"Look, Sim--your horse and mule was both killed in there." He pointed to the burned barn.

"What _made_ them?
What do they gain by this?
_I_ know!" But Sim Gage was hobbling to his half-burnt home.

Gasping, he looked in.

It was empty! "Where's she gone, Wid ?" said he, when he could speak.

"You reckon Big Aleck--?
No.