Mr. Starr beckoned to his wife and Tim to approach.
"You understand matters," he said, "and the question is, what is best to do?"
"Why not continue our flight?" asked the wife.
"I would not hesitate a second were we not so fearfully handicapped. There are four of us, not counting Dot, and we have but two animals, provided Warren's pony can be found, which I very much doubt. True, we men can walk or take turns in riding, but if we continue our flight, speed is indispensable, and we would make a sorry show in our crippled condition. We would be absolutely helpless on the open prairie against the Sioux, all of whom, Warren tells me, have excellent horses."
The rancher had a scheme in his mind, but before making it known he wished the views of the others.
"It's mesilf that thinks this," said Tim Brophy; "let us go wid yees to the ridge of the prairie, and there mount Mr. Starr on Jack, while Mrs. Starr and Dot can take the ither. Thin, what is to hinder yees from going like a house afire for the foort?"
"But what of you and Warren?" was the natural question of the rancher.
"We'll cover yer retr'at."
"The proposal does more credit to your heart than your head, but I cannot entertain it."
"Nor will I listen to anything which compels us to separate again," added the son decisively. "I do not believe you can reach Fort Meade without another fight, and the absence of Tim and me would destroy hope from the first."