landed not far from the little structure.

"Omas," said the mother, "I understand you wish us to go to the
Delaware."

"Yes," he replied, "Iroquois won't hurt you there--must go."

"We haven't a particle of food with us; Ben has his gun and may
have a chance to shoot some game on the way--more than likely, he
will have no chance at all; it will take us several days to reach
Stroudsburg, which, I believe, is the nearest point. Don't you think
it best that we should stop at the house and get what food we can?"

"Yes, we do dat; come 'long; not great time."

There could be no safer guide than the Delaware, when his race were
such complete masters of the situation; though there was risk that
a patriot hiding somewhere in the neighborhood might take a shot
at him, under the belief that he meant harm to the captives.

The humble log structure was found just as it was left that morning.
If any of the marauding bands of Indians paid it a visit, they did
not linger after seeing it was tenantless.

There was a whole loaf of bread and part of another left beside
some cooked chicken, and a number of live ones were scratching the
ground outside, as if they had no concern in what was going on.

"The weather is warm now," remarked the prudent housewife, "but a
cold storm may set in before we reach shelter."