Jim and I were both too astonished to speak. "Yes," said Tom Carr, "we were just starting after you when we saw you coming. We're going to take Sours's horses and the cow in the box-car. I just sent Andrew over after them--and the chickens, too, if he can catch them." I don't know how it was, but my face flushed up as hot as if it had been on fire. I felt the tears coming into my eyes, I was in that state of passion. "Tom," I said, "who was left in charge of Sours's things?" "Why--why, you were," answered Tom, almost as much astonished as I had been a moment before. "Who gave you authority to meddle with them?" I said. "Nobody. But I knew you wouldn't want to leave them here to starve, and I did it to save time." "They're not going to starve here," I said, getting better control of my voice. "Call Andrew back this minute. You've neither of you the right to touch a thing that's there." "But surely you're going with the rest of us?" said Tom. "No, I'm not," I answered. Tom turned and started toward the town. "Now, don't make a fool of yourself, young man," said Burrdock. "This here town is closed up for the winter. You won't see the train here again before next March." "The train won't see me, then, before next March," I said. "Jim, are you going with the rest of them?" "Well, I'm not the fellow to do much staying," he answered. I turned and started for the hotel; Burrdock muttered something which I didn't catch. I saw Andrew going toward the train, but without any of the animals. Tom came down the street and met me. He held out his hand and said: "Jud, I admire you. I'd stay with you if I could, but the company has ordered me to come, and I've got to go. But it's a crazy thing for you to do, and you'd better come along with us, after all." "No," I said, "I'm going to stay." (It was a foolish pride and stubbornness that made me say it; I wanted to go already.) "Well, good-by, Jud." "Good-by, Tom," I said. He walked away, then turned and said: "Now, Jud, for the last time: Will you come?" "No, I won't!" In another minute the train rolled away, with Tom standing on the back platform with his hand on the bell-rope ready to pull it if I signaled him to stop. But I didn't. I went on over to the Headquarters House. It was beginning to get dark; and the snow was falling again. The door was stuck fast, but I set my shoulder against it and pushed it open. The snow had blown in the crack and made a drift halfway across the floor. I put my hand on the stove. It was cold, and the fire was out. CHAPTER V Alone in Track's End I repent of my hasty Action: with what I do at the Headquarters House, and the whole Situation in a Nutshell.