said to be so, but it's the chief source; I will stay
here, and you, Edna, had better go below; the room is so well cleared of
smoke that it will cause you little trouble."

"And what is I gwine to do?" asked Dinah.

"You may accompany your mistress; if I find myself in need of you I will
call."

"I's afeard you won't t'ink yourself in need ob me, if some more ob dem
scamps come pokin' round de doah up dere."

"Well, I will try to take care of them myself, but I give you my word if
your help is needed it will be asked."

This was the most that the servant could get from her master, and she
had no choice but to do as directed. Mrs. Shirril led the way down the
ladder, followed by her servant, and they quickly found themselves on
the lower floor.

Enough smoke remained in the room to cause Dinah another fit of
sneezing, but the shattered window and the opening of the door at the
head of the primitive stairs gave such good vent that a rapid
improvement took place.

"I don't see that there is much for us to do," remarked the mistress,
taking her place near the door, and out of range of either of the
windows, "but they may try something of which we have no suspicion, and,
if so, we shall have the chance to do better service here than above
stairs."

"Poserbly, but it doesn't strike me dat way; seems to me dat fiah am
'ginning to flare up again."

The smothering blanket by this time was so far consumed that the embers
showed beneath, though with less strength than at first. They diffused a
slight illumination through the room, and enabled the two women to see
each other's figures dimly, as they moved silently about, alert,
listening, and watchful.

The embers could have been extinguished by making use of the same means
as before, but the certainty of a denser volume of strangling smoke, to
say nothing of the loss of the valuable article, prevented any use of
the remedy.

"Bress my soul, if dar isn't anoder warmint!"

Dinah, rifle in hand, had stationed herself by the heavy door, against
which she slightly leaned. As she did so, she felt an almost insensible
yielding on its part, as though a powerful pressure on the outside was
being exerted to force it inward.

"How can you know that?" asked her mistress, stepping to her side.

"Jes put your hand right here and feel for yourself."

The delicate hand of the lady was placed against the structure, and
there could be no doubt that someone was pushing strongly