They indulged in the fiction of saying that they had no thought of how matters stood between him and these palefaces, and their hearts were glad to hear the words fall from his lips.

They would not harm his friends, and hoped they would reach in safety the settlement for which they were looking.
Not only that, but they offered to go with them all the way.
This was too kind, and the offer was gratefully declined.

Then the Senecas withdrew, first returning Ben's rifle to him.

Whether they ever succeeded in overtaking Red Wolf cannot be known, and it is of no moment.
The peril had burst over the heads of the little party like a thundercloud; and now it had cleared, and all was sunshine again.
It was some minutes before the Ripleys could fully understand the great good fortune that had come to them.

Then their hearts overflowed with thankfulness.
With her arms clasping her children Mrs.Ripley looked devoutly upward, and murmured: "I thank Thee, Heavenly Father, for Thy great mercy to me and mine.
Bless Omas and To-wika and Linna, and hold them for ever in Thy precious keeping." The events which had taken place were strange; but Mrs.Ripley maintained, to the end of her life, that those which followed were tenfold more remarkable.
You will remember that when Omas, after conducting the little company some distance from Wyoming, showed a wish to leave them, the good woman had no doubt what his purpose was: he wanted to take part in further cruelties against the hapless settlers.
Omas had fought hard in the battle of July 3rd, 1778, and his friendship for the Ripleys drew him away before the dreadful doings were half completed.