The Daughter of the Chieftain | Page 7

We will not talk about it before the children."
"I want to see how a little Indian girl looks," muttered Ben with a laugh,
following his mother into the house.
Alice caught sight of him, and was in his arms the next instant, while
Linna rose to her feet, and stood with her forefinger between her teeth,
shyly studying the newcomer.
"Helloa, Linna! how are you?" he called, setting down his young sister
and catching up the little Indian. Not only that, but he gave her a
resounding smack on her dusky cheek.
"I always like pretty little girls, and I'm going to be your beau: what do
you say? Is it a bargain?"

It is not to be supposed that the Delaware miss caught the whole
meaning of this momentous question. She was a little overwhelmed by
the rush of the big boy's manner, and nodded her head about a dozen
times.
"There, Alice; do you understand that?" he asked, making the room
ring with his merry laughter; "I'm to be Linna's beau. How do you like
it?"
"I'm glad for you, but I--guess--I oughter be sorry for Linna."
CHAPTER THREE
: JULY THIRD, 1778
While Ben Ripley was frolicking with little Alice and her Indian friend
Linna, the mother prepared the evening meal.
The candles were lighted, and they took their places at the table.
All this was new and strange to Linna. In her own home, she was
accustomed to sit on the ground, and use only her fingers for knife and
fork when taking food; but she was observant and quick, and knowing
how it had been with her, her friends soon did away with her
embarrassment. The mother cut her meat into small pieces, spread
butter--which the visitor looked at askance--on the brown bread, and
she had but to do as the rest, and all went well.
A few minutes after supper both girls became drowsy, and Mrs. Ripley,
candle in hand, conducted them upstairs to the small room set apart for
their use.
This was another novel experience for the visitor. She insisted at first
upon lying on the hard floor, for never in her life had she touched a bed;
but after awhile, she became willing to share the couch with her
playmate.
Alice knelt down by the side of the little trundle bed and said her

prayers, as she always did; but Linna could not understand what it
meant. She wonderingly watched her until she was through, and then
with some misgiving, clambered among the clothes, and the mother
tucked her up, though the night was so warm they needed little
covering.
Mrs. Ripley felt that she ought to tell the dusky child about her
heavenly Father, and to teach her to pray. She therefore sat down on the
edge of the bed, and in simple words began the wonderful story of the
Saviour, who gave His life to save her as well as all others.
Alice dropped asleep right away, but Linna lay motionless, with her
round black eyes fixed on the face of the lady, drinking in every word
she said. By and by, however, the eyelids began to droop, and the good
woman ceased. Who shall tell what precious seed was thus sown in that
cabin in Wyoming, more than a hundred years ago?
While Mrs. Ripley was talking upstairs, she heard voices below; so that
she knew Ben had a visitor. As she descended, she recognized a
neighbor who lived on the other side of the river.
"I called," said he, "to tell you that you must lose no time in moving
into Forty Fort with your little girl."
"You do not mean right away?"
"Not tonight, but the first thing in the morning."
"Is the danger so close as that?"
"Our scouts report the Tory Colonel Butler with a large force of whites
and Indians marching down the valley."
"But do you not expect to repel them?"
"We are sure of that," was the confident reply; "but it won't do for any
of the women and children to be exposed. The Indians will scatter, and
cut off all they can. Others of our friends are out warning the people,

and we must have them all in a safe place."
"Will you wait for your enemies to attack the fort?"
"I believe our Colonel Butler favors that; but others, and among them
myself and Ben, favor marching out and meeting them."
"That's it," added the lad, shaking his head. "I believe in showing them
we are not scared. Colonel Butler got leave of absence to come to
Wyoming; he has some regulars with him, and with all our men and
boys we'll teach the other Colonel Butler a lesson he won't forget as
long as he lives."
"Well, if you think