when he
found himself alone below stairs, "and it will do the work; it was very
thoughtful in Edna to dash that pailful of water on the smouldering
blanket, and it quenched the embers, but, all the same, it required the
last drop in the house."

However, there was nothing to be feared in the nature of thirst. The
defenders could go without drink easily enough for twenty-four hours,
and the issue of this serious matter would be settled one way or other
long before that period passed. The cowboys would not wait long after
sunrise for their leader, before setting out to learn the cause of his
delay.

The question of life and death must be answered before the rising of the
morrow's sun.

CHAPTER VI.

DINAH'S DISCOVERY.

When Captain Shirril told his wife that she and the servant were likely
to find something to engage their attention above stairs, he spoke more
in jest than earnest, but the remark served to prove the adage that many
a truth is spoken at such times.

Of course, the upper part of the house was in as deep gloom as the lower
portion, and the women took good care in passing the windows lest some
stray shot should reach them. They needed no light, for every inch of
space had long been familiar.

Mrs. Shirril walked quietly through the larger apartment, without coming
upon anything to attract notice, after which she went to her own room,
Dinah accompanying her all the way.

"I don't see that there is any need of our remaining here," said the
mistress, "for there is no possible way of any of the Indians effecting
an entrance."

"'Ceptin' frough de trap-door," ventured the servant.

"That is over your room, but the scuttle is fastened as securely as the
one below stairs."

"Dunno 'bout dat; I's gwine to see," was the sturdy response of Dinah,
as she walked rather heavily into her own boudoir; "any man dat comes
foolin' 'round dar is gwine to get hisself in trouble."

Knowing precisely where the opening was located (an unusual feature of
the houses in that section), she stopped directly under it, and reached
upward with one of her powerful hands. The roof was still nearer the
floor than was the latter to the floor below, so that it was easy for
her to place her fingers against the iron hook which held it in place.

Of course she found the scuttle just as it had been for many a day; and
Mrs. Shirril was right in saying it was as firmly secured as the
ponderous door beneath them, for the impo