ground, +some of them at his elbow, the deafening discharge of the rifles +-- all these and the dreadful swirl and rush of events dazed him +at times; but he kept at it with a steadiness which caused more +than one expression of praise from the officers nearest him.</p> + +<p>All at once he found himself mixed up in the confusion caused +by the attempt to wheel a part of the line to face the flanking +assailants, and the mistake of many that it was an order to +retreat.</p> + +<p>He did not know what it meant, for it seemed to him that a +dozen officers were shouting conflicting orders at the same +moment. A number of men threw down their guns and made a wild +rush to get away, several falling over each other in the frantic +scramble; others bumped together, and above the din of the +conflict sounded the voices of Colonel Butler, as he rode back +and forth through the smoke, begging his troops not to leave him, +and victory would be theirs.</p> + +<p>Seeing the hopeless tangle, the Indians swarmed out of the +swamp, and by their savage attack and renewed shouts made the +hubbub and confusion tenfold worse.</p> + +<p>Somebody ran so violently against Ben that he was thrown to +the ground. He was on his feet in an instant and turned to see +who did it. It was a soldier fleeing for life from an Iroquois +warrior.</p> + +<p>Ben raised his gun, took quick aim and pulled the trigger, but +no report followed. He had forgotten his weapon was unloaded.</p> + +<p>Other forms obtruded between him and the couple, and he could +not see the result of the pursuit and attack. Despite all he +could do, he was forced back by the panic stricken rush around +and against him.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a wild cry reached him. An Iroquois with painted face +rushed upon him with uplifted tomahawk, but he was yet several +paces away, when another warrior seized his arm and wrenched him +to one side.</p> + +<p>"Run -- go fast -- don't stay!" commanded the Indian that had +saved the youth, furiously motioning to him.</p> + +<p>"If my gun were loaded," replied Ben, though his voice was +unheard in the din, "I wouldn't go till I did something more. +Helloa! is that you, Omas?"</p> + +<p>It was the Delaware that had turned the assault aside.</p> + +<p>A couple of bounds placed him beside he lad, and he caught his +arm with a grip of iron.</p> + +<p>It was of no use trying to hold back. Omas half running, half +leaping, drove his way like a wedge through the surging swarm. +His left hand closed around the upper arm of Ben, while his right +grasped his tomahawk, he having thrown aside his rifle.</p> + +<p>The boy was repeatedly jerked almost off his feet. He could +run fast, but was not equal to this warrior, who forged along +with resistless might. Twice did an Iroquois make for the young +prisoner, as he supposed the lad to be, but a warning motion of +the tomahawk upheld by Omas repelled him.</p> + +<p>The Delaware was prudent, and instead of keeping in the midst +of the surging mass, worked to one side, so that they were soon +comparatively free from the tumultuous throng.</p> + +<p>There was no attempt at conversation between the Delaware and +Ben. The boy knew what was meant by this rough kindness. The day +was lost, and his thoughts went out to the loved ones waiting +down the valley to learn the result of the battle. He wanted to +get to them as quickly as he could.</p> + +<p>The rush carried them beyond the main body of fugitives, +though not out of danger, for the Iroquois were pursuing hard; +but soon Omas loosened his grip and dropped the arm of the lad. +They were far enough removed from the swirl to exchange +words.</p> + +<p>"Where moder -- where Alice?", asked the Delaware, as if he +had no concern for his own child.</p> + +<p>"At Forty Fort."</p> + +<p>"Linna with them?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; they are together with the other folks."</p> + +<p>"Go dere -- tell cross riber -- make haste to Del'mware."</p> + +<p>This command meant that the little party should hurry to the +eastern side of the Susquehanna, and start for the settlements on +the Upper Delaware. The nearest town was Stroudsburg, sixty miles +distant, and the way led through a dismal forest.</p> + +<p>The words of Omas showed, too, that he knew what was coming. +Though the British Colonel Butler might accept the surrender and +strive to give fair treatment to the prisoners, he would find it +hard to restrain the Tories and Indians.</p> + +<p>All that could be done was for the fugitives to flee, without +an hour's delay. They were already flocking to the river in the +effort to reach the other side. A good many hid among the grass +and undergrowth on Monacacy Island, where the Tories and Indians +followed, and hunted them out without mercy.</p> + +<p>Those who were wise enough to set out in time had a chance of +arriving at the settlements on the Upper Delaware, though much +suffering was sure to follow, since there was no time to prepare +food to take with them.</p> + +<p>The remark of Omas prompted Ben's words -- "How can I get +mother, and Alice and Linna, to the other side? They cannot swim +the river."</p> + +<p>"Linna swim," was the somewhat proud answer; "she take care of +Alice you take care of moder."</p> + +<p>"I might at any other time, but with the people crowding +around us, and the Indians at our heels and shooting down all +they can, what chance have we? Why can't you come with me and +help them?"</p> + +<p>No doubt the Delaware had asked himself the question, for he +answered it not by words, but by breaking into a loping trot for +Forty Fort, with Ben running at his side. He halted before +reaching the refuge, and turned aside among the bushes +overhanging the edge of the river, his actions showing he was +searching for something.</p> + +<p>He speedily found a canoe, probably his own. It had been so +skillfully hidden among the dense undergrowth that one might have +passed within a couple of paces without seeing it.</p> + +<p>He picked it up as if it were a toy boat and set it down in +the water.</p> + +<p>"Go bring moder -- bring Alice -- bring Linna."</p> + +<p>Ben was off like a shot, for he knew there was not a minute to +throw away. It was the season when the days were longest, and two +or three hours must pass before it would be fully night.</p> + +<p>It would not do for Omas to go with Ben. His appearance at the +fort would add to the panic, and be almost certain to bring about +a conflict with some of the whites. It was his province to guard +the precious canoe from being taken by other fugitives.</p> + +<p>Ben Ripley now thought only of his loved ones. He knew the +anguish his mother would suffer until she learned he was safe, +and he forced his way to the spot where he had parted from +her.</p> + +<p>It was a sad experience. Old men, women and children, with +white faces, were rushing to and fro, wringing their hands and +wailing, searching for those whom they never again would see in +this life; crowding into the little fort, as if they knew a +minute's delay would be fatal; some making for the river, into +which they plunged in a wild effort to reach the eastern shore, +while among the frantic masses appeared here and there a fugitive +from the scene of battle, perhaps wounded and telling his +dreadful story of the defeat, with all the woeful consequences +that were certain to follow.</p> + +<p>With much difficulty and some rough work the lad reached the +spot where he had bidden his mother and the children goodbye, but +none of the three was in sight. They had been swept aside by the +rush of the terrified people.</p> + +<p>A cry sounded above the tumult, and before he could learn +where it came from, the arms of his mother were about his +neck.</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven! my boy is safe! You do not know what I have +suffered. I could learn nothing about you. Are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Not a scratch -- which is more than many other poor fellows +can say. Where are the children?"</p> + +<p>A tiny hand was slipped into his own, and looking down, there +stood Linna, with her forefinger between her teeth, looking shyly +up at him. There could be no doubt she felt fully acquainted.</p> + +<p>Alice came forward on the other side. Neither understood the +cause of the turmoil about them. They were not scared, but were +awed into silence.</p> + +<p>"I saw Omas," explained Ben to his mother; "he saved me from +the fate of many others."</p> + +<p>"Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"A little way off, under the bank, waiting with his canoe, to +take us across the river.</p> + +<p>"He says we must hurry through the woods for the settlements +on the Upper Delaware. Every hour that we stay increases our +danger."</p> + +<p>"Let me take Alice; lead the way."</p> + +<p>Clasping tight the hand of Linna, with his mother at his +heels, Ben pushed for the point where he had left the Delaware a +few minutes before.</p> + +<p>Strange that though the distance was not far, and the +confusion seemed to be increasing every minute, the little party +had not gone half way when they were checked by one of the men +that had been in the battle. He was slightly wounded, and under +the influence of liquor.</p> + +<p>"Who's that you've got with you?" he demanded, looking down at +Linna, who saw no danger in the act.</p> + +<p>"A friend of Alice and me."</p> + +<p>"She looks like an Injin," added the soldier, scowling +threateningly at her; "if she is, I want her."</p> + +<p>"I told you she is a friend of ours -- get out of my way!"</p> + +<p>The soldier's condition enabled Ben to tumble him over on his +back by means of a vigorous shove. Before he could steady himself +and get upon his feet again, the others were beyond reach.</p> + +<p>I am sure he would not have acted that way, had he been in the +possession of his senses.</p> + +<p>When Ben parted from Omas, he was without a rifle, but on +joining him again, the warrior had a fine weapon in his hand. It +was not the one with which he appeared at the house. The lad +might have guessed how he got it, but he did not ask any +questions, nor seem to notice it.</p> + +<p>As the party came up, Omas merely glanced at Mrs. Ripley and +her child, but did not speak. As for his own little girl, he gave +her no notice. Young as she was, she understood him, and did not +claim any attention from him. If they had been alone, she would +have been in his arms with their cheeks together.</p> + +<p>"Go 'cross," said he, pointing toward the other shore.</p> + +<p>"Ben has told me what you said: we are ready," replied Mrs. +Ripley.</p> + +<p>He held the canoe steady and motioned her to take her place in +it. She did so, and Alice nestled at her feet, being careful not +to stir, for such frail craft are easily upset.</p> + +<p>The canoe was small, and the weight of the mother and child +sank it quite low, though it would hold another adult.</p> + +<p>"Get in," added Omas to the lad.</p> + +<p>Ben obeyed. He knew all about such boats, and could have +paddled it across had there been a paddle to use, but there was +none.</p> + +<p>When the Delaware laid his rifle inside with Ben's, it was +evident he intended to swim, towing or shoving the boat.</p> + +<p>"Come, Linna, there's just room for you," added the youth, +reaching out his hand for the dusky little girl.</p> + +<p>Instead of obeying, she looked up at her father and said +something to which he made answer brusquely, as it sounded to the +others.</p> + +<p>Retreating several paces from shore, she ran nimbly to the +edge of the bank, and with a leap splashed away beyond the bow of +the canoe, and began swimming like a fish for the eastern +shore.</p> + +<p>It was a real treat for her, even though she did not remove +any of her clothing. The weather was sultry, and the bath +refreshingly cool. Not comprehending the sad scenes around her, +she dived, and splashed, and frolicked, easily keeping in advance +of the boat.</p> + +<p>Truth to tell, the canoe had all it could hold, and Omas, who +swam at the stern, handled it with care to prevent it +overturning. The water rose almost to the gunwales, and a little +jolt or carelessness would have capsized it.</p> + +<p>The Delaware swam high out of water. He knew the boat would +attract the attention of some of his own people on the bank, who, +if they thought the occupants were escaping, would either pursue +or fire on them.</p> + +<p>The sight of the Indian, however, at the stern would make it +appear that they were already prisoners, and the other warriors +would give their attention elsewhere.</p> + +<p>Omas kept clear of Monacacy Island, and by and by his feet +touched ground. Before that, the dripping Linna had run out on +land, and so the whole party safely reached the eastern +shore.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_FIVE"></a>CHAPTER FIVE: IN +THE WOODS</h1> + +<p>You have not forgotten what I told you about the mountain +range, which shuts in Wyoming Valley on the east. It is a +thousand feet in height, abounding with ravines, clefts, rocks, +boulders and the most rugged kind of places.</p> + +<p>The fugitives who fled from the Susquehanna to escape the +Indians had to make their way over these mountains, and then find +their way through sixty miles of trackless woods to the Delaware +River. A great many succeeded in doing so, but the deaths and +sufferings in the vast stretch of forest gave it the dreadful +name of "The Shades of Death," by which it is often referred to +even to this day.</p> + +<p>Omas swam at the rear of the small canoe, as I told you, with +Mrs. Ripley and her two children seated inside and balancing +themselves with great care to prevent the heavily loaded craft +from sinking or overturning.</p> + +<p>More than one Seneca or Oneida Indian, or perhaps a Tory, that +had chased some terrified fugitives to the edge of the river, +halted and made ready to fire upon the canoe, whose occupants +were seen to be three white persons.</p> + +<p>When they looked again, however, they observed the head and +shoulders of an Indian warrior, who was plainly propelling the +craft in front of him. That was enough to satisfy them.</p> + +<p>On the way over, Linna, the little Indian girl, amused herself +by diving under the canoe, sometimes appearing on one side and +then on the other, sometimes in front and then at the rear. She +even ventured to impose upon her father by splashing water in his +painted face. She did little of that, and he paid no attention to +it.</p> + +<p>The sun had not yet set when the grim warrior and his child +emerged on the eastern shore, their garments dripping, but caring +nothing for that. The boat was drawn far enough up the bank to +prevent its being swept away by the current, and then all stood +side by side, and as if by a common impulse, looked back at the +shore they had left.