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.”