The triumph of the colored servant Dinah over the Comanche incendiary may be described as overwhelming in its way.  
The redskin was caught at so great disadvantage, that he was from the roof before he could check himself or make use of the knife he had snatched from his girdle. Indeed, it was at the instant of striking his vicious blow that he went over the eaves. This preserved his awkwardness of , and prevented his making any preparation for the violent fall.
 
The would have struck the ground with a “dull thud,” but for an unexpected in the shape of one of his brother , who happened to be directly under. As a consequence, the figure came down on the head and shoulders of the Comanche, who 86with a feeling that must have made him suspect the house had fallen on him.
 
The saved the victim of Dinah’s , but at a cost to the under fellow, who lay for a minute or two as if dead, before he was able to his breath and climb to his feet.
 
In the meantime, the author of this was wise enough to improve the moments.
 
“Dar!” she muttered, checking herself on the edge of the roof, “I reckons you know a blamed sight more dan you eber did afore, and arter dis, when you tries to steal into a ’spectable lady’s room, you’ll knock at de doah fust.”
 
It was not to be supposed that in the darkness the Comanches below would grasp the situation , and, before they could do so, Dinah over the peak of the roof to the , which of course was still open, and . In her haste, she stepped upon the back of the chair, which tripped over, and she went down with a crash that shook the entire building.
 
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Mrs. Shirril dashed into the room, in .
 
“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 .
 
“Nuffin,” replied the servant, impatient with the continued questioning; “I’s been promenadin’ a little on de roof and de cheer 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.
 
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“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 of her pluck, and wonder at its brilliant success. That she had saved the from burning and a 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 , “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 89as 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 la............