</p> + +<p>The smoke from the burning Fort Wintermoot still rested on the +calm surface of the river, and filtered among the green +vegetation near the scene of the battle. Other buildings had been +fired, and mingled their vapor with it.</p> + +<p>Here and there, every minute or two, sounded the sharp crack +of a rifle. This too often meant that some fugitive had been run +down by his cruel pursuer, who listened to no pleadings for +mercy. A good many had taken refuge on Monacacy Island, from +which the reports of guns continually came.</p> + +<p>I have not the space here to tell you of the wonderful escapes +at Wyoming, the particulars of which I have given in another +work.</p> + +<p>One boy, who was with several men near Fort Jenkins before the +battle, saw all the men shot down or captured; but he hid himself +among some willows and was not noticed.</p> + +<p>If you ever visit the scene of the battle, you will notice a +broad, flat stone, called Queen Esther's Rock, a half dozen miles +below Wilkesbarre. Queen Esther was an old, cruel, half breed +woman who came with the Indians. She is sometimes known as +Katharine Montour. A son of hers was killed in the conflict, and +she was so angered that she had sixteen captives placed around +the rock, and meant to slay them all, while the warriors +prevented them from escaping.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless two of the young men jumped up and started on a +run for the river. The guards dashed after them. One caught his +toe, and rolled headlong down the bank into some bushes. Instead +of springing up again, as he first started to do, he lay still, +and though the Indians almost stepped upon him, he was not +discovered, and got off without harm.</p> + +<p>The other reached the river, took a running leap and dived, +and swam under water as far as he could. When he came up to +breathe, the waiting red men fired at him again and again. He was +wounded, but not badly, and, reaching the other side, caught a +stray horse, made a bridle from a hickory withe, and soon joined +his friend.</p> + +<p>Another fugitive, after running until he was so tired out he +could hardly stand, and hearing the Indians near, backed into a +hollow log and awaited his fate. He had been in the hollow but a +few minutes when a spider spun its web across the entrance. A few +minutes later, two warriors sat down on the log. They noticed how +good a hiding place it would be for the white man, and one of +them leaned over to peep in. As he did so, he saw the spider web. +He was sure that it would not be there if the man was inside, and +did not search further. When the warriors left, the man crawled +out and got safely away.</p> + +<p>You know that the home of the Ripleys was on the eastern +shore, which they left that same morning. They had crossed over +in a large flatboat with a number of other families, so that now +they were near their own home again. Omas had guided the canoe, +too, so they landed not far from the little structure.</p> + +<p>"Omas," said the mother, "I understand you wish us to go to +the Delaware."</p> + +<p>"Yes," he replied, "Iroquois won't hurt you there -- must +go."</p> + +<p>"We haven't a particle of food with us; Ben has his gun and +may have a chance to shoot some game on the way -- more than +likely, he will have no chance at all; it will take us several +days to reach Stroudsburg, which, I believe, is the nearest +point. Don't you think it best that we should stop at the house +and get what food we can?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we do dat; come 'long; not great time."</p> + +<p>There could be no safer guide than the Delaware, when his race +were such complete masters of the situation; though there was +risk that a patriot hiding somewhere in the neighborhood might +take a shot at him, under the belief that he meant harm to the +captives.</p> + +<p>The humble log structure was found just as it was left that +morning. If any of the marauding bands of Indians paid it a +visit, they did not linger after seeing it was tenantless.</p> + +<p>There was a whole loaf of bread and part of another left +beside some cooked chicken, and a number of live ones were +scratching the ground outside, as if they had no concern in what +was going on.</p> + +<p>"The weather is warm now," remarked the prudent housewife, +"but a cold storm may set in before we reach shelter."</p> + +<p>With which she folded a blanket from her bed and laid it over +her arm.</p> + +<p>"It will come handy to sleep on," added Ben, who did the same +with a second, despite the weight of his rifle, which (as they +were made in those days) was a good load of itself for a strong +boy.</p> + +<p>Omas showed some impatience, though his companions did not +understand the cause. His actions, indeed, were curious. They +supposed he meant to conduct them all or a greater part of the +way to Stroudsburg, though at times he appeared to be hesitating +over it, or over some other scheme he had in mind.</p> + +<p>Ben Ripley had rambled among the rugged scenery, on the +eastern shore of the river, having gone with his father many +times when he was on hunting excursions; but he was not as +familiar with the ins and outs of the mountains as the Delaware, +whose village was a good many miles away.</p> + +<p>None of the party had eaten anything of account since the +early morning meal, before they crossed the Susquehanna. The +dangers, excitement, and suspense of the hours drove away the +thought of food. Young as was Linna, she had already learned not +to ask for it when either of her parents chose not to offer it to +her. Doubtless she was hungry, but if so, no one else knew it. +Alice had been given bread when at Forty Fort, and she now +suggested that some more would not come amiss.</p> + +<p>"We all need it," said Ben; "why not take our last meal in our +old home? You have no objection Omas?"</p> + +<p>"Eat here," was his reply.</p> + +<p>The guns were leaned against the walls, the blankets put aside +and all gathered round the board. The Delaware had done the same +before when visiting the family, and acquired the civilized form +of eating, while Linna picked it up during the brief time spent +with her friends.</p> + +<p>The meal lasted but a few minutes, when they once more +gathered up their luggage, as it may be called, left the house, +and with Omas in the lead, struck into the mountains on the long +tramp to the Delaware.</p> + +<p>The sun went down while they were picking their way through +the rough section. The Ripleys expected to do much hard +travelling, but their guide's knowledge of every turn enabled him +to pick out paths which none ever suspected. Sometimes the +climbing was abrupt, but all, even to Alice, were accustomed to +that kind of work, and they kept up a steady gait, which must +have placed many miles to the rear if continued long.</p> + +<p>Omas continued at the head. Directly behind him walked his +child, the path most of the time being so narrow that they were +obliged to travel in Indian file. Then came Alice and her mother, +while Ben considered himself the rearguard. When the space +allowed, Alice took the hand of her parent, but Linna never +presumed to speak to or interfere with her grim, silent +parent.</p> + +<p>Darkness closed around them before they had gone a couple of +miles. During all this time the tramp continued in silence, +probably not a dozen words being spoken. Each of the three elder +was using eyes and ears to the utmost.</p> + +<p>The sharp crack of a rifle broke the silence, not more than a +hundred yards to the right of them. Everyone started except Omas, +who acted as if he did not hear the report. He made no change in +his pace, and so far as the others could see in the gloom, did +not turn his head. They concluded, therefore, that no cause for +alarm existed.</p> + +<p>Fairly through the mountain spur and among the deep woods, the +journey was pushed until the night was well along. Suddenly, Omas +made a short turn to the right and stopping in a hollow, where +there were several large boulders, he said -- "We stay here all +night."</p> + +<p>The words were a surprise, for it was expected he would travel +for a long time. He, Mrs. Ripley and Linna could have done so +without inconvenience, but Alice was tired out. Her relatives +were pretty well burdened already, though either would have +carried her had it been necessary; but the party had gained so +good a start that there seemed little risk in making a long +stop.</p> + +<p>Omas reached down one hand and laid it on the bare head of +Alice, saying in a voice of strange gentleness -- "Little girl +tired -- she can rest."</p> + +<p>And then all knew he had ceased walking because of her. Had +she not been a member of the party, he would have kept the rest +on their feet until the sun appeared above the forest.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm tired, Omas," said the little one wearily, holding +the hand of the Delaware in both her own; "I'm glad you +stopped."</p> + +<p>The gloom was so deep, for there was no moon until very late +(and if there had been, its rays could not have pierced the dense +foliage), that they could hardly see each other's figures. Omas +hastily gathered some leaves and dead twigs, which were heaped +together against one of the boulders. Then he produced his flint +and steel -- for he had learned the trick long before of the +whites -- and by and by a shower of sparks was flying from the +swift, sharp blows of the metal against the hard stone. A minute +later one of the sparks "caught," and under his nursing a fire +was speedily under way.</p> + +<p>While he was thus engaged, Mrs. Ripley spread the blankets on +the ground and Alice stretched her tired little body upon one of +them.</p> + +<p>"Mamma, I guess God will excuse me for not saying my prayers," +she murmured, as she closed her eyes and sank into slumber.</p> + +<p>Linna was tired, too, but she kept her feet and looked at her +father for his permission, before presuming to lie down.</p> + +<p>"Come, Linna, here is your place beside Alice," said the +mother kindly.</p> + +<p>Again she turned to her father, who was standing by the fire, +looking off in the gloom, as if he suspected something wrong.</p> + +<p>He gave the permission in their native tongue and she cuddled +down beside her friend without further waiting.</p> + +<p>"Mother," said Ben, "you had better lie down with them."</p> + +<p>"Not yet," she replied, with a significant look at he +Delaware, whose back was toward them.</p> + +<p>"What about him?" asked the surprised lad in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"He is meditating something evil: he wants to leave us.</p> + +<p>"What evil is there in that, if he thinks we have gone far +enough to be safe?"</p> + +<p>"You have forgotten that he fought with the Iroquois today; he +wants to go back to Wyoming and join them in their work."</p> + +<p>"If that is so, how can we hinder him?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that we can; but I shall try it."</p> + +<p>Ben busied himself gathering more wood, so that the fire cast +a glow several yards from where it burned against the +boulder.</p> + +<p>When he had collected enough to last a long while, he came +back and sat down by his mother. All this time the Delaware +remained motionless, with his face away from them. He was +debating some troublous question in his mind. They watched him +closely.</p> + +<p>He turned about abruptly, and said -- "Omas must go -- he say +'goodnight' to his friends."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_SIX"></a>CHAPTER SIX: PUSHING +EASTWARD</h1> + +<p>No person in all the world is so quick to detect deception as +a mother. It is simply wonderful the way she will sometimes read +one's thoughts. I am sure you boys who have lagged on the road +when sent on an errand, had a scrimmage with some other boy, or +done any one of the numerous acts in which a mother persists in +asking annoying questions, will agree with me.</p> + +<p>While Omas, the Delaware warrior, stood with his face turned +away from the camp fire and looking off in the gloom, as if he +was trying to discover something in the darkness, Mrs. Ripley was +sure she knew what the trouble was: he was trying to decide +whether he should stay longer with the little party or leave them +to make the rest of their way through the woods without him.</p> + +<p>He might well say they were now so far from Wyoming that they +were in little danger. They had but to keep on tramping for +several days and nights, and they would reach the little town of +Stroudsburg, which, you may know, is near Delaware Water Gap. +There they need have no fear of the red men.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley knew all this as well as Omas himself, but she did +not wish him to go back and join the hostile Iroquois, as he +wanted to do. She felt it would be far better if he would stay +with them, for then he would do no further harm to the white +people.</p> + +<p>When, therefore, he turned about and bade them goodbye, all +doubt was gone. Ben did not reply, but his mother rose from the +other blanket on which she had been sitting, walked quietly to +where the Delaware was standing, and laid her hand kindly on his +arm.</p> + +<p>"Omas, I do not wish you to leave us," she said.</p> + +<p>He looked at her, for both stood where the firelight fell upon +their faces, and replied -- "No danger -- walk towards the rising +sun -- need not walk fast -- Iroquois won't hurt -- soon be +safe."</p> + +<p>The lady was too wise to let her real objection appear.</p> + +<p>"A while ago we heard the noise of a gun; our people are +fleeing through the woods, and the red men are following them. +Alice is tired, and we have stopped to rest. When we start again +tomorrow, some of the red men will be ahead of us. What shall we +do without our friend Omas?"</p> + +<p>"He have gun." he replied, indicating Ben.</p> + +<p>"So have the red men, and there are more of them."</p> + +<p>Now, if Mrs. Ripley was skilful in reading the thoughts of the +Delaware, it may be that he, too, suspected the real cause for +her objections. Be that as it may, it was plain he was not +satisfied. He held the Ripley family in too high regard to offend +them openly; but Omas was set in his ways.</p> + +<p>He made no reply to the last remark, but stepped a little +nearer the fire and sat down, moody and silent.</p> + +<p>"You have said enough, mother," remarked Ben in a low voice; +"it will anger him to say more. I will sit with my head against +the rock; do you lie down on the blanket and let your head rest +in my lap. I think it will be safe for us all."