Truth to tell, the canoe had all it could hold, and Omas, who swam
at the stern, handled it with care to prevent it overturning. The
water rose almost to the gunwales, and a little jolt or carelessness
would have capsized it.
The Delaware swam high out of water. He knew the boat would attract
the attention of some of his own people on the bank, who, if they
thought the occupants were escaping, would either pursue or fire
on them.
The sight of the Indian, however, at the stern would make it appear
that they were already prisoners, and the other warriors would give
their attention elsewhere.
Omas kept clear of Monacacy Island, and by and by his feet touched
ground. Before that, the dripping Linna had run out on land, and
so the whole party safely reached the eastern shore.
CHAPTER FIVE: IN THE WOODS
You have not forgotten what I told you about the mountain range,
which shuts in Wyoming Valley on the east. It is a thousand feet
in height, abounding with ravines, clefts, rocks, boulders and the
most rugged kind of places.
The fugitives who fled from the Susquehanna to escape the Indians
had to make their way over these mountains, and then find their
way through sixty miles of trackless woods to the Delaware River.
A great many succeeded in doing so, but the deaths and sufferings
in the vast stretch of forest gave it the dreadful name of "The
Shades of Death," by which it is often referred to even to this
day.
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