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.