</p> + +<p>With some hesitation the mother complied, the Delaware +apparently paying no heed to them. He kept his seat on the +ground, looking gloomily into the fire and in deep thought. A +struggle was going on in his mind, and no one could say whether +the good or evil would win.</p> + +<p>Ben Ripley was anxious that his mother should sleep. She had +undergone the severest of trials since early morning, and none +had wrought harder than she. The morrow would make further +demands on her strength. As for himself, he was young, sturdy, +and could stand more and rally sooner than she.</p> + +<p>When, therefore, she said something in a low tone, he placed +his hand softly over her mouth and whispered -- "S--h! go to +sleep, baby."</p> + +<p>He smoothed the silky hair away from the forehead so gently +and so soothingly that she could not resist the effect. She meant +to keep awake until Omas made his final decision; but no person +can resist the approach of slumber, except by active +movement.</p> + +<p>Before long, and while Ben's hand was still gliding like down +over the forehead, the faint, regular breathing showed she was +asleep.</p> + +<p>The son smiled.</p> + +<p>"Good! The best mother that ever lived! Heavenly Father, watch +over her and spare her for many years. Watch over us all."</p> + +<p>He looked across at Omas, on the other side of the camp fire, +and saw the Delaware gazing fixedly at him.</p> + +<p>He arose as silently as a shadow and stepped nearer, peering +down on the pale, handsome face with its closed eyes.</p> + +<p>"She sleep?" asked the Indian.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Ben, softly, with a nod of his head.</p> + +<p>He looked at her a moment and then across to the other +blanket, where the round, chubby cheeks of the little girls +reflected the firelight. He waited a moment, and then the gentler +side of his nature triumphed. He bent over the forms, kissed each +in turn, straightened up, and pointing to the eastward, said to +Ben -- "Go dat way -- you safe -- goodbye."</p> + +<p>"Goodbye," replied the lad, knowing it was useless to +protest.</p> + +<p>Like the gliding of the shadow of a cloud, the Delaware passed +beyond the circle of light thrown out by the fire into the deep +gloom of the wood. The moccasins pressed the dry leaves without +giving back any sound, and he vanished.</p> + +<p>"That makes a change of situation," was the conclusion of Ben +Ripley; "he's gone, and I become the general of this army; +there's no telling what danger may be abroad tonight, so I will +keep my eyes open till sunrise, to make sure that no harm comes +to these folks."</p> + +<p>And ten minutes after this decision the lad was as sound +asleep as his mother and the two little ones.</p> + +<p>But there was One who did not slumber while all were +unconscious. He ever watches over His children, and, -- though +there were many perils abroad that night, none of them came near +our friends.</p> + +<p>The camp fire which had been burning so brightly grew dimmer +and lower until the figures could hardly be seen. They gradually +became more indistinct, and finally the gloom was as deep as +anywhere in the dense woods. Only a few smouldering embers were +left, and they gave out no glow.</p> + +<p>Ben was still sleeping, when something tickled his nose. He +rubbed it vigorously with his forefinger and opened his eyes, +confused and bewildered.</p> + +<p>An odd, chuckling laugh at his elbow drew his gaze hither. +There stood Linna, with the sprig of oak which she had been +passing back and forth under the base of his nose, making it feel +for all the world like a fly titillating his nostrils.</p> + +<p>Ben made an attempt to catch the mischievous girl, but she +deftly eluded him, and laughed so heartily that the others awoke +and looked wonderingly to learn what it all meant.</p> + +<p>"I'll pay you for that!" exclaimed the lad, as his mother +raised her head from his lap. Bounding to his feet, he darted +after Linna, but she was so nimble, and dodged back and forth and +from right to left so fast, that it took much effort to run her +down.</p> + +<p>Like all little girls, she was very "ticklish," and when he +dallied with his fingers about her plump neck, she dropped to the +ground and kicked and rolled over to get away from him. He let +her up, and said with pretended gravity that he never allowed any +trifling with him without punishing the person therefore.</p> + +<p>Linna did not seem to notice the absence of her father, and +asked no questions. Ben told his mother how he went off after she +fell asleep, and the good woman saddened, for she was sure she +understood it all.</p> + +<p>The first thing done, after a few minutes' talk, was to kneel +in prayer, Mrs. Ripley leading in a petition to Heaven that all +might be preserved from harm and reach the distant settlement +safely. She did not forget the absent Omas, or the hundreds of +hapless people whom they had left behind, who were still in great +danger.</p> + +<p>It was Mrs. Ripley's custom always to offer prayer in the +little household at the beginning of each day. Linna, who had +gained a dim idea of what the touching act meant, bent on her +knees beside Alice; and who shall say the petition which went up +from her heart was not heard and remembered by Him who notices +the fall of every sparrow.</p> + +<p>And now came the serious business of the day. Many long miles +of trackless forest lay before them and the delay caused all to +feel the need of hurry.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley gave to each a moderate portion of the food +brought with them, carefully preserving what was left, for they +were sure to need that and much more before reaching the end of +their journey. The day promised to be sultry like the preceding +one, and each sadly missed the water with which to quench their +thirst and splash upon their faces and hands.</p> + +<p>"We shall come across some before long," said Ben hopefully +when he and his mother had divided the luggage between them and +set out toward the rising sun; "we are a great deal better off +than the poor folks of Wyoming."</p> + +<p>The mother pinched the clothing of Linna, and found it dried +of the moisture gained by her swim in the Susquehanna.</p> + +<p>It is a curious practice among not only the Indians, but with +many white people, not to change wet stockings or garments for +dry ones. I knew a fisherman's boy whose father once punished him +for removing his saturated stockings and shoes for others.</p> + +<p>"Always let 'em dry on you, and you won't catch cold," was his +doctrine. "Keep moving if you can, but don't change 'em."</p> + +<p>I don't believe in the practice; but be that as it may, the +little Delaware girl showed no ill effects from sleeping in the +clothing that had been wet. As for her father, he would have been +insulted at the mention of such a thing to him.</p> + +<p>Ben's belief about finding water proved true. They had gone +hardly a half mile from camp when they came upon a sparkling +brook, cold and clear, and abundant enough to serve all. Having +no vessels with them, they lay down and quaffed their fill. Then +they bathed their faces and hands in the delicious fluid, and +were much refreshed.</p> + +<p>The expectation was that they would travel a good many miles +before night again overtook them. The way, while rough and broken +in many places, was not hard, and all, even to the smaller +children, were used to being on their feet. There was little fear +indeed that Linna would not do her part as well as the older +ones. Young as she was in years, she had been trained to hardship +from the time she could walk. Not only that, but, like all her +race, she had learned to bear suffering in silence and without +sign of pain.</p> + +<p>She would have to become very tired before her companions +would know it.</p> + +<p>By and by the ground was found to be rising, and in the course +of an hour they gained an elevation which, having few trees, gave +them an extended view of the surrounding country.</p> + +<p>Looking back in the direction of Wyoming, the sky was seen to +be soiled by the heavy smoke not only from the burned Fort +Wintermoot, but from other buildings that had been fired by the +Tories and Indians. The sight was a sorrowful one, and caused the +mother and son some uneasiness. They seemed nearer to the scene +of the conflict than they had supposed, and -- since the people +had been continually swimming the river, and taking flight in the +woods for the same point that was the destination of the Ripleys +-- it was quite certain that some of the pursuers were not far +off.</p> + +<p>"We must make as little noise as we can," said Ben, when the +party were about to start forward again: "for there can be no +telling how close we are to Indians that are looking for us.'</p> + +<p>"I think it better for you to walk a little way in front," +suggested the mother, "so as to warn us in time."</p> + +<p>"The plan is a good one. I will keep in sight of you, and the +minute I see anything amiss, will make a sign, so you can stop at +once."</p> + +<p>This course was adopted. Ben carried one of the blankets flung +over his left arm as if it were an extra garment, and steadied +the heavy rifle on his shoulder with the other. As you remember, +he was tall for his years, strong, and with rugged health.</p> + +<p>Had the weather been cooler he could have Kept up this method +of traveling for hours without fatigue; but the heat made it +trying. True, at that season of the year the foliage was dense on +the trees and shut out the sun's rays, except in the open spaces +and natural clearings which they now and then crossed; but the +vegetation also stopped whatever breeze was stirring, and obliged +the members of the party to halt many times to rest and cool +themselves.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley had but few extra things to carry, and showed less +fatigue than anyone, excepting the Delaware child. The latter and +Alice walked most of the time side by side, and generally with +clasped hands. There was no use of their trying to keep their +tongues still, but they were wise enough to speak in whispers and +such soft undertones that no one else could tell what they said, +and therefore nothing was to be feared on that account from any +enemies in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>"Why not he make sign?" was the startling question of Linna, +pointing at Ben, before the party had gone far after their brief +rest.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked the puzzled Mrs. Ripley; "he isn't +to make any sign to us till he sees or hears something +wrong."</p> + +<p>"People off dere!" replied Linna, pointing ahead and to the +right of their course. "Me hear dem speak."</p> + +<p>It was true. The keen ears of the child had discovered a peril +that no one else suspected. She alone had caught the sound of +voices that escaped all other ears.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_SEVEN"></a>CHAPTER SEVEN: +JABEZ ZITNER</h1> + +<p>At this moment Ben Ripley was about a hundred feet in advance +of the party and ascending a ridge in the woods, which were so +open that he was in plain sight of the others.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley, on hearing the alarming words of the little +Delaware girl, came to a stop. It seemed strange that Linna +should have caught the sounds noticed by no one else, and that, +too, while she was whispering to her companion, Alice; but even +at that tender age the inherited sharpness of hearing had been +trained to a wonderfully fine degree.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley was too prudent to argue with her. It was not wise +to take any chances. Above all, it was important that Ben should +know the truth, for he was still walking away from them with no +knowledge of their discovery.</p> + +<p>"S--h!" The sibilant noise made by the mother's lips crossed +the space and the listening lad halted and looked round. She did +not speak, but beckoned him to come back. He obeyed at once.</p> + +<p>"Linna says she heard voices a minute ago, over yonder," +whispered Mrs. Ripley, as her son joined them.</p> + +<p>"So me did," added Linna, in answer to the inquiring look of +the lad.</p> + +<p>"You have sharp ears, little one; but are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Me am," was the confident reply.</p> + +<p>"Where were they?"</p> + +<p>She again pointed out the direction.</p> + +<p>"That must be looked into: wait till I come back, and --"</p> + +<p>"S--h!" interrupted the mother.</p> + +<p>All caught an indistinct murmur, which proved Linna was +right.</p> + +<p>"Me tell you -- eh?" she said in a proud undertone, her black +eyes sparkling with triumph.</p> + +<p>"You are right: wait till I learn whether they are friends or +enemies. I will not be gone long."</p> + +<p>Leaving the anxious group clustered together, Ben faced in the +direction of the sounds, which had stopped, and were so faint +when heard that he could not tell whether they belonged to +friends or foes.</p> + +<p>As nearly as he could find out, the parties were just beyond +the crest of the ridge, and, but for the warning of Linna, he +would have run into the danger before knowing it.</p> + +<p>With the utmost care he went up the slope. He leaned forward +and stepped more slowly, avoiding, so far as he could, making any +noise on the leaves or against the bushes and limbs which he had +to push aside to allow him to advance.</p> + +<p>At the instant of reaching the highest point he heard the +voices again, so close that he knew they were made by white +people, who were in a clump of dense undergrowth. A faint wreath +of smoke filtering through the branches overhead showed they had +started a small fire, beside which they were probably sitting or +reclining on the ground.</p> + +<p>Now that he was certain they belonged to his own race, he had +less fear. Still, they might prove unpleasant neighbors when they +came to know one of the party was a daughter of Omas. Turning +toward his friends, who were watching him, Ben made a sign for +them to stay where they were while he went forward.</p> + +<p>He moved with the same care as before, but an unexpected +accident spoiled everything. His foot caught in a wire-like vine, +and he almost fell on his hands and knees. Aware that he had +betrayed himself, he threw aside further caution, hurried down +the slope, and called out in a guarded undertone --</p> + +<p>"Helloa there, friends!"</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" was the demand that instantly followed, and +from the undergrowth, beside a small fire, two men suddenly rose +upright, each with rifle in hand.