feet until the sun appeared above the forest.

"Yes, I'm tired, Omas," said the little one wearily, holding the
hand of the Delaware in both her own; "I'm glad you stopped."

The gloom was so deep, for there was no moon until very late
(and if there had been, its rays could not have pierced the dense
foliage), that they could hardly see each other's figures. Omas
hastily gathered some leaves and dead twigs, which were heaped
together against one of the boulders. Then he produced his flint
and steel--for he had learned the trick long before of the whites
--and by and by a shower of sparks was flying from the swift,
sharp blows of the metal against the hard stone. A minute later one
of the sparks "caught," and under his nursing a fire was speedily
under way.

While he was thus engaged, Mrs. Ripley spread the blankets on the
ground and Alice stretched her tired little body upon one of them.

"Mamma, I guess God will excuse me for not saying my prayers," she
murmured, as she closed her eyes and sank into slumber.

Linna was tired, too, but she kept her feet and looked at her father
for his permission, before presuming to lie down.

"Come, Linna, here is your place beside Alice," said the mother
kindly.

Again she turned to her father, who was standing by the fire,
looking off in the gloom, as if he suspected something wrong.