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But never could anything like that take place before witnesses. 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. Omas did not speak.
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.
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. Such were her views; but she was in error. She did not read the heart of the terrible warrior aright.
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. When, therefore, he turned about and bade them goodbye, all doubt was gone.
Before long, and while Ben's hand was still gliding like down over the forehead, the faint, regular breathing showed she was asleep. The son smiled. "Good! The best mother that ever lived! Heavenly Father, watch over her and spare her for many years. Watch over us all." He looked across at Omas, on the other side of the camp fire, and saw the Delaware gazing fixedly at him.
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." 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.
"Where do you come from?" asked Red Wolf, in the Delaware tongue. "My father, the great Omas, brought me to see my friend Alice. He left me with her people, and you must not harm them." "Why did Omas leave you with them?" "They are my friends." It should be said the Senecas, who calmly listened to the conversation, understood all that was said. "Where are you going?"
"I thought it was you, Omas," she said with a merry laugh; "do you want to play Jack Stones with me?" If you could have seen the person whom she thus addressed, you would have thought it a strange way of speaking. 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.
"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." Omas hastily gathered some leaves and dead twigs, which were heaped together against one of the boulders.
The dusky child looked up from where she was sitting on the ground, playing with Alice. "Want turkey eh?" she asked. "Yes; have you any to sell?" "Me get you one." 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." "What can she be driving at?" asked the puzzled Ben.
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