"
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.
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