.

"Wal, what's your trick?" demanded Blaisdell.

"Y'u all know Greaves's store," continued Blue. "How them winders have
wooden shutters thet keep a light from showin' outside? Wal, I'm
gamblin' thet as soon as it's dark Jorth's gang will be celebratin'.
They'll be drinkin' an' they'll have a light, an' the winders will be
shut. They're not goin' to worry none aboot us. Thet store is like a
fort. It won't burn. An' shore they'd never think of us chargin' them
in there. Wal, as soon as it's dark, we'll go round behind the lots
an' come up jest acrost the road from Greaves's. I reckon we'd better
leave Isbel where he lays till this fight's over. Mebbe y'u 'll have
more 'n him to bury. We'll crawl behind them bushes in front of
Coleman's yard. An' heah's where Jean comes in. He'll take an ax, an'
his guns, of course, an' do some of his Injun sneakin' round to the
back of Greaves's store.... An', Jean, y'u must do a slick job of this.
But I reckon it 'll be easy fer you. Back there it 'll be dark as
pitch, fer anyone lookin' out of the store. An' I'm figgerin' y'u can
take your time an' crawl right up. Now if y'u don't remember how
Greaves's back yard looks I'll tell y'u."

Here Blue dropped on one knee to the floor and with a finger he traced
a map of Greaves's barn and fence, the back door and window, and
especially a break in the stone foundation which led into a kind of
cellar where Greaves stored wood and other things that could be left
outdoors.

"Jean, I take particular pains to show y'u where this hole is," said
Blue, "because if the gang runs out y'u could duck in there an' hide.
An' if they run out into the yard--wal, y'u'd make it a sorry run fer
them.... Wal, when y'u've crawled up close to Greaves's back door, an'
waited long enough to see an' listen--then you're to run fast an' swing
your ax smash ag'in' the winder. Take a quick peep in if y'u want to.
It might help. Then jump quick an' take a swing at the door. Y'u 'll
be standin' to one side, so if the gang shoots through the door they
won't hit y'u. Bang thet door good an' hard.... Wal, now's where I
come in. When y'u swing thet ax I'll shore run fer the front of the
store. Jorth an' his outfit will be some attentive to thet poundin' of
yours on the back door. So I reckon. An' they'll be lookin' thet way.
I'll run in--yell--an' throw my guns on Jorth."

"Humph! Is that all?" ejaculated Blaisdell.

"I reckon thet's all an' I'm fig