After perhaps a quarter of an hour watching, during which time several shots were fired from behind the embankment and one each from the rustlers at the other locations, Jean slipped out on his quest.
He kept in the shadow of the cabin walls, then the line of orchard trees, then a row of currant bushes.

Here, crouching low, he halted to look and listen.

He was now at the edge of the open ground, with the gently rising slope before him.

He could see the dark patches of cedar and juniper trees.

On the north side of the cabin a streak of fire flashed in the blackness, and a shot rang out.