To the west of him then flared out another rifle shot.

The bullet whistled down over Jean to thud into the cabin.
Jean made a careful study of the obscure, gray-black open before him and then the background to his rear.

So long as he kept the dense shadows behind him he could not be seen.

He slipped from behind his covert and, gliding with absolutely noiseless footsteps, he gained the first clump of junipers.

Here he waited patiently and motionlessly for another round of shots from the rustlers.