A good many hid among the grass and undergrowth on Monacacy Island, where the Tories and Indians followed, and hunted them out without mercy.
Those who were wise enough to set out in time had a chance of arriving at the settlements on the Upper Delaware, though much suffering was sure to follow, since there was no time to prepare food to take with them.
The remark of Omas prompted Ben's words--"How can I get mother, and Alice and Linna, to the other side?
They cannot swim the river." "Linna swim," was the somewhat proud answer; "she take care of Alice you take care of moder." "I might at any other time, but with the people crowding around us, and the Indians at our heels and shooting down all they can, what chance have we?
Why can't you come with me and help them ?" No doubt the Delaware had asked himself the question, for he answered it not by words, but by breaking into a loping trot for Forty Fort, with Ben running at his side.

He halted before reaching the refuge, and turned aside among the bushes overhanging the edge of the river, his actions showing he was searching for something.
He speedily found a canoe, probably his own.

It had been so skillfully hidden among the dense undergrowth that one might have passed within a couple of paces without seeing it.
He picked it up as if it were a toy boat and set it down in the water.
"Go bring moder--bring Alice--bring Linna." Ben was off like a shot, for he knew there was not a minute to throw away.

It was the season when the days were longest, and two or three hours must pass before it would be fully night.
It would not do for Omas to go with Ben.

His appearance at the fort would add to the panic, and be almost certain to bring about a conflict with some of the whites.