them in their work."

"If that is so, how can we hinder him?"

"I don't know that we can; but I shall try it."

Ben busied himself gathering more wood, so that the fire cast a glow
several yards from where it burned against the boulder.

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."

CHAPTER SIX: PUSHING EASTWARD

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"Omas, I do not wish you to leave us," she said.

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."

The lady was too wise to let her real objec