She sat up, felt about her, listened.

There was no sound of pursuit.

Only the high wailing of the pines came to her ears.
She could not know it, but the men were not following her.

When they heard the sound of three shots ring out, every man busy in his work of sabotage stopped where he was.

Was it a surprise?
Were officers or the ranchers coming?
They scattered, hiding among the trees.
They could hear the bellowing of Big Aleck, beseeching aid.