The regular Mexican herder, a man of experience, had given up his job; and these boys were not equal to the task of risking the sheep up in the enemies' stronghold.
This flock was known to be grazing in a side draw, well up from Grass Valley, where the brush afforded some protection from the sun, and there was good water and a little feed.

Before Jean reached his destination he heard a shot.

It was not a rifle shot, which fact caused Jean a little concern.

Evarts and Bernardino had rifles, but, to his knowledge, no small arms.

Jean rode up on one of the black-brushed conical hills that rose on the south side of Grass Valley, and from there he took a sharp survey of the country.