The dangers,
excitement, and suspense of the hours drove away the thought of
food. Young as was Linna, she had already learned not to ask for it
when either of her parents chose not to offer it to her. Doubtless
she was hungry, but if so, no one else knew it. Alice had been
given bread when at Forty Fort, and she now suggested that some
more would not come amiss.
"We all need it," said Ben; "why not take our last meal in our old
home? You have no objection Omas?"
"Eat here," was his reply.
The guns were leaned against the walls, the blankets put aside
and all gathered round the board. The Delaware had done the same
before when visiting the family, and acquired the civilized form of
eating, while Linna picked it up during the brief time spent with
her friends.
The meal lasted but a few minutes, when they once more gathered up
their luggage, as it may be called, left the house, and with Omas
in the lead, struck into the mountains on the long tramp to the
Delaware.
The sun went down while they were picking their way through the
rough section. The Ripleys expected to do much hard travelling,
but their guide's knowledge of every turn enabled him to pick out
paths which none ever suspected. Sometimes the climbing was abrupt,
but all, even to Alice, were accustomed to that kind of work, and
they kept up a steady gait, which must have placed many miles to
the rear if continued long.
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