One of the men tumbled, headlong, turning over several times and landing face downward on the sand of the yard; but several others, apparently uninjured, ran straight for the ranchhouse.
There were no stationary targets for Owen to shoot at.

By the time he had fired the three shots the men were all moving.

Several the girl saw as they ran around the ranchhouse; three or four others ran straight for the door in which she stood.
She cried sharply to Owen, and the latter fired once, as three or four figures crossed the porch.

The girl could not tell whether or not Dale was one of the three, for the men moved quickly.
Owen missed; Mary heard him curse.

And before he had time to do either again the men were inside.