</p> + +<p>Ben recognized them. One was Jabez Zitner and the other Horace +Burwink -- both middle aged, sturdy, and strong. They were +neighbors, and had taken part in the engagement the day before, +but, escaping without harm, were now on their way to the +settlements of the Upper Delaware.</p> + +<p>A meeting of this kind would have been pleasing in the highest +degree, for it added great strength to the party; but a misgiving +came to the lad when he recognized Zitner. He was the man who, +when partially intoxicated the previous afternoon, had tried to +take Linna from him and was vigorously shoved aside by her +friend.</p> + +<p>"Helloa, Ben! where did you come from?" asked Zitner, who was +now entirely himself.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you," added Burwink, and the two extended their +hands. "You gave us a great scare, for the woods are full of +redskins."</p> + +<p>"You startled me, too," replied Ben. "I am travelling with my +mother and sister to Stroudsburg. I suppose you are aiming for +the same place?"</p> + +<p>"Yes -- if we ever get there. What become of that little +sarpent you had with you yesterday?"</p> + +<p>It was Zitner who asked the question. Ben's face flushed, for +he did not like to hear Linna spoken of in that way.</p> + +<p>"She is with us," he quietly replied.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with her?"</p> + +<p>"She is in our care, and goes wherever we go."</p> + +<p>"You seem mighty fond of the people who played the mischief +with us yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Jabez Zitner, I fought just as hard as you, and did all I +could to drive back the Iroquois and Tories, but I don't fight +little children six years old."</p> + +<p>"Who's talking about fighting 'em?" demanded Zitner angrily. +"Their people didn't spare our women and children."</p> + +<p>"They are savages, but you and I claim to be civilized."</p> + +<p>"That's all well enough, but my motto is -- fight fire with +fire." Burwink was listening to this sharp interchange of words, +the meaning of which he caught. Wishing to make a friend of him, +for Ben foresaw trouble, he asked -- "Am I not right, Mr. +Burwink?"</p> + +<p>"I should say -- on general principles you are; but, after +yesterday, I don't feel much love for any of the varmints. Who is +this Injin gal that you are talking about?"</p> + +<p>Ben was too wise to give the name of Linna's father, knowing +he would be instantly recognized as one of the fiercest warriors +that had taken part in the invasion and battle. He therefore +replied --</p> + +<p>"She is a girl named Linna; she is of the same age as our +Alice, and was visiting her when we crossed the river to Forty +Fort yesterday morning. We could do nothing but take her with us, +and I will defend her with my life."</p> + +<p>"You are talking big," remarked Zitner, with a scornful look +at the sturdy lad. "Who is the gal's father?"</p> + +<p>"That makes no difference; but I will say he belongs to the +Delaware tribe, most of whom are friends to our people."</p> + +<p>"There were plenty of them with the Senecas and Oneidas +yesterday, and they fought like wild cats, too. But why don't you +bring your folks forward?" added Zitner, looking inquiringly +around.</p> + +<p>"I will do so. Wait a few minutes."</p> + +<p>He strode back and over the top of the ridge, until he caught +sight of the frightened group.</p> + +<p>"Come on!" he called, beckoning to them. "Mr. Zitner and +Burwink are here, and want to see you."</p> + +<p>With an expression of thankfulness, Mrs. Ripley, clasping a +hand of each of the children, walked up the slope, and passed +over to where the couple awaited their approach by the camp fire. +She shook hands with each, and expressed her pleasure at meeting +them. They did the same toward her, and then all, with the +exception of the children, seated themselves on the fallen tree +beside which the small fire was burning.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley had observed the little incident the preceding +afternoon, when Zitner tried to stop Linna. She was ill at ease, +for she noticed how sharply he looked at the child. She hoped, +however, that now he was fully himself, he would be ashamed of +his action, or at least make no reference to it.</p> + +<p>No fear of her doing so. She showed her tact by leading the +conversation in another direction.</p> + +<p>"When did you leave Wyoming?"</p> + +<p>"Burwink and I didn't get a chance to swim over until nearly +midnight, and then we had a rough time of it. There were plenty +of others that tried to do the same and never got to this +side."</p> + +<p>"When did you leave?" asked Burwink of the lady.</p> + +<p>"We crossed before it was dark."</p> + +<p>"How did you manage it? Swim?"</p> + +<p>"No; we came over in a canoe. A Delaware Indian, the father of +Linna, swam behind the boat and pushed it across. But for him, we +never could have gotten away."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley, like her son, meant to keep the name of their +friend from these men. There was no danger of either her or Ben +telling it; but neither thought of another means they had of +learning it.</p> + +<p>At this point, Alice went to her mother and leaned against her +knees, with her gaze on the faces of the men. She had been +standing beside Linna, whose eyes were never once removed from +the displeasing countenance of Zitner.</p> + +<p>She must have noticed the incident referred to, for the +expression on her round face was of dislike and distrust. She +stood further off from the men than anyone else -- silent, +watchful, and suspicious.</p> + +<p>Zitner now looked at her.</p> + +<p>"Come here," he said coaxingly, extending his hand.</p> + +<p>"No; me won't. Me don't like you," she replied, with an angry +flirt and backward step.</p> + +<p>"Jingo!" exclaimed the surprised Zitner; "I didn't think she +could talk our lingo. Say, Miss Spitfire, what is your father's +name?"</p> + +<p>Before either Mrs. Ripley or her son could interpose, Linna +answered defiantly -- "He Omas -- great warrior -- kill good many +white people -- kill you!"</p> + +<p>The reply caused consternation on the part of Mrs. Ripley and +Ben, but the boy shut his lips tight. He could not but admire the +bravery of the child, and he was determined to stand by her to +the end.</p> + +<p>The mother was in despair, but she relied mainly on persuasion +and prayer.</p> + +<p>With no idea of what all this meant, Alice looked in the face +of each person in turn while speaking.</p> + +<p>"She's a chip off the old block," said Burwink, with a laugh. +"She doesn't seem to have much fear of you, Jabez."</p> + +<p>"I am hopeful she will feel different when she grows older," +soothingly remarked Mrs. Ripley.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know what you build your hope on," replied +Zitner, still curiously watching the child.</p> + +<p>"I expect to have her a good deal under my care, and I shall +do all I can to instruct her aright. This morning she knelt with +us in prayer. You must remember she is very young, and has heard +little, if anything, of Christianity."</p> + +<p>Zitner shook his head.</p> + +<p>"It's born in 'em, and you can't get it out."</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Zitner, you will not deny that we have a good many +Christian Indians. There are plenty of them at Gnadenhutten, and +the Moravian missionaries have been the means of turning hundreds +from darkness to light. If they can do that with full grown +warriors and women, may we not hope for the best from those of +tender years?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," was the dogged reply. "I never +believed in this conversion business."</p> + +<p>"What can you mean by such a remark?" asked the shocked +lady.</p> + +<p>"I mean, religion is good enough for white people, but don't +work with Injins. They will pretend they're good, but are only +waiting for a chance to do mischief."</p> + +<p>"The converted Delawares have never taken part in the wars +against us. You know that as well as I."</p> + +<p>"How about Omas?"</p> + +<p>"He makes no pretence of Christianity."</p> + +<p>"And therefore has no claim on our indulgence."</p> + +<p>"No one has said he has," observed Ben, coming to his mother's +help; "he will never ask quarter from you or any white man."</p> + +<p>"Where is he now? He brought you over the river, but seems to +have deserted you."</p> + +<p>"He left because he didn't think we had further need of his +aid; we can get along without him."</p> + +<p>"Now, see here," added Zitner, straightening up on the log and +slapping his knee; "I'll tell you what I've made up my mind to +do. I am willing to give in to Mrs. Ripley that far, that I won't +harm that youngster -- that is, I will leave it to her father +whether I shall or shan't."</p> + +<p>Neither mother nor son could understand the meaning of this +strange remark. They waited for the man to explain.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take her with us as a hostage. We're not clear +of the varmints yet. I believe Omas himself ain't far off, and +the rest will be on our heels all the way to Stroudsburg. If they +get us in a tight place, I'll let 'em know we've got the gal of +Omas with us, and if they harm a hair of our heads it'll be all +up with her. We'll take her clean to Stroudsburg, and then turn +her loose, for we won't have any further need of her; but she +must go with us."</p> + +<p>"Jabez Zitner," said Ben Ripley -- "the moment you lay your +hand on that child I will shoot you!"</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_EIGHT"></a>CHAPTER EIGHT: +LINNA'S WOODCRAFT</h1> + +<p>No one could have looked into the face of Ben Ripley without +seeing he meant just what he said.</p> + +<p>Jabez Zitner supposed, when he made known that he intended to +take the little Delaware girl with him as a hostage, that though +it might be displeasing to the Ripleys, they would not dare +object; but he was mistaken.</p> + +<p>The lad was sitting furthest away on the fallen tree, with his +rifle resting across his knees, when he warned the man that if he +laid a hand on Linna he would shoot him.</p> + +<p>Ben spoke low, but mingling with his words were two faint +clicking sounds. They were made by the hammer of his rifle, as +with his thumb he drew it back ready for use. His face was +slightly pale, but his eyes glittered, and he rose to his feet +and looked at the startled man.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley gave a gasp of fright and clasped her hands, while +the children mutely stared.</p> + +<p>Even Zitner was silent. He knew Ben's pluck, but did not +believe it would take him thus far, for it looked as if there +were two adults against a single boy.</p> + +<p>Burwink however, was more of a man than his companion. He +looked smilingly at Ben and said -- "Jabez, I reckon this has +gone far enough."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?'" angrily asked the other.</p> + +<p>"You must leave the little gal alone."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you! thank you!" exclaimed Mrs. Ripley. "I might +have known you would see that right is done."</p> + +<p>Zitner had a few sharp words with his friend, but the latter +was immovable. He would not listen to his proposition, and that +ended the matter.</p> + +<p>"Well," finally said Zitner, rising to his feet, "I intended +to see you folks safe to the Delaware; but I won't have anything +to do with you now. Come, Horace."</p> + +<p>He strode off without another word or looking to the right or +left. Burwink waited a minute, and then, with a quizzical look at +Mrs. Ripley and her son asked --</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can stand it?"</p> + +<p>"We shall have to," replied Ben.</p> + +<p>"Well, goodbye, and good luck to you;" and he followed his +friend among the trees.</p> + +<p>"That was a luckier ending than I expected," remarked Ben, +letting down the hammer of his rifle.</p> + +<p>"If Mr. Burwink had sided with him, there would have been no +help for it," said his mother.</p> + +<p>"Such people are always cowards. I wasn't afraid of him."</p> + +<p>Now that they had departed, Linna came over to her champion -- +though she could not have fully understood all that had passed -- +and placed her hand confidingly on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Linna, I have two sisters," he said tenderly; "yonder is one, +and her name is Alice: can you tell me the name of the +other?"</p> + +<p>"Yes -- she name be Linna."</p> + +<p>"You are right. Now, if you will kiss me, I won't tickle you +any more for making my nose itch this morning."</p> + +<p>The lips were put up to his, and with deep affection on the +part of both, the salute was exchanged.</p> + +<p>"If any more white people show themselves, and they ask you +your father's name, let mother and me answer for you."</p> + +<p>"Me do what you say," was the obedient response.</p> + +<p>It need not be said that our friends were greatly relieved by +the departure of Zitner. While as I have already said, they ought +to have been glad of the company of him and Burwink, they would +have been ill at ease so long as the surly fellow was with them. +He surely held no good will toward the little girl, and would +have found some chance to show it.</p> + +<p>"But are we really rid of him?" asked Ben of his mother. The +two sat close to each other on the tree, and the children were +playing a few steps away.</p> + +<p>"I am quite sure we are."</p> + +<p>"He may steal back tonight, if we camp near."</p> + +<p>"Why should he? He does not want to harm Linna, but to use her +as a means of safety against her own people."</p> + +<p>"That was what he said, but I don't believe him. It seems to +me we ought to change our course, to be certain of not meeting +him again."</p> + +<p>"As you think best."</p> + +<p>"We have had a good rest. Come, girls, we must be off." Taking +the lead as before, Ben strode down the incline, bearing more to +the left than he had been doing.</p> + +<p>All smiled at Linna, for she noticed the change on the +instant.</p> + +<p>"You go wrong," she said; "dat not right way."</p> + +<p>"Which is the right way, Miss Smartness?"</p> + +<p>She pointed it out.</p> + +<p>"You are right, but that is the course of that bad man, who +doesn't like you. We will go around, so as not to see him +again."</p> + +<p>She was satisfied, and gave her attention to Alice, who +thought it odd that she and Ben should have so many disputes.</p> + +<p>Over the varying surface, turning aside now and then to pass +some obstacle in the shape of rocks or ravines -- now up hill and +down, among the dense trees, where the briars and bushes +scratched their hands and faces, across small rippling streams +and natural clearings -- they pushed on until the sun was far +beyond meridian and the halt and rest were grateful.