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."