Why were they not answered from the hills?
Because the hill men had joined their fellows in the ranch house.
All were cooped up there, making their choice of deaths; by fire or by bullets.

Anything would be better than the fire.

Why didn't they do something?
Whitey found himself growing impatient with these doomed men whom he never had seen.
Something was stirring on the ranch house roof and glittered occasionally in the moonlight.

The cattlemen watched it intently.

It was the head of an axe, forcing its way through from beneath.