he wooden flue of which
ascended to the roof from within the building.

This brief description will give the reader an idea of the character of
the structure, in which one man and two women found themselves besieged
by a war party of fierce Comanches.

The ceiling of the lower floor was so low that, had the captain stood
erect with an ordinary silk hat on his head, it would have touched it.
The stairs consisted of a short, sloping ladder, over which a trap-door
could be shut, so as to prevent anyone entering from below.

Inasmuch as smoke generally climbs upward, the second story would have
proven a poor refuge had the women waited any time before resorting to
it. As it was, considerable vapor accompanied them up the rounds of the
ladder, but, when the trap-door was closed after them, the greater
purity of the air afforded both relief.

It will be recalled that the lower story was furnished with two windows
at the front, of such strait form that no man could force his way
through them. The upper floor was more liberally provided in this
respect, each apartment having a window at the front and rear, though
the foresight of Captain Shirril made these as narrow as those below.
Indeed they were so near the ground that otherwise they would have
formed a continual invitation to hostile parties to enter through them.

So long as an attacking force kept off, three defenders like those now
within the house might defy double the number of assailants that
threatened them. No implement of warfare at the command of the red men
was sufficient to batter down the walls, or drive the massive door from
its hinges.

But the real source of danger has been indicated. The cabin was located
so far toward Western Texas, that it was exposed to raids from the
Comanches and Kioways, while occasionally a band of Apaches penetrated
the section from their regular hunting grounds in Arizona or New
Mexico.

Although the red men might find it impossible to force an entrance, yet
the darkness allowed them to manoeuvre outside, and lay their plans
with little danger of molestation. The roof of the building had been
seasoned by its long exposure to the weather, until it was as dry as
tinder. This was increased, if possible, by the drought that had now
lasted for months in that portion of Texas. A slight fire would speedily
fan itself into a flame that would reduce the building to ashes.

"And it only needs to be started," thought Captain Shirril,