</p> + +<p>"I don't think we need give any more thought to Zitner," said +Ben; "and I am sure we are all glad. He could not find us now, if +he tried."</p> + +<p>"If they kept to their course, we must be several miles +apart."</p> + +<p>"I have been working my way back, so that, after all, I do not +think we have lost much ground. I hope Miss Linna is +satisfied."</p> + +<p>"She would make complaint if she was not."</p> + +<p>They had stopped near another of the small running streams, +for it was harder to do without water than food.</p> + +<p>"I'm hungry, mother."</p> + +<p>"So we all are," she added, producing half a loaf, which was +the last of their food.</p> + +<p>"To leave any portion of this will only aggravate all your +appetites, so we will finish it."</p> + +<p>The bread was divided among the four, and when eating ceased +not a crumb was left.</p> + +<p>"It isn't a good time of the year for hunting, mother, but if +I can get sight of any game, I'll bring it down, whether it is a +deer, bear, wild turkey, quail, or anything that will serve for a +meal."</p> + +<p>"It isn't a time to be particular -- in watching for danger +look also for game."</p> + +<p>"That's what I have been doing for the last few hours."</p> + +<p>With the passage of time and the increase of the distance +between them and Wyoming the hopes of the little party naturally +rose. They were now a good many miles from their old home, and as +yet had not seen a single red man. That numbers were abroad there +could be no doubt, although it is a fact that a great many people +did not start eastward until several days after the battle.</p> + +<p>But it was a long, long way to the Delaware, with the +travelling such as they had to face. I have spoken of the forest +as being trackless and a wrong impression may have been given. An +old trail led from the Susquehanna to the Delaware, and was +followed by many of the fugitives; but great risk was run by +those who did so, for most of the pursuers used the same path. As +a consequence, some were overtaken and slain.</p> + +<p>Those who avoided the beaten route of necessity suffered +greater hardships; but none was equal to that of meeting their +enemies. Omas took care to steer wide of this trail when leading +the party into the wild section to the east of the river, and he +showed them that he wished them to do the same. Ben was too wise +to forget his wishes.</p> + +<p>The location of the sun in the sky, the appearance of the bark +and moss, and the tops of certain trees, enabled the young +woodman to keep a pretty true course. He remarked, with a laugh, +that if there was any likelihood of going wrong, Linna would +correct him.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was well past before they came upon any more +water, and, with the warm weather and their long tramp, all +suffered from thirst. They were not traversing a desert country, +however, and soon found what they wanted in abundance.</p> + +<p>"But," said Ben, "I am worried about food, mother. It is +nearly night, and we haven't a mouthful. I suppose if there was +plenty, I wouldn't feel half as bad, but it seems to me I was +never so hungry in all my life."</p> + +<p>"That is natural; but, if necessary, we can go all night +without food."</p> + +<p>"If necessary, of course we can, but I dread it. Alice and +Linna will suffer, though I'm not so sure about Linna. I would +give almost anything for a wild turkey."</p> + +<p>The dusky child looked up from where she was sitting on the +ground, playing with Alice.</p> + +<p>"Want turkey -- eh?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes; have you any to sell?"</p> + +<p>"Me get you one."</p> + +<p>Mother and son stared in amazement. They could not believe she +was in earnest. She saw it and, with a grin, added -- "Omas +showed Linna how get turkey."</p> + +<p>"What can she be driving at?" asked the puzzled Ben. "She +surely would not say what she does without reason. Linna, teach +Ben how to get a wild turkey; we want one for supper, for if we +don't have it, we shall all have to go without food."</p> + +<p>"Me hungry," she ventured; "so be Alice -- so be you."</p> + +<p>"You are right. Come, sister, show me how to catch a +turkey."</p> + +<p>She gravely rose from the ground. Her face appeared serious, +but those who looked at her closely detected a sparkle of the +black eyes, for all the world as if she meditated some prank upon +her confiding friends. Ben was suspicious. She added --</p> + +<p>"Go wid me -- me show you." Then he was sure she was up to +something.</p> + +<p>He rose from where he was sitting, and, rifle in hand, walked +a little way in the wood. She looked round once or twice, and +continued advancing a few minutes after they were out of sight of +Alice and her mother.</p> + +<p>She held the hand of the youth, who acted as if he was a bad +boy being led to punishment. He started to ask a question, but +she checked him by raising her forefinger and a "S--h!" and he +did not presume again.</p> + +<p>Finally she stopped among a number of trees where several +trunks were two or three feet in diameter. Stepping behind one, +she motioned him to do the same with another a few yards off. +Surveying him a moment, as if to make sure he was doing right, +she suddenly emitted a sound from between her lips, which caused +Ben Ripley to utter the exclamation under his breath -- "Well, by +gracious! If that doesn't beat everything!"</p> + +<p>"Why don't shoot?" she abruptly asked.</p> + +<p>The call made by Linna was the exact imitation of a wild +turkey when lost in the woods. Perhaps you may know that the body +of every one of those birds contains a bone which a hunter can so +use as to make the same signal; but it is hard to produce the +sound without such help, though it has been done.</p> + +<p>Linna had succeeded to perfection.</p> + +<p>"Who would have thought it possible for one so young as she to +learn the trick?" Ben asked himself. "I have tried it many a time +without the bone, but never could do it."</p> + +<p>He looked at her admiringly, and was certain she was the +smartest girl he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>"If there are any turkeys within hearing, that is bound to +fetch them, but I have seen no signs of them."</p> + +<p>Linna continued the signalling at intervals for fifteen +minutes or more, peeping meanwhile from behind the tree and +around her in every direction. Ben did the same, and saw +nothing.</p> + +<p>"Why don't shoot?" she abruptly asked.</p> + +<p>He noted the direction of her gaze, and there, not fifty feet +away, was a big hen turkey, walking slowly over the leaves, with +head aloft and glancing here and there for the lost one.</p> + +<p>The target was a good one, and taking careful aim, Ben toppled +it fluttering to the ground at the first fire.</p> + +<p>"Dat all want?" queried Linna.</p> + +<p>"Yes; that will do for tonight, Linna."</p> + +<p>"Den go back -- play wid Alice."</p> + +<p>And off she ran to rejoin her companion, while the delighted +lad picked up his prize and brought it to camp.</p> + +<p>Turning that and his knife over to his mother, he made a fire +ready to pass the night, full of thankfulness that all had gone +so well. Ben agreed to stand watch until near midnight, and then +allow his mother to help him at the necessary duty.</p> + +<p>While the simple preparations were going on, Linna knelt on +the bare ground with her ear pressed to the earth. Almost +instantly she raised her head and whispered:</p> + +<p>"Somebody comin' dis way -- guess be Injins!"</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_NINE"></a>CHAPTER NINE: IN A +CIRCLE</h1> + +<p>This was alarming news. Ben Ripley imitated the action of +Linna. Kneeling down, he pressed his ear to the earth.</p> + +<p>Yes; he heard faint footfalls. Persons were moving about not +far away.</p> + +<p>"She is right," he said in a low tone; "likely they are +Indians, though we cannot be certain."</p> + +<p>"It won't do to wait till they come to us," remarked his +mother.</p> + +<p>"Shall I put out the fire?" asked Ben, disconcerted by the +suddenness of the danger.</p> + +<p>"No; we can't spare the time. Let us leave. Come, +children."</p> + +<p>She took the hand of each girl and walked quickly off, while +Ben caught up the blankets and followed. They had no particular +point in view, but wished to reach a safe place without +delay.</p> + +<p>The gloom of the gathering night helped them, and when they +paused they were confident they had not been seen by anyone.</p> + +<p>Without any thought on their part, they made their way to a +mass of rocks and boulders, more extensive than any seen through +the day. It was a hundred yards from their starting point.</p> + +<p>They sat down for a whispered consultation.</p> + +<p>"They must have heard the report of my rifle," said Ben.</p> + +<p>"That was a considerable while ago, and they may have been a +good way off at the time."</p> + +<p>"Then, being so much nearer, it was the report which brought +them. What would become of us but for Linna?" added Ben placing +his arm affectionately around her. "It was she that got us our +supper, and now she warns us of danger."</p> + +<p>"They may be Zitner and Burwink."</p> + +<p>"Not likely, but if they come to our fire we shall soon find +out. Look!"</p> + +<p>To their astonishment, the little fire which they had left +only a few minutes before burned up brightly, showing that a lot +of fuel had been thrown on it.</p> + +<p>Too many trees and too much undergrowth obtruded for them to +detect anything more than the great increase in brightness.</p> + +<p>"The darkness will prevent their following our footprints," +whispered the mother.</p> + +<p>"I will go a little nearer and find out what it means: it may +be, after all, that they are friends."</p> + +<p>"Be careful, my son."</p> + +<p>"I will."</p> + +<p>It was not a hard task Ben Ripley gave himself. He had not far +to go, and he proceeded with so much caution that no risk was +involved. Only half the distance was passed when he gained a full +view of the camp fire and its surroundings.</p> + +<p>The sight was disquieting. Three Indian warriors were there. +One had been gathering dry sticks which he flung on the blaze; +another was helping himself to what was left of the cooked +turkey; while the third, bent low, moved slowly around the lit up +portion of the ground with his eyes fixed on it.</p> + +<p>It was plain he was scrutinizing the footprints made by the +party that had left just in time to escape them. It was a +fortunate discovery made by Linna!</p> + +<p>With the aid of the bright glare, it could not take him long +to identify the little party as fugitives fleeing eastward, +though it may be questioned whether they learned that it +consisted of one large boy, an adult woman, and two small +children.</p> + +<p>They were in the battle yesterday. They have left others to +look after those in Wyoming, while they are hunting the poor +creatures that have taken to the woods.</p> + +<p>The Iroquois who had been studying the ground straightened +himself up and said something to the others. One of them then +flung more fuel on the flames, and he who was ravenously eating +suspended his operations, but quickly resumed again, as if he +liked his occupation better than anything else to which he could +turn his attention.</p> + +<p>Then the first stooped down and caught up a burning brand. +Several quick circles over his head fanned it into a vigorous +blaze. Holding it aloft, with his shoulders bent forward, he +moved slowly towards Ben Ripley.</p> + +<p>He was tracing the footprints by the aid of the torch!</p> + +<p>"Gracious! he will be among us in a minute," was the +terrifying thought of the lad, who turned and ran back to his +friends, in such haste that he was in danger of betraying his +movements.</p> + +<p>"Leave -- quick!" he said; "they are after us!"</p> + +<p>"No, they are not," replied his mother, who nevertheless stood +ready to do as he said.</p> + +<p>Ben looked back. The warrior with a torch, after walking a rod +or so from the fire, had stopped, and was now in plain sight, +with the flaming brand held above his head, while he peered out +in the gloom in the direction of the fugitives, as if expecting +to discern them.</p> + +<p>Could he have known how near they were, he and his companions +would have rushed down upon them; but they must have thought they +had fled much further. It was impossible to trail them by +torchlight as fast as they could travel, and the Indians did not +waste time in the effort. The one with the torch went back to his +companions.</p> + +<p>The incident warned our friends of a new form of danger, which +until then had not been counted among the probabilities.</p> + +<p>The Indians, as you know, can trace a person through the woods +with wonderful skill, seeing signs where the untrained eye +observes nothing. If these three chose to wait where they were +until daylight, there was nothing to prevent their taking up the +trail and tracing the fugitives wherever they went.</p> + +<p>"It won't do to stay here," said Ben, "for they will be right +upon us at daylight."</p> + +<p>"Providing they wait where they are."</p> + +<p>"Why should they not do so? They are looking for us."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ripley dared not answer the question as her heart +prompted. At the same time, she could think of no means of +throwing them off their track.</p> + +<p>"It might have been better had we stayed with Zitner and +Burwink -- no, it would not have been," she corrected herself, +"for they were unfriendly to Linna. But we must go."</p> + +<p>The only hope that presented itself was that they might travel +so far during the darkness that the Indians would not keep up the +pursuit when the trail was revealed to them.</p> + +<p>The moon did not rise until very late, and there being no +path, while all were in total ignorance of the neighborhood, it +will be understood that they had set to work to do a very hard, +if not impossible thing.</p> + +<p>Ben as usual took the lead, and, before he had gone twenty +steps, was caught under the chin by a protruding limb that almost +lifted him off his feet. Then he went headlong into a hollow and +bruised himself against some stones. Still, he did not give up, +and by and by the ground became more level and his mishaps less +frequent.</p> + +<p>Alice and Linna, like little heroines, never murmured. All +persevered until it was agreed that they were at least two miles +from the camp fire.</p> + +<p>In making this hard journey, every one of the party met with +several narrow escapes, and it was agreed that it was best to go +no further until daylight.