The tiny twist of flame on the hearth, that had served our friends so
well, would soon burn itself out; it was already flickering, and, if
left alone, the room would soon be in darkness again, and the situation
would undergo a radical change.

"Dinah," said her mistress, without changing her position, or raising
her voice, "keep the fire burning!"

"Yes'm, I will," she replied, shuffling hurriedly across the floor to
the hearth, where she stooped down. She scorned to turn out of the way
of the prisoner, lest he should fancy he was held in fear. She passed
him almost close enough to touch, and showed her contempt by shaking her
fist at him.

"Oh, you willian! I'd like to wring your neck for comin' into my
dispartment without axin' permission."

A strange flicker shot from the eyes of the warrior as they followed her
for a moment, but he neither moved nor spoke, his gaze reverting again
to his conqueror.

Under the deft manipulation of Dinah's fingers, the flames shot up with
more vigor than before. Then, recalling the risk that this involved,
Mrs. Shirril told her to come to her side, where she would be out of
range of any of their enemies who might be near the windows.

"That will burn for a considerable time," added the lady, referring to
the fire the servant had renewed, "so, if you please, you may go to the
scuttle and see how the captain is getting along."

"Wouldn't you like to do that, missis?" asked Dinah.

"But I must watch this person."

"I'll do dat."

Her mistress, however, read her meaning in her tones and manner. She was
eager to get a chance at the fellow, and, if she did, even for only a
few seconds, it would go hard with him.

"No; I will attend to him; do as I told you."

There was no questioning the decision of the little lady, and Dinah,
with another threatening gesture at the painted face of the savage, went
by him and began climbing the ladder.

"Neber mind," she said to herself, though her mistress overheard the
words, "when I come downstairs again, I'll cotch one ob my feet and
tumble onto you, and you'll be squashed worser dan if de house tumbled
ober your head."

The captive seemed to understand what all this meant. He had escaped
thus far, but he might well fear the consequences, after the man aloft
put in an appearance.

Dinah had hardly passed out of sight when the Comanche said in a low
voice:

"Me go--won't hurt."

Although the intonation of the words was wrong, th