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Updated: May 10, 2025
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?" "He have gun." he replied, indicating Ben. "So have the red men, and there are more of them." 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.
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. He turned about abruptly, and said "Omas must go he say 'goodnight' to his friends."
"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.
They held the prowess of Omas in high respect; but they were not the ones to surrender such a prize as was already theirs. "We will take them back to Wyoming with us," said Red Wolf; "then Omas may do as he thinks best with them." With a shrewdness far beyond her years, Linna said "He wants them to go to the other big river, off yonder" pointing eastward.
Her eyes sparkled through her tears, which wet her cheeks; but she forgot everything but that signal. "Dat Omas! dat Omas dat fader!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet, trembling and aglow with excitement. There was one among the three who, had his painted complexion permitted, would have turned ashy pale.
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. 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. There was no attempt at conversation between the Delaware and Ben.
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." "Linna swim," was the somewhat proud answer; "she take care of Alice you take care of moder." "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?
It was the season when the days were longest, and two or three hours must pass before it would be fully night. 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.
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.
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. He made no reply to the last remark, but stepped a little nearer the fire and sat down, moody and silent. "You have said enough, mother," remarked Ben in a low voice; "it will anger him to say more.
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