h that shook
the entire building.

Mrs. Shirril dashed into the room, in consternation.

"What in Heaven's name is the matter, Dinah?"

"Nuffin's de matter wid _me_, but I guess it am all day wid dat cheer,
howsumeber."

The captain hurried up the ladder, flung back the covering, and leaped
into the apartment.

"Who's killed? What's the trouble?" he gasped.

"Nuffin," replied the servant, impatient with the continued questioning;
"I's been promenadin' a little on de roof and de cheer flopped ober when
I sot my foot on it."

Everything being in darkness, the eyes of the party were useless. The
captain groped around to help Dinah to her feet, but she was already
there, sound in limb and body.

"If you wants sumfin to do, capting," said she, "jes' fasten dat doah
above yer head."

"How came it open?" he asked, as he hastily complied, still unable to
comprehend what had taken place.

"Habent I jes' tole yer dat I's been out on de roof?"

"I heard her there," said the wife, "and was on my way to learn what it
meant, when the crash came."

In answer to the questions of the couple, Dinah soon made clear what had
taken place. Her employers were filled with admiration of her pluck, and
wonder at its brilliant success. That she had saved the dwelling from
burning and averted a frightful death from them all was evident. They
praised her highly, though the captain insisted that she ought to have
told him of her intention before climbing through upon the roof.

"Cotch me doin' _dat_," she chuckled, "when I knowed dat you would hab
stopped me. Dinah aint as big a fool as she looks."

"No one certainly could have managed it with the skill shown by you. I
would have kept within the opening and shot the scamp."

"And what would you hab done wid de fiah, eh?"

"Put it out in some way."

"And got shot yourself! Your fut isn't as promisc'us as mine and it
would hab tooken you longer; it wanted only one slap ob my shoe and de
bus'ness war done."

"Perhaps you were right," said the captain with a laugh; "but I am
afraid we are not through with those attempts; they came so near
succeeding that they will soon try it again."

"I don't t'ink dat black rascal will try it wery soon, 'cause I gib him
a shookin' up dat he wont git ober for a week."

"I have no doubt of that, but there are others just as venturesome as
he, and they will try it."

"Is not that the only source of danger?" asked the wife.

"It can hardly be