The wind had risen in the last half hour, so that his hat went sailing against the rear wall, but he did not notice that.

He was wondering why the settlers had made this night move against Patsy.

Was it an attempt to irritate the boys to some real act of violence--something that would put them in fear of the law?
Or was it simply a stratagem to call off the night-guard so that they might slip their cattle across into the breaks?
They must have counted on some disturbance which would reach the ears of the boys on guard.

If Patsy had not begun the bombardment with his old rifle, they would very likely have fired a few shots themselves--enough to attract attention.
With that end in view, he could see why Patsy's shack had been chosen for the attack.

Patsy's shack was the closest to where they had been holding the cattle.