</p> + +<p>"As soon as we can see, we'll be off again, and ought to be +able to travel as fast as they will do. Where they must watch all +the time for our footprints, they cannot go off a walk."</p> + +<p>"We may as well wait."</p> + +<p>Throughout their haste, the blankets had been preserved. +Indeed, the one over Ben's arm had served to break his fall more +than once. These were placed on the ground, and the children lay +down beside each other, quickly sinking to sleep; but the others, +though pretty well worn, were too anxious to rest yet awhile.</p> + +<p>"I have no idea where we are," said the son; "but one place is +as good as another at such a time, and the weather is so warm +that blankets are not needed. Now, mother, I wish you would lie +down beside the children and rest. You need it badly, I +know."</p> + +<p>"And so do you, my son."</p> + +<p>"Not for some time yet."</p> + +<p>"But, if you intend to watch until daylight, you will be worn +out by morning. Besides, you cannot stay awake unless you move +about. I will agree to lie down if you will promise to call me +when you think it is midnight, and let me take a turn."</p> + +<p>"I will agree to call you when I feel the need of you, and I +will pace the ground like a sentinel on duty."</p> + +<p>The mother was forced to accept this proposition and, after +some more cautious conversation, she did as her boy wished, and +he was left alone.</p> + +<p>Ben did not forget his slip of the night before. It was +necessary that one of the company should maintain watch while the +others slept, and only these two could do it. He meant to guard +the others through the short summer night, trusting to a chance +of getting what slumber he needed on the morrow when the others +were awake.</p> + +<p>"I would like to catch myself waking her," he mused, after he +had groped around until he found a space a couple of rods in +length over which he could pace back and forth.</p> + +<p>Then, with his rifle resting on his shoulder, he began his +patient beat, surrounded by impenetrable gloom, and with the +lives of three loved ones in his keeping.</p> + +<p>By and by a lighting of the sky showed the moon had risen. +This, however, was of little or no help, since the abundance of +leaves prevented its rays piercing between and lighting up the +ground beneath.</p> + +<p>It would be hard to imagine a more gloomy occupation than that +of Ben Ripley while engaged with this duty. The solemn murmur of +the vast woods around him, the world of darkness in which he +slowly paced to and fro, the memory of the sad scenes he had seen +in the lovely Wyoming Valley, the certainty that a good many +miles must yet be traversed before they could sit down in safety, +the consciousness that several of the cruel red men were near +them, and the belief that they would start in pursuit as soon as +it was light -- all this oppressed him with crushing weight, and +made him feel at times as if there was no escape for him and his +loved ones.</p> + +<p>"There is only one way of hiding our trail," he mused. "If we +could come upon some river or large stream of water, where there +was a boat, or we could make a raft, we should be safe. A big +rainstorm would do as well, for it would wash out all signs of +our footprints."</p> + +<p>He paused in his walk and peeped up at a speck of sky shown +through a rift among the limbs.</p> + +<p>"There is hardly a cloud; it looks as if it wouldn't rain for +a week, and I don't know of any river between here and the +Delaware."</p> + +<p>His senses were never more alert. He avoided the fatal mistake +of sitting down for a few minutes, or so much as leaning against +a tree to rest. He stopped, however, now and then and listened +intently.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether I am mistaken, or whether I did hear +something moving over the leaves out there?"</p> + +<p>The fact that the almost inaudible rustling was noticed only +when he himself was in motion inclined him to suspect it was a +delusion, accounted for by his tense nerves. But after a time he +became certain of a fact hardly less startling in its nature.</p> + +<p>When walking back and forth with his face away from the spot +where his friends lay something gleamed a short distance off +among the trees. Its location showed it was on the ground, and, +as nearly as he could judge, less than a hundred feet off.</p> + +<p>His first supposition was that it was a fungus growth known in +the country as "foxfire," which gives out a phosphorescent glow +in the darkness; but after watching and studying it for a long +time, he was convinced it was something else.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to find out," he decided; "it won't take me long, +and I ought to know all about it, for it may concern us."</p> + +<p>Stealing forward, he was not a little astonished to find it a +real fire, sunken to a glowing ember, left by someone.</p> + +<p>"It must be as Zitner said -- the woods are full of Indians, +and some of them have camped there."</p> + +<p>Not wishing to stumble over any of their bodies, he manoeuvred +until assured that whoever kindled the fire had left, when he +kicked aside the ashes.</p> + +<p>The act caused a twist of flame to spring up and throw out a +tiny glare, which illumined several feet of surrounding +space.</p> + +<p>And then the astonished youth made the discovery that this was +the very spot where they had cooked their turkey hours before, +and from which they had fled in hot haste before the approach of +the three Iroquois.</p> + +<p>He and his friends had travelled in a circle, and come back to +their starting point.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_TEN"></a>CHAPTER TEN: NEAR +THE END</h1> + +<p>Anyone who is used to the woods knows how apt he is to wander +in a circle unless he keeps his wits about him. There have been +many causes named for this curious fact, and the one that strikes +me as the most reasonable is that we are all either right or left +handed. It is rare that you meet a person who is ambidextrous, -- +that is, who uses both hands equally well. When, therefore, he +sets out to travel through the woods without any guide, he +unconsciously exerts his right or left limb, as the case may be, +more than the other, and this makes his course circular.</p> + +<p>There are three "signboards" by which a hunter can keep trace +of the points of the compass when in the woods, without noticing +the sun, which of itself is often a great help. Three fourths of +the moss on trees grows on the north side; the heaviest boughs on +spruce trees are always on the south side, and the topmost twig +of every uninjured hemlock tree tips to the east.</p> + +<p>Now, while these signs never err, you can see that it is +almost impossible to turn them to account at night.</p> + +<p>Ben Ripley had led his friends in an irregular circle, and +brought them back to within a brief distance of the starting +point. This was the camp fire from which they fled in such panic +before the approach of the three red men.</p> + +<p>The discovery filled him with dismay, and he darted out in the +darkness for the rocks where the others were sleeping. His first +intention was to rouse them and plunge into the woods again, but +a few minutes served to make him cooler and more collected in +mind.</p> + +<p>The night was well spent, and a flight of that kind could not +do much for them. It might be all in vain. It would be trying to +the last degree. He decided not to disturb the sleepers.</p> + +<p>By and by he persuaded himself that matters were not as bad as +they first appeared. Inasmuch as the fugitives had not returned +over their own trail, the Indians, in case they took it in the +morning, must make the same circuit, and thus be forced to go +just as far as if the flight had been in a direct line.</p> + +<p>It was a mystery, however, what had become of the three +warriors. They could not be near the camp, or they would have +appeared when the lad returned to it. They had left, but who +could say whither they had gone?</p> + +<p>While Ben was debating the painful question, a growing light +in the direction of the Delaware told him the night was ended and +the new day dawning.</p> + +<p>The fourth day of July, the second anniversary of the +Declaration of Independence, had passed. He thought of it, +standing alone in the dismal forest with danger on every hand, +and oppressed by the great fear that those whom he loved more +than his own life must perish in that gloomy wilderness.</p> + +<p>He did not dare, however, to give way to his sad thoughts. At +the first streakings of light among the trees, he roused his +mother and told her the alarming truth.</p> + +<p>"I do not understand it," she replied, alluding to the absence +of the Iroquois; "it must be they are in the neighborhood."</p> + +<p>The children were still sleeping quietly on the blanket. No +food or water was at command, and they could not take the time to +look for any. Indeed, the two elder ones felt no hunger or +thirst.</p> + +<p>The mother rose to her feet and looked around, her interest +centring on the rock and boulders, which stretched away to the +rear further than they could penetrate with the eye.</p> + +<p>"I know they are skilful in following footprints," she +remarked; "but if we walk carefully over those rocks, I think +they will not be able to track us. We will try it."</p> + +<p>The children were roused and quickly learned what was to be +done, the mother adding that the prayer which she was accustomed +to offer up every morning would be given when they reached a spot +where it was safe to do so.</p> + +<p>For fully a hundred yards the four were able to make their way +without resting their feet on the ground. Then the boulders ended +as abruptly as they began.</p> + +<p>All now kneeled on the granite floor and asked Heaven to +deliver them safely out of the dangers by which they were +surrounded.</p> + +<p>If the Indians chose to make search, after tracing the little +party to the stony place, they must eventually come upon the new +trail, where it began again on the ground; but unless they struck +it by accident, they must use a good deal of time in hunting for +it.</p> + +<p>"Come on," called Ben in a low voice, but with a renewal of +hope; "we shall get somewhere one of these days."</p> + +<p>To their surprise, not far from the rocks they came upon a +faintly marked path among the trees.</p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of that?" Ben asked, looking inquiringly +at his mother and Linna.</p> + +<p>"Men don't do dat -- wild beasts," replied the dusky +child.</p> + +<p>"She is right," added the mother; "the animals follow it to +water; let us do the same."</p> + +<p>The haunting fear of the red men made the words between the +fugitives few, and all their movements guarded. They kept +glancing to right and left, in front and to the rear, Linna being +probably the most active. It was as if she inherited from her +parents their surprising woodcraft, and was now calling it into +play for the benefit of her friends.</p> + +<p>Suddenly something flickered in the path ahead, and Ben +stopped short, those behind him doing the same.</p> + +<p>Just in advance -- less than fifty yards indeed -- a beautiful +fawn had come to a halt. Its graceful head, with its soft brown +eyes, was lifted high, and it looked wonderingly at the people, +as if not knowing the meaning, and too innocent to feel fear. Ben +drew up his rifle, for it was a tempting chance for a delicious +breakfast. But almost instantly he lowered the weapon again.</p> + +<p>The fawn was so trusting, so unsuspicious, that a feeling of +pity came to the young hunter. The animal suggested his own +little sister, for it was wandering through the unfriendly woods, +with none to protect it from cruel enemies.</p> + +<p>"Go," whispered Ben; "I haven't the heart to harm you; I will +starve first."</p> + +<p>"Remember the result of the shot yesterday," said his mother +warningly. "We are in too much peril to increase it."</p> + +<p>The lad advanced along the path, and every one of the company +smiled at the fawn, when it stood motionless, staring until they +were almost to it. Then the timid creature turned nimbly and +trotted over the trail, its head so high that, as it turned it +from side to side, it saw every thing done by the strange beings +following.</p> + +<p>Had the situation been less serious, Ben would have had some +sport with the lovely creature, but he dared not give it much +attention. It continued trotting a short way, and then sprang +gracefully aside among the trees, leaving no scent on the leaves +by which the most highly trained hound could trace it.</p> + +<p>A little way beyond they came upon the largest stream seen +since leaving the mountains east of the Susquehanna. It was a +dozen feet in width, quite deep, rapid, and clear.</p> + +<p>"Here is enough drink for us all," said Ben, and they +proceeded to help themselves in the primitive fashion described +elsewhere.</p> + +<p>"That must contain fish," observed the mother; "but we are +without the means of catching them."</p> + +<p>"Unless Linna will jump in and haul them out for us. But if we +are to continue our journey, we must find some way of getting to +the other side; it is too deep and wide to ford or jump."</p> + +<p>"It must be narrower in other places."</p> + +<p>"Oh! look mamma!"</p> + +<p>It was Alice who first saw a terrifying sight. An immense +black bear, the largest any of the party had ever seen, swung +from among the trees and came to the water's edge on the other +side.</p> + +<p>He was so enormous that all started and recoiled a step, even +Linna uttering an exclamation in her own tongue. Ben grasped his +rifle, and held it ready to use the instant it became +necessary.</p> + +<p>But Bruin was in a gracious mood that morning. He looked at +the party with stupid curiosity, then reared on his hind legs, +and swung his beam-.like paws in an odd way.</p> + +<p>"He is inviting us to come over and be hugged to death," +laughed Ben.</p> + +<p>"He will come over and eat us all up," said Alice, clinging to +the dress of her mother.</p> + +<p>"No," replied the parent, soothingly patting her head; "Ben +won't let him do that. Do not be frightened."</p> + +<p>"Climb tree," suggested Linna; "not big tree, 'cause bear +climb dat too -- climb little tree, den he can't climb it."</p> + +<p>"You are right, but we will wait and see what he does. I don't +want to fire my gun unless I have to, and if he will let us alone +we won't hurt him. There! he is going to drink."</p> + +<p>The huge creature bent his head down to the water and helped +himself. When he had had enough, he raised his snout and again +looked at the party, who were closely watching him.</p> + +<p>This was the critical moment. If he meant to attack them, he +would plunge into the water and either swim or wade across. Ben +raised the hammer of his rifle and awaited his action.