All in Vain

I am at some disadvantage in giving an account of the remarkable
interview between the little Delaware girl, Linna, and the three
hostile warriors who had trailed the Ripleys to the stream in
the wilderness across which they had just leaped in the effort to
continue their flight from Wyoming to the Upper Delaware.

There were no witnesses to the interview except the parties named,
but when Linna in after years had become a woman, with her very
strong memory she gave a description of what passed, and it has
come down through the descendants of the pioneers to the present
day.

You will permit me to found my narrative upon her testimony, and
to be quite liberal in the interpretation of what took place.

The fears of the fugitives were well founded. The three red men
were near them for a long while before they showed themselves. It
was very much as Mrs. Ripley had said. They were so sure of the
prize that they trifled with them.

Linna reached the spot where the warriors were standing directly
after one of the number had sent a bullet through the bear. Young
as she was, she understood the peril of her friends, and set out
to do all she could for them.

She knew that Omas, her father, was a great warrior. He belonged
to the Delaware tribe, which years before had been soundly beaten
by the Iroquois and reduced almost to slavery; but among the conquered
people were many without superiors in bravery, skill, and prowess.
Omas was one of the most noted examples.