Aboutnineo’clockJeansignifiedhisintentionofgoingouttoreconnoitre。
\"Dad，they’vegotthebestofusinthedaytime，\"hesaid，\"butnotafterdark。\"
Jeanbuckledonabeltthatcarriedshells，abowieknife，andrevolver，andwithrifleinhandhewentoutthroughthekitchentotheyard。
Thenightwasdarkerthanusual，assomeofthestarswerehiddenbyclouds。Heleanedagainstthelogcabin，waitingforhiseyestobecomeperfectlyadjustedtothedarkness。LikeanIndian，Jeancouldseewellatnight。Hekneweverypointaroundcabinsandshedsandcorrals，everypost，log，tree，rock，adjacenttotheranch。Afterperhapsaquarterofanhourwatching，duringwhichtimeseveralshotswerefiredfrombehindtheembankmentandoneeachfromtherustlersattheotherlocations，Jeanslippedoutonhisquest。
Hekeptintheshadowofthecabinwalls，thenthelineoforchardtrees，thenarowofcurrantbushes。Here，crouchinglow，hehaltedtolookandlisten。Hewasnowattheedgeoftheopenground，withthegentlyrisingslopebeforehim。Hecouldseethedarkpatchesofcedarandjunipertrees。Onthenorthsideofthecabinastreakoffireflashedintheblackness，andashotrangout。Jeanheardthebulletbitthecabin。Thensilenceenfoldedthelonelyranchandthedarknesslaylikeablackblanket。Alowhumofinsectspervadedtheair。Dullsheetsoflightningilluminedthedarkhorizontothesouth。