"Oh! no; you must not inconvenience yourself on my account. I am of little or no consequence, you know."
She leaned upon his arm, and they ascended the path to the plain above.
Frank's horse was grazing near by where the scarlet youth had taken his unceremonious tumble.
Off to the north-west a cloud of dust rose heavenward, and he rightly conjectured that it hid from view the chieftain, Sitting Bull, and his warriors.
His thoughts reverting to his companion, "General" Nix, and the train of Charity Joe, he glanced toward where he had last seen them.
Neither were to be seen, now. Probably Nix had rejoined the train, and it was out of eye-shot behind a swell in the plains.
"Were you looking for some one?" Alice asked, looking into her rescuer's face.
"Yes, I was with a train when I first heard your cries; I left the boys, and came to investigate. I guess they have gone on without me."
"How mean of them! Will we have to make the journey to the Hills alone?"
"Yes, unless we should providentially fall in with a train or be overtaken by a stage."