st arrive soon, and when they did so
the siege would be over.

The reconnoissance, if such it may be termed, lasted but a few minutes,
when the captain started on his cautious return to the scuttle, in the
hope that something in the way of information awaited him there.

To his amazement, he was still within several yards, when he perceived
that it was open.

The door was raised fully six inches, the opening being toward him, so
that the Comanche had him at his mercy. It looked indeed to the Texan as
if his enemy had got the drop on him, and at last he was at his mercy.

The captain whipped out his revolver, but before he could fire a
familiar voice called out in a husky undertone:

"Am dat you, captin'? And am you well?"

CHAPTER XIX.

DOWN THE LADDER.

The colored servant Dinah never knew how near she came to being shot by
her own master. Had she delayed speaking for a second, he would have
discharged two more chambers of his revolver, and the distance was so
slight, and her head was in such position, that there could have been no
miss.

"Good Heavens!" gasped the captain, "I never dreamed that was you,
Dinah."

"But I knowed it war _you_. How is you gettin' 'long?"

"I'm all right, but where is your mistress?"

"Downsta'rs tending to tings."

"But--but do you know there's an Indian in the house?"

"I reckons so; we didn't know it at fust, but we found it out putty soon
after he arrove; why didn't you told us?"

"I tried to do so, but was afraid you wouldn't hear my voice."

"We heerd you say somefin, but couldn't quite make out what it was."

"But what of the Indian?" asked the captain, who was now at the scuttle
with his hand on the door.

"He am all right; and if you don't t'ink so, jes' come down and see for
you'self."

Dinah stepped out of the way, and her master lost no time in descending
through the opening into the dark room below.

"Fasten the door, for there may be more of them trying to enter."

"I doesn't t'ink so," was the confident reply.

Nevertheless, Dinah reached up and fastened the hook in place, making it
as secure as before.

"Is your mistress safe?" asked Captain Shirril, the moment he was within
the apartment.

"Didn't I jes' tole you she was? Does you t'ink I would try to deceibe
you?"

"But tell me how it is; this strikes me as the strangest part of the
whole business."

Standing thus, in the stillness and gloom of the upper room, the servant
related