</p> + +<p>Had Bruin been hungry, he would not have dallied so long; but +he did not seem to see anything specially tempting in the group, +and lumbered off among the trees.</p> + +<p>"A lucky move for you." remarked Ben.</p> + +<p>"And just as lucky for us," added the mother; "for though you +might have slain him, as I have no doubt you would, the report of +the gun must have brought more dangerous enemies to us."</p> + +<p>"I would give a good deal to know what has become of them. It +begins to look as if they did not consider us worth bothering +with."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could believe that, but I cannot. I think it more +likely that they know where we are, and are trifling with us, as +a cat does with a mouse."</p> + +<p>"That makes me anxious to push on. We must find some place +where we can cross the stream. Let's go further up the bank."</p> + +<p>He took the course named, leading away from the great bear +with which they had so narrowly escaped an encounter.</p> + +<p>To their surprise, they had not far to go before the spot they +were seeking was found. The stream narrowed between some rocks, +so much that even Alice could spring across without wetting her +feet.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid Linna can't leap it," remarked Ben with a +smile.</p> + +<p>"Me show you."</p> + +<p>And, without recoiling a step, the nimble little one made a +graceful bound, which landed her several feet beyond the other +margin.</p> + +<p>"Well done!" said Ben; "I couldn't do much better myself. Now, +Alice, you are not going to let her beat you?"</p> + +<p>Alice was timid at first, but with a good start she cleared +the space. She landed, however, so near the water that had not +the watchful Linna caught one of the hands thrown up to save +herself, she would have fallen back in the stream.</p> + +<p>Mother and son imitated them, and all stood on the other side +of the obstruction without having suffered any inconvenience.</p> + +<p>While they were congratulating themselves, a startling +reminder of their danger came in the near report of a rifle. It +was from the direction in which they had seen the bear, and in +the stillness of the woods all heard a snarling growl, which +proved that the beast had received his death wound.</p> + +<p>"The Indians are there!" whispered the frightened Ben; "what +shall we do, mother?"</p> + +<p>"What can we do?" she asked, helpless and at her wits' end for +the moment; "there seems to be no escaping them."</p> + +<p>"Me go talk with them," was the amazing remark of the little +Delaware girl.</p> + +<p>"You talk with them!" repeated Mrs. Ripley; "what can you +do?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know -- me try."</p> + +<p>And without waiting for permission, Linna started on a light +run toward the point whence came the report of the rifle that +gave Bruin his death wound. Mother and son looked in each other's +face in mute wonderment for a full minute after the departure of +the girl.</p> + +<p>"She's a remarkable child," finally said the mother; "she has +done us more than one good turn, and, it may be, Heaven intends +to make use of her again, though I cannot see how."</p> + +<p>"The Iroquois will recognise her as one of their own race. +Perhaps one or more of them belong to her tribe: they will know +her as the child of Omas, and may listen to her pleadings."</p> + +<p>"Alas! they will give little heed to them; my heart misgives +me, son: I feel that the end is at hand."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, let us follow Linna, the Delaware, upon her strange +mission.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_ELEVEN"></a>CHAPTER ELEVEN: +ALL IN VAIN</h1> + +<p>I am at some disadvantage in giving an account of the +remarkable interview between the little Delaware girl, Linna, and +the three hostile warriors who had trailed the Ripleys to the +stream in the wilderness across which they had just leaped in the +effort to continue their flight from Wyoming to the Upper +Delaware.</p> + +<p>There were no witnesses to the interview except the parties +named, but when Linna in after years had become a woman, with her +very strong memory she gave a description of what passed, and it +has come down through the descendants of the pioneers to the +present day.</p> + +<p>You will permit me to found my narrative upon her testimony, +and to be quite liberal in the interpretation of what took +place.</p> + +<p>The fears of the fugitives were well founded. The three red +men were near them for a long while before they showed +themselves. It was very much as Mrs. Ripley had said. They were +so sure of the prize that they trifled with them.</p> + +<p>Linna reached the spot where the warriors were standing +directly after one of the number had sent a bullet through the +bear. Young as she was, she understood the peril of her friends, +and set out to do all she could for them.</p> + +<p>She knew that Omas, her father, was a great warrior. He +belonged to the Delaware tribe, which years before had been +soundly beaten by the Iroquois and reduced almost to slavery; but +among the conquered people were many without superiors in +bravery, skill, and prowess. Omas was one of the most noted +examples.</p> + +<p>The first thrill of hope came to the young child when she +recognised the one that had killed the bear. He was Red Wolf, a +member of her own tribe, who often had been in her father's +wigwam, and was therefore well known to his child. The others +were of the Seneca tribe, one of those composing the Iroquois, or +Six Nations, the most powerful confederation of Indians that ever +existed on the American continent.</p> + +<p>The three looked at the little girl in amazement, as she came +running between the trees. She dropped to a rapid walk, and did +not stop until she was among them.</p> + +<p>"Where do you come from?" asked Red Wolf, in the Delaware +tongue.</p> + +<p>"My father, the great Omas, brought me to see my friend Alice. +He left me with her people, and you must not harm them."</p> + +<p>"Why did Omas leave you with them?"</p> + +<p>"They are my friends."</p> + +<p>It should be said the Senecas, who calmly listened to the +conversation, understood all that was said.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?"</p> + +<p>"A long way through the wood."</p> + +<p>"Why does Omas leave you with the palefaces? You should be in +your own wigwam many miles away."</p> + +<p>"He knows I am safe with them. He led us through the woods +until he could leave us; then he went back to the great river +between the mountains to help the other warriors fight."</p> + +<p>None of the three could doubt that the child was speaking the +truth. They held the prowess of Omas in high respect; but they +were not the ones to surrender such a prize as was already +theirs.</p> + +<p>"We will take them back to Wyoming with us," said Red Wolf; +"then Omas may do as he thinks best with them."</p> + +<p>With a shrewdness far beyond her years, Linna said -- "He +wants them to go to the other big river, off yonder" -- pointing +eastward. "Why do you wish to take them back to Wyoming?"</p> + +<p>"If he wants them to go to the other big river, he can send +them after he sees them again."</p> + +<p>"You will make Omas angry; he will strike you down with his +tomahawk," said Linna.</p> + +<p>Although these words were the words of a child, they produced +their effect. Red Wolf knew how deeply the grim warrior loved his +only daughter, and he knew, too, how terrible was the wrath of +the warrior. Omas had chosen to spare this family from the +cruelty visited upon so many others. If Red Wolf dared to run the +risk of rousing the vengeance of Omas, he must take the +consequences. He shrank from doing so.</p> + +<p>The Delaware beckoned to one of the Senecas, and they stepped +aside and talked a few minutes, in tones too low for the +listening Linna to hear what was said. Subsequent events, +however, made clear the meaning of their conversation.</p> + +<p>Red Wolf proposed to spare the fugitives. He wished to go away +with his companions and leave them to pursue their flight without +molestation, so far as they were concerned.</p> + +<p>But the Senecas held Omas in less dread than did Red Wolf. +They were unwilling to let the whites escape. The third warrior, +who joined them, was as strenuous as the first. While one might +have shrunk from stirring the anger of the famous Delaware, the +two together did not hesitate to run counter to his wishes. They +refused to be dissuaded by Red Wolf.</p> + +<p>They remained apart from the girl for ten minutes, earnestly +conversing, while she could not overhear a word.</p> + +<p>Finally one of the three -- a Seneca -- turned about and +walked away, as if impatient with the dispute. He took a course +leading from the stream, and deeper into the woods.</p> + +<p>Linna noticed the curious act, but, great as was her acumen +for one of her years, she did not suspect its meaning. It would +have been passing strange had she done so, for the movement was +meant to deceive her and bring the disputation to an end.</p> + +<p>The couple remaining walked to where Linna awaited them. The +Seneca turned aside and sauntered to the carcass of the bear as +if that had more interest just then for him.</p> + +<p>"What will Omas do if my brother warriors take your friends +back to the other river, but Red Wolf does not help?"</p> + +<p>"He will strike them down with his tomahawk; my father, Omas, +is a great warrior."</p> + +<p>The black eyes flashed as the girl proudly uttered these +words, and she looked defiantly in the painted face towering +above her.</p> + +<p>"But what will he do with Red Wolf?"</p> + +<p>"He will strike down Red Wolf, because he is a coward, and did +not keep all harm from his white friends."</p> + +<p>This intimation that the Delaware could not shelter himself +behind the plea of neutrality, but must be either an active +friend or foe, was a little more than he could accept. While he +held Omas in wholesome dread, he dared not array himself against +the two Senecas, who were determined not to spare the hapless +fugitives.</p> + +<p>Red Wolf was a fair specimen of his tribe, who, as I have +stated, were beaten by the Iroquois. These conquerors, indeed, +carried matters with so high a hand that they once forbade the +Delawares to use firearms, but made them keep to the old +fashioned bow and arrow.</p> + +<p>Red Wolf, therefore, having squared accounts, so to speak, +with his present companions, was anxious to win the good will of +Linna, and thereby that of her fierce parent, who was a hurricane +in his wrath, and likely to brain Red Wolf before he could +explain matters.</p> + +<p>"Omas is the greatest warrior of the Delawares," he said to +Linna; "Red Wolf and he are brothers. But the Senecas will not +listen to the words of Red Wolf: they love not Omas as does Red +Wolf."</p> + +<p>The Delaware child now found herself in a quandary. She had +made her plea, but, so far as she could see, it was in vain, +since the friendship of Red Wolf alone was not enough. One of the +Senecas was studying the body of the dead bear and paying no heed +to her words; the other had gone off, she knew not where.</p> + +<p>What remained for her to do?</p> + +<p>While the little one asked herself the question, and was +trying, to think what course she should follow, the absent Seneca +was working out the mischievous plot he had formed, and which was +fully known to his companions.</p> + +<p>An uprooted tree lay extended on the ground, near where Mrs. +Ripley and her children saw Linna run off to plead with the +Indians. Since they could do nothing but wait, helpless and +almost despairing, for the return of the child, they sat down on +the prostrate trunk.</p> + +<p>Ben was near the base, close to the mass of upturned roots, +which spread out like an enormous fan, with its dirt and +prong-like roots projecting in all directions. He was tired, +depressed, and worn out. It will be remembered he had not slept a +wink during the preceding night, or eaten a mouthful of food +since then. Strong, sturdy, and lusty as he was, he could not +help feeling the effects of all this.</p> + +<p>He leaned his rifle against a huge, gnarled root, within arm's +length of where he half reclined, with his feet extended along +the trunk. He had but to reach out his hand, without moving his +body, to grasp the weapon whatever moment it might be needed.</p> + +<p>Exhausted as he was, his condition was too nervous to permit +slumber. His mother had said she thought the end was at hand, and +he believed the same.</p> + +<p>She was but a few feet away, sitting more erect on the tree, +with Alice leaning against her.</p> + +<p>The eyes of all were turned toward the point where Linna had +vanished, and whence she was expected every minute to come into +view again.</p> + +<p>She was not far off. Once or twice the mother and son caught +the sounds of their voices, though the exuberant vegetation shut +them from sight.</p> + +<p>"It was idle for her to go," said Ben; "and I cannot see any +chance of her helping us."</p> + +<p>"They will not harm her, nor will they be denied the pleasure +of doing what they choose with us."</p> + +<p>"Some persons might believe the delay was favorable, but I +cannot think that way."</p> + +<p>Neither felt like conversation. It was an effort to say +anything; but mother and son, in their unselfishness, pitied each +other, and strove vainly to lift the gloomy thoughts that were +oppressing both.</p> + +<p>Had Ben Ripley seen the departure of the Seneca, he might have +suspected its meaning; but, unaware of it, he never dreamed of +the new form which the ever present danger thus assumed.</p> + +<p>The Seneca, after leaving Red Wolf and the other warrior, +walked directly over the path leading away from the stream until +well beyond the sight of those thus left behind. He looked back, +and, seeing nothing of them, turned aside and moved off, until he +arrived at a point beyond the group of three resting on the +fallen tree.</p> + +<p>Thus, as will be seen, the Ripleys were between the two and +Linna on the one hand, and the single Seneca on the other. He +knew the precise location of the fugitives as well as if they had +been in his field of vision from the first.</p> + +<p>He now began approaching them from the rear. Their faces +turned away from him, and everything favored his stealthy +advance.</p> + +<p>The huge spread of dirt and roots made by the overturning of +the big tree served as a screen, though even without this help he +would probably have succeeded in his effort to steal upon them +unawares.