He expected to have to work silently.
While most of the men had their eyes and the sights of their guns fixed on the house, Mart Cooley kept his eyes on the sky.

But despite this Mart noticed that no shots came from two figures near him, and looking closer he saw the crouching Whitey and Injun, the latter with his bow and arrows.

Mart was about to speak to them, when a cloud crossed the moon.

Mart gave vent to an oath of satisfaction and started forward.
Then he thought of something, came back, and grasping Injun by the arm, dragged him forward with him.
It was a large cloud that obscured the moon, so there was a long period of darkness.

Whitey stayed where he was.