"Hold on, Shepp," he whispered.

Then hauling on his boots and slipping into his coat Jean took his rifle and stole out into the open.

Shepp appeared to be well trained, for it was evident that he had a strong natural tendency to run off and hunt for whatever had roused him.

Jean thought it more than likely that the dog scented an animal of some kind.

If there were men prowling around the ranch Shepp, might have been just as vigilant, but it seemed to Jean that the dog would have shown less eagerness to leave him, or none at all.
In the stillness of the morning it took Jean a moment to locate the direction of the wind, which was very light and coming from the south.
In fact that little breeze had borne the low roar of trampling hoofs.
Jean circled the ranch house to the right and kept along the slope at the edge of the cedars.