efore, and I got to the
sled at last. I saw that it was near the trail which the men on
horseback had made, and this gave me an idea: perhaps Kaiser would
follow that. I pushed on over, and as soon as he saw the trail he
pricked up his ears, began to sniff at the snow and look toward the
town. I hitched him up again, headed him the right way, took a good
hold, and shouted, "Sic 'em, Kaiser!" He started off like a shot and
ran till he was quite out of breath.

After he had rested and I had petted and praised him, we went on. He
understood now what was wanted, and made no further trouble. We soon
got up on the grade, and found it much smoother. Indeed, the horses
had left a very good road, and by sitting well back on my odd sled, so
that the board would not plow up the snow, it was not at all hard for
Kaiser to draw me. We were soon near enough to the town, so that I
began to tremble for fear of being seen. My eyes were troubling me a
good deal; it was snow-blindness, but, as I had never heard of it, I
was frightened, not knowing what to think.

I could see the horses standing in a bunch in the open square between
the depot and town, but the men were nowhere in sight, and I doubted
not they were hard at work on the safe. After a good deal of labor I
managed to get Kaiser to turn off to the south until the railroad
buildings were between us and the town. Then I struck out straight for
the water-tank, and in a few minutes was up to it.

The space below the tank was inclosed, making a round, dark room
filled with big timbers. One of my keys fitted the door, and I opened
it, put Kaiser and the sled inside, and shut the door. The poor dog
thought this was poor payment for his work, but I could not trust him
loose. I picked up a narrow piece of board and broke it to the right
length for a crutch, and so managed to hobble along upright to the end
of the station platform. This was three or four feet from the ground,
and beneath it were a lot of ties, old boxes, and other rubbish. I
crawled under and around to the side next to the town, and peeped over
a log of wood.

The horses were standing in a huddle with their heads together, and I
did not pay much attention to them. A little to one side I saw a big
pile of blankets, bed-clothing, and other things taken from the hotel
and stores; and on top of it all my guns and other weapons. I expected
that they would take the guns, but was surprised at their bothering
with the other s