But at the moment of entering them he stopped abruptly, wheeled
about, and walked slowly back toward the cabin.
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.
Without hesitation she stepped off the broad flat stone and went
to him.
"What is it, Omas?" she asked in an undertone, pausing in front of
him, and gazing up into the grim, painted countenance.
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."
"Why do you say that, Omas?"
"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."
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.
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?
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.
"Where can we go?" she asked, in the same guarded voice.
"With Omas," was the prompt reply; "hide in wigwam of Omas. Nobody
hurt palefaced friend of Omas."
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.
"When will they come?" she asked; "will it be in a few weeks or in
a few days?"