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What become of that little sarpent you had with you yesterday?" It was Zitner who asked the question. Ben's face flushed, for he did not like to hear Linna spoken of in that way. "She is with us," he quietly replied. "What are you going to do with her?" "She is in our care, and goes wherever we go." "You seem mighty fond of the people who played the mischief with us yesterday."
"No; me won't. Me don't like you," she replied, with an angry flirt and backward step. "Jingo!" exclaimed the surprised Zitner; "I didn't think she could talk our lingo. Say, Miss Spitfire, what is your father's name?" Before either Mrs. Ripley or her son could interpose, Linna answered defiantly "He Omas great warrior kill good many white people kill you!"
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.
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. 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.
"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." Neither mother nor son could understand the meaning of this strange remark. They waited for the man to explain.
Stealing forward, he was not a little astonished to find it a real fire, sunken to a glowing ember, left by someone. "It must be as Zitner said the woods are full of Indians, and some of them have camped there." 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.
"She's a chip off the old block," said Burwink, with a laugh. "She doesn't seem to have much fear of you, Jabez." "I am hopeful she will feel different when she grows older," soothingly remarked Mrs. Ripley. "I'd like to know what you build your hope on," replied Zitner, still curiously watching the child.
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. 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.
"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." "Who's talking about fighting 'em?" demanded Zitner angrily. "Their people didn't spare our women and children." "They are savages, but you and I claim to be civilized." "That's all well enough, but my motto is fight fire with fire."
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. "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."
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