r a knowledge
that she could not have gained otherwise. She knew that so long as the
Comanche contented himself with trying to open the scuttle, nothing was
to be feared; but, baffled in that, he was not likely to drop to the
ground again without attempting more serious mischief, and that serious
mischief could take only the single dreaded form of setting fire to the
building.

It seems almost beyond belief, but it is a fact that this colored woman
determined on defeating the purpose of the redskin, by the most
audacious means at the command of anyone. She resolved to climb out on
the roof and assail the Comanche.

Since she knew her mistress would peremptorily forbid anything of the
kind, she cunningly took all the means at her command to prevent her
plan becoming known to Mrs. Shirril, until it should be too late for her
to interfere.

Stepping gently down to the floor, she moved the few steps necessary to
reach the door opening into the other room, and which had not been
closed.

"Is you dar, Mrs. Shirril?" she asked in a whisper.

"Yes, Dinah," came the guarded response; "don't bother me for a few
minutes; I want to watch and listen."

"All right; _dat_ suits me," muttered the servant with a chuckle, as she
closed the door with the utmost care.

Everything seemed to favor the astounding purpose of the brave African,
who again stepped upon the chair, though in her first confusion she
narrowly missed overturning it, and brought her head against the
scuttle.

She was disappointed at first, because she heard nothing, but a moment's
listening told her that her visitor was still on deck, or rather on the
roof. The fact that, after finding he could not effect an entrance, he
still stayed, made it look as if he was meditating mischief of the very
nature so much feared.

In accordance with her daring scheme, Dinah now softly slipped the hook
from its fastening, holding it between her fingers for a moment before
doing anything more. Had the Comanche known how matters stood, a quick
upward flirt on his part, even though the hold was slight, would have
flung the door flat on the roof and opened the way to the interior of
the Texan's cabin.

But not knowing nor suspecting anything of the kind, he did not make the
attempt.

With no more tremor of the nerve than she would have felt in trying to
kill a fly, Dinah softly pushed up the door for an inch at its outermost
edge. This gave her a view of the roof on the sid