Had there been any doubt on this point, it would have been dissipated by a repet.i.tion of the signals that seemed almost continually pa.s.sing between the besieging Comanches.

Captain Shirril noticed that the sounds came from the direction of the mesquite bush, as though most of them had gathered there apparently for consultation, and were calling in the other members of their party.

"If that is so, they can't do us much harm," was his conclusion, "but they are not likely to stay there. I suppose they have gathered in Avon and my horses long ago, and we shall have to ride other animals on the tramp to Kansas."

On the whole, the result of his survey was satisfactory; whatever mischief the Comanches were plotting, there was no immediate danger.

Minutes were precious, but they were more valuable to the defenders than to the a.s.sailants. The cattlemen must arrive soon, and when they did so the siege would be over.

The reconnoissance, if such it may be termed, lasted but a few minutes, when the captain started on his cautious return to the scuttle, in the hope that something in the way of information awaited him there.

To his amazement, he was still within several yards, when he perceived that it was open.

The door was raised fully six inches, the opening being toward him, so that the Comanche had him at his mercy. It looked indeed to the Texan as if his enemy had got the drop on him, and at last he was at his mercy.

The captain whipped out his revolver, but before he could fire a familiar voice called out in a husky undertone:

"Am dat you, captin'? And am you well?"

CHAPTER XIX.

DOWN THE LADDER.

The colored servant Dinah never knew how near she came to being shot by her own master. Had she delayed speaking for a second, he would have discharged two more chambers of his revolver, and the distance was so slight, and her head was in such position, that there could have been no miss.

"Good Heavens!" gasped the captain, "I never dreamed that was you, Dinah."

"But I knowed it war _you_. How is you gettin' 'long?"

"I'm all right, but where is your mistress?"

"Downsta'rs tending to tings."

"But--but do you know there's an Indian in the house?"

"I reckons so; we didn't know it at fust, but we found it out putty soon after he arrove; why didn't you told us?"

"I tried to do so, but was afraid you wouldn't hear my voice."

"We heerd you say somefin, but couldn't quite make out what it was."

"But what of the Indian?" asked the captain, who was now at the scuttle with his hand on the door.

"He am all right; and if you don't t'ink so, jes' come down and see for you'self."

Dinah stepped out of the way, and her master lost no time in descending through the opening into the dark room below.

"Fasten the door, for there may be more of them trying to enter."

"I doesn't t'ink so," was the confident reply.

Nevertheless, Dinah reached up and fastened the hook in place, making it as secure as before.

"Is your mistress safe?" asked Captain Shirril, the moment he was within the apartment.

"Didn't I jes' tole you she was? Does you t'ink I would try to deceibe you?"

"But tell me how it is; this strikes me as the strangest part of the whole business."

Standing thus, in the stillness and gloom of the upper room, the servant related in her characteristic way the extraordinary experience of herself and mistress with the dusky intruder.

As she had said, the warning which the captain shouted from the roof was heard by them, but the words were not understood.

Mrs. Shirril, however, was keen-witted enough to suspect the truth. The m.u.f.fled tones showed that her husband was on the roof, while the noise of the body dropping upon the chair proved that someone had entered by that means. That being the case, the stranger of necessity must be a foe, against whose evil intentions they must prepare themselves without delay.

"One of the Indians has dropped through the scuttle," said the startled lady.

"Anoder ob dem warmints has comed into my room, eh?" muttered the angered servant; "I'll sarve him wuss dan the oder one."

"You will not find the task so easy; keep at my side, make no noise, and don't stir till I tell you."

By this time, the embers on the hearth were so low that they gave out only a faint illumination, which extended but a foot or two into the room. The women had kept their places near the door, where, as will be remembered, they noticed a pressure, as if someone was trying to shove it open.

Light-footed as was the Comanche, his weight was too great, and his descent too sudden, for him to keep the knowledge from the women below-stairs. They stepped softly away from the door, and into the denser gloom, where they were unable to see each other, although their persons touched. In this att.i.tude, they could do nothing for a time but listen with rapidly beating hearts.

The dusky intruder dropped so squarely on the chair that it did not overturn. He kept his place, instantly securing the scuttle against the entrance of the white man, whom he had baffled with such cleverness.

Probably he had some idea of taking a shot at him, but the little manoeuvring in which he indulged told him the danger was too great, and he gave over the purpose.

The stillness in the room was so profound that the women plainly heard his moccasins touch the floor, when he stepped from the chair. Then he began gliding softly about the apartment, like a burglar who is obliged to feel every inch of his way with hands and feet.

Great as was his care, he had not continued this long, when he struck the chair and overturned it.

"De willian!" muttered Dinah, "and dat's in my abpartment too----"

"Sh!" whispered her mistress, touching her arm, "he can't do any harm, and he must not hear us."

Had Mrs. Shirril given permission, the servant would have hurried up the ladder and taken the fellow to task, without a moment's delay or hesitation.

But the Comanche was better prepared for his work than they suspected.

They plainly heard him scratch a match on the wall of the room, and the next moment the faintest possible glow showed through the gloom, above the open door at the head of the ladder. The redskin was taking the only effectual means at his command to learn his bearings.

With the tiny light still burning, he pa.s.sed quickly from one room to another, his location being easily told by the listeners below. It took him less than a minute to gain the knowledge he wished, when the match burned out and was flung aside.

"I wonder wheder he'll set fiah----"

A sharp pinch on Dinah's arm warned her that she was displeasing her mistress, and she closed her mouth.