I saw
that their plan most likely was to get everything they wanted together
in the open square and then to burn the town, carry off what they
could, and come back after the rest later on. Of course this put me in
a great fright, but, though I racked my brain as never before, I could
think of no way to prevent it.

Soon I heard a great pounding, and suspected that they were breaking
into the Headquarters barn, which I always kept locked, just out of
force of habit. In another minute I knew I was right, as I heard a
loud squawking of the chickens. Up from the direction of the barn and
high over the roofs of the town I suddenly saw a bird soar, which I
took to be a prairie chicken, or some sort of game bird, though where
it came from I could not guess. Then, as it lit on the chimney of the
blacksmith shop, and began a great cackling, I saw that it was only
Crazy Jane. I could not help laughing, in spite of my troubles, and
said out loud, "Ah, it takes somebody smarter than an Indian to catch
her!"

[Illustration: THE BOIS CACHE INDIANS LOOTING THE TOWN ON CHRISTMAS DAY]

The sight of Crazy Jane and the sharp way she outwitted the savages
did me good and made me wonder if I could not do as well; still I
could think of nothing. Just then the Indians came out with the other
chickens in grain-sacks, and leading Dick and Ned and Blossom. The
horses they stood with their own, but I was horrified to see that they
acted as if they were going to butcher the cow. One of them pointed a
gun at her head and another began to flourish a knife. It looked as if
they had got it into their savage heads that they wanted fresh beef
and were going to slaughter the poor animal on the spot.

To watch these preparations was, I think, the hardest thing I had to
bear that day. She was a patient, gentle heifer, and I could not bear
to think of seeing her butchered by a lot of villainous savages with
less intelligence than she had herself. If I had had a gun or any fit
weapon, I verily believe that I should have rushed out and defended
her. But just before they began, one of their number came out of
Fitzsimmons's store and called to them, and they all trotted over.
The store was on the east side of the street.

At the instant that the last of them disappeared in the door I rolled
out from under the platform and began to hobble across the square. My
intention was to get behind the stores on the west side of the street;
and I had a wild notion of