She knew there was cause for fear, for nearly all the able bodied men in Wyoming were absent with the patriot army, fighting for independence.

The inhabitants in the valley had begged Congress to send some soldiers to protect them, and the relatives of the women and children had asked again and again that they might go home to save their loved ones from the Tories and Indians; but the prayer was refused.

The soldiers in the army were too few to be spared, and no one away from Wyoming believed the danger as great as it was.
But the people themselves knew the peril, and did their best to prepare for it.

But who should know more about the Indians and Tories than Omas, the great Delaware warrior?
When, therefore, he said these words to Mrs.Ripley, that woman's heart beat faster.

She heard the laughter and prattle of the children in the house, and she thought of that bright boy, playing with his young friends not far away.
"Where can we go ?" she asked, in the same guarded voice.
"With Omas," was the prompt reply; "hide in wigwam of Omas.