saving the cow in some way, I did not know
how. It was a foolhardy thing to do, but I got behind the first store
without being seen. But I was no nearer the cow, who was a little ways
from the side of Fitzsimmons's, and I dared not go there. She saw me,
however, and I held out my hand and said, "Come, bossy!" and she came
over. I took her by the horn and led her along behind the buildings,
knowing no more than a fool what I should do with her. Just then I
came to the sloping outside cellar-door behind a store. The Indians
had cleaned the snow off of it, but had not succeeded in getting in,
as it was fastened with a padlock. I tried my keys. One of them opened
it. The stairs were not steep, and I led the cow down and closed the
door above us. The Indians had walked and ridden everywhere in the
square and back of the stores, so I thought it would be hard for them
to follow the cow's tracks. Nevertheless, the next moment I hurried
back and with an old broom brushed lightly our trail behind the
buildings; then returned to the cellar.

I rested a few minutes till my ankle felt better, then I crept up the
inside stairs to the store and peeped out the front window. Four or
five of the Indians were standing where the cow had been, looking in
all directions. After a while they all went back into Fitzsimmons's
store and I slipped down and out the door by which I had got in,
locked it, and made my way behind the buildings to the bank and went
in. Here the Indians had not disturbed anything, there being nothing
to their taste; but when I looked out a crack in the boards over the
window I saw the whole eleven of them at the end of the street holding
a powwow over the disappearance of their fresh beef. I thought it
would be a good time to test my great pet, the tunnel, so I hobbled
boldly through and entered the hotel.

The first thing I saw was Pawsy in her old place over the dining-room
door. She did not seem to like Indians any better than she did
wolves. Everything which had not been carried off was in the greatest
confusion. The Winchester which had been under the counter was gone. I
stood with my crutch looking at the wreck, when, without hearing a
sound, I saw the knob of the front door turn and the door push open.
With one bound like a cat I went through the open door of the closet
under the stairs.

I had no time to close the door, and stood there pressed against the
wall and trying not to tremble. It was dark in the clo