</p> + +<p>He stepped so carefully upon the dried leaves that no sound +was made, and the most highly trained ear, therefore, would not +have detected him.</p> + +<p>If Ben had once risen from his reclining posture and looked +around, if Mrs. Ripley had stood up and done the same, or if +little Alice had indulged in her natural sportiveness, assuredly +one of them would have observed that crouching warrior, gradually +drawing closer, like the moving of a hand over the face of a +clock; but none saw him. Nearer and nearer he came, step by step, +until at last he stood just on the other side of the mass of +roots, and not ten feet from the boy.</p> + +<p>With the same noiselessness, the crouching form bent over +sideways and peered around the screen. Then the dusky arm glided +forward until the iron fingers clasped the barrel of the rifle +leaning against the root, and the weapon was withdrawn.</p> + +<p>He now had two guns, and Ben Ripley none.</p> + +<p>Then the Seneca advanced, a weapon in either hand, and, +presenting himself in front of the amazed group, exclaimed -- +"Huh! how do, bruder? -- how do sister?"</p> + +<p>Ben Ripley sprang up as if shot, and his startled mother, with +a gasp of affright, turned her head.</p> + +<p>For one moment the boy meditated leaping upon the warrior, in +the desperate attempt to wrench his gun from his grasp; but the +mother, reading his intention, interposed.</p> + +<p>"Do nothing, my son: we are in the hands of Heaven."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_TWELVE"></a>CHAPTER TWELVE: +CONCLUSION</h1> + +<p>The point, at last, had been reached where it was useless to +struggle any longer. The little party of fugitives, after safely +crossing the Susquehanna on the day of the battle, and +penetrating more than a score of miles on their way eastward to +the Delaware, were overtaken, and made captive by three +Indians.</p> + +<p>Warning Ben against any resistance, the mother bowed her head +in submission, and awaited her fate. Only once, when she clasped +her arm around the awed and silent Alice, laying the other +affectionately upon the shoulder of her brave son, did she speak +-- "Murmur not at the will of Heaven."</p> + +<p>The Seneca was surprised at the action, or, rather, want of +action, on the part of the captives. Receiving no response to his +salutation, he stood a moment in silence, and then emitted a +tremulous whoop. It was a signal for Red Wolf and the other +Seneca. They understood it, and hurried to the spot, with Linna +close behind them.</p> + +<p>It would have been expected that she would indulge in some +outburst when she saw how ill everything had gone; but, with one +grieved look, she went up to the sorrowing, weeping mother and +buried her head between her knees.</p> + +<p>And then she did what no one of that party had ever before +seen her do -- she sobbed with a breaking heart. The mother +soothed her as best she could, uttering words which she heard +not.</p> + +<p>Ben Ripley when the blow came, stood erect, and folded his +arms. His face was pale, but his lips were mute. Not even by look +did he ask for mercy from their captors.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the impressive tableau, Linna suddenly raised +her head from the lap of the mother, her action and attitude +showing she had caught some sound which she recognized.</p> + +<p>But everyone else in the party also noted it. It was a shrill, +penetrating whistle, ringing among the forest arches -- a call +which she had heard many a time, and she could never mistake its +meaning.</p> + +<p>Her eyes sparkled through her tears, which wet her cheeks; but +she forgot everything but that signal.</p> + +<p>"Dat Omas! -- dat Omas -- dat fader!" she exclaimed, springing +to her feet, trembling and aglow with excitement.</p> + +<p>There was one among the three who, had his painted complexion +permitted, would have turned ashy pale. Red Wolf was afraid that +when the fearful Delaware warrior thundered down on them, he +would not give his brother time to explain matters before sinking +his tomahawk into his brain. Manifestly, therefore, but one +course was open for him, and he took it without a second's +delay.</p> + +<p>He fled for his life.</p> + +<p>The Senecas, however, stood their ground. The signal of Omas +sounded again, and Linna answered it. Her father was near at +hand, and quickly came to view.</p> + +<p>But, lo! he had a companion. It was To-wika, his faithful +wife.</p> + +<p>The reunion of the Delaware family was an extraordinary one. +Had no others been present, Linna would have bounded into the +arms of her mother, been pressed impulsively to her breast, and +then received the same fervent welcome from her father.</p> + +<p>But never could anything like that take place before +witnesses.</p> + +<p>When the child saw her parents she walked gravely up to them, +having first done her utmost to remove the traces of tears, and +took her place by their side. The mother said something in her +native tongue, but it could not have been of much account, for +the child gave no reply.</p> + +<p>Omas did not speak. One quick glance was bestowed upon his +child, and then he addressed himself to the work before him.</p> + +<p>Omas was as cunning as a serpent. He would not have hesitated +to assail these two Senecas, for, truth to tell, he could never +feel much love for the conquerors of his people. He did not fear +them; but he saw the way to win his point without such +tempestuous violence.</p> + +<p>His words, therefore, were calculated to soothe rather than +irritate. He asked them to explain how it was they were in charge +of his friends, and listened attentively while one of them +answered his inquiry.</p> + +<p>Then, as is natural with his race, he recounted in somewhat +extravagant language his own deeds of the last few days. There is +reason to believe he gave himself credit for a number of exploits +against the palefaces of which he was innocent.</p> + +<p>Then he said the only ones he loved among the palefaces were +the three there present -- he had entrusted his only child to +them, and they had saved her from the anger of their people. He +had slept under their roof, and eaten of their bread. They were +his best friends; and they his brave Seneca brothers, when they +knew of this, would be glad. He had set out to conduct them to +the settlements, and his brothers would wish all a safe arrival +there.</p> + +<p>This speech, delivered with far more address than I am able to +give it, worked as a charm. Not the slightest reference was made +to the cowardly Red Wolf, though Omas knew all about him.</p> + +<p>The Senecas were won by the words of the wily Delaware. They +indulged in the fiction of saying that they had no thought of how +matters stood between him and these palefaces, and their hearts +were glad to hear the words fall from his lips. They would not +harm his friends, and hoped they would reach in safety the +settlement for which they were looking.</p> + +<p>Not only that, but they offered to go with them all the +way.</p> + +<p>This was too kind, and the offer was gratefully declined. Then +the Senecas withdrew, first returning Ben's rifle to him. Whether +they ever succeeded in overtaking Red Wolf cannot be known, and +it is of no moment.</p> + +<p>The peril had burst over the heads of the little party like a +thundercloud; and now it had cleared, and all was sunshine +again.</p> + +<p>It was some minutes before the Ripleys could fully understand +the great good fortune that had come to them. Then their hearts +overflowed with thankfulness.</p> + +<p>With her arms clasping her children Mrs. Ripley looked +devoutly upward, and murmured:</p> + +<p>"I thank Thee, Heavenly Father, for Thy great mercy to me and +mine. Bless Omas and To-wika and Linna, and hold them for ever in +Thy precious keeping."</p> + +<p>The events which had taken place were strange; but Mrs. Ripley +maintained, to the end of her life, that those which followed +were tenfold more remarkable.</p> + +<p>You will remember that when Omas, after conducting the little +company some distance from Wyoming, showed a wish to leave them, +the good woman had no doubt what his purpose was: he wanted to +take part in further cruelties against the hapless settlers.</p> + +<p>Omas had fought hard in the battle of July 3rd, 1778, and his +friendship for the Ripleys drew him away before the dreadful +doings were half completed. He yearned to go back and give rein +to his ferocity. Mrs. Ripley tried to restrain him, but in +vain.</p> + +<p>Such were her views; but she was in error. She did not read +the heart of the terrible warrior aright.</p> + +<p>For weeks Omas had been sorely troubled in mind. He had +visited the Christian brethren of his own tribe at the Moravian +settlement of Gnadenhutten. He had listened to the talk of the +missionaries, and heard of One who, when He was reviled, reviled +not again; who, when He was smitten and spat upon, bore it +meekly; and who finally died on the cross, that the red men as +well as the white children might be saved.</p> + +<p>All this was a great mystery to the Delaware. He could not +grasp the simple but sublime truths which lie at the foundation +of Christianity. But he longed to do so. At midnight he lay +trying to sleep in the silent woods, looking up at the stars and +meditating on the wonderful Being who had done all this. In the +simplicity of his nature, he talked to that awful and dimly +comprehended Father of all races and peoples, and asked Him to +tell Omas what he should say, and do, and think.</p> + +<p>Unknown to him, To-wika his wife had listened to the teachings +of the missionaries, and she had traversed further along the path +of light than he.</p> + +<p>When, therefore, he told her of his longings, his +questionings, his distress, his wretchedness, and his groping in +the dark, she was able to say a great deal that helped to clear +away the fogs and mists from his clouded brain.</p> + +<p>But Omas was in the very depth of darkness, and almost +despair, when the fearful episode of Wyoming came. It was in +desperation he went into that conflict, as a man will sometimes +do to escape, as it were, from himself.</p> + +<p>He fought like a demon, but he could not hush the still small +voice within his breast. He felt that he must have relief, or he +would do that which a wild Indian never does -- make away with +himself.</p> + +<p>It was on his tongue more than once, while threading his way +through the wilderness with his friends, to appeal to Mrs. +Ripley; but with a natural shrinking he held back, fearing that +with his broken words he could not make her understand his +misery.</p> + +<p>The only recourse was to go to To-wika, his wife. He had asked +her to talk further with the missionaries, and then to repeat +their words to him.</p> + +<p>So it was that when he stole from the camp fire like a thief +in the night, it was not to return and take part in the scenes of +violence in which he had already been so prominent an actor, but +to do the very opposite.</p> + +<p>It was a long tramp through the forest to his own wigwam, and +his people were aflame with excitement because of Wyoming; but +the warrior hardly paused night and day until he flung himself at +the feet of To-wika and begged that he might die.</p> + +<p>From this remarkable woman Linna had inherited more mental +strength than from her iron hearted father. To-wika talked +soothingly to him, and for the first time in his blind groping he +caught a glimmer of light. The blessed Word which had brought +comfort and happiness to her is for all people and conditions, no +matter how rude, how ignorant, and how fallen.</p> + +<p>But To-wika felt the need of human help. She had never met +Mrs. Ripley, but her husband had told of his welcome beneath that +roof, and of what she said to him about the Saviour and God, who +was so different from the Great Spirit of the red men. She knew +this woman was a Christian, and she asked her husband to lead her +to her.</p> + +<p>He set out with her to overtake the little party who, with +never a thought of what was going on, were struggling through the +gloomy wilderness, beset by perils on every hand.</p> + +<p>Since they were following no beaten path, except for a little +way, the most perfect woodcraft was necessary to find them. Omas +knew the direction they had taken, and calculated the time needed +to reach the Delaware. It was easy, too, to locate the camp where +he had parted from them, after which his wonderful skill enabled +him to keep the trail, along which he and his wife strode with +double the speed of the fugitives.</p> + +<p>When he discovered that three warriors were doing the same, +all the old fire and wrath flamed up in his nature. The couple +increased the ardor of their pursuit. And yet, but for the +favoring aid of Heaven, they hardly could have come up at the +crisis which brought them all together.</p> + +<p>Under the blest instruction of Mrs. Ripley, the doubts of Omas +finally vanished, never to return. The once mighty warrior, +foremost in battle and ferocity and courage, became the meek, +humble follower of the Saviour -- triumphant in life, and doubly +triumphant in death.</p> + +<p>On the third day after the meeting in the woods, the party +arrived at the little town of Stroudsburg, on the Upper Delaware, +none having suffered the least harm. The skill of Omas kept them +supplied with food, and his familiarity with the route did much +to lessen the hardships which otherwise they would have +suffered.</p> + +<p>Omas stayed several weeks at this place with his friends, and +then he and his wife and little one joined the Christian +settlement of Gnadenhutten, where the couple finished their +days.</p> + +<p>After a time, when it became safe for the Ripleys to return to +Wyoming Valley, they took up their residence there once more, and +remained until the husband and father came back at the close of +the Revolution; and the happy family were reunited, thankful that +God had been so merciful to them and brought independence to +their beloved country.</p> + +<p>Omas and To-wika and Linna were welcome visitors as long as +the lived. In truth, Linna survived them all. She married a +chieftain among her own people, and when she at last was gathered +to her final rest, she had almost reached the great age of a +hundred years.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Daughter of the Chieftain, by Edward S. Ellis + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DAUGHTER OF THE CHIEFTAIN *** + +This file should be named dchef10h.htm or dchef10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, dchef11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, dchef10ah.htm + +Produced by Martin Robb + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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