w that I was alone, and if
possible make them think that there were still a good many people in
town. I doubted if they had known the morning they left the letter
that we were then reduced to six. I could not see how they should know
it, and I felt sure that if they had known it they would have made an
attack upon the bank.

My plan, then, was to build and keep up fires in several other houses,
so that if they came in sight they would see the smoke and think that
there was still a good-sized population. I went first across the
street to the bank building. The lower part of it was locked, but I
went up the outside stairs and found everything in Mr. Clerkinwell's
rooms as we had left it. There were also inside stairs, and I went
down and soon had a good fire going in the lower room, and as I came
out I was pleased to see that it made a large smoke.

I next went to the north end of the street, where stood a building
which had been a harness shop. It was locked, but I could see a stove
inside; so I broke a back window, reached in with a stick, and shot
back the bolt of the rear door, and soon had a good smoky fire here,
too. I decided that one more would do for that day, and thought the
best place for that would be in the depot. The wind had now pretty
well abated, and the snow was only streaming along close to the
ground.

The depot was locked, but again I got in by breaking a window. There
were the guns as I expected--five new Winchesters like Sours's.

There were also a lot of cartridges, and three large six-shooters,
with belts and holsters. It was half-past three by the clock, which
was still going. I clicked at the telegraph instrument, but it was
silent. I remembered that Tom had told me that the line had gone down
beyond Siding No. 15, which was the first one east from Track's End.
Everything made me think of Tom, and I looked away along the line of
telegraph-poles where I knew the track was, down under the snow; but I
could see no train coming to take me out of the horrible place.

I soon had another fire going. After that I hid two of the rifles in
the back room and carried the others over to the hotel. I climbed to
the top of the windmill tower and took a look at Mountain's house with
the field-glass, but could see nothing. I walked around town and
looked in each of the houses with an odd sort of feeling, as if I half
owned them. Kaiser went with me, and was very glad to get out.

It was just after sundown