The cattlemen laughed.

When the wielded axe had formed a sufficient opening, the head and shoulders of a man appeared in it, and his hands followed, supporting a bucket of water.

Twenty of the attackers' rifles were directed toward the roof, but at an order from Mart Cooley they were lowered.

Mart raised his rifle, fired a single shot, and the man's figure disappeared through the opening, the bucket falling from his hands and pitching down over the edge of the roof.
[Illustration: THE MAN'S FIGURE DISAPPEARED THROUGH THE OPENING, THE BUCKET FALLING FROM HIS HANDS] "Now they know what kind o' shootin' t' expect when they come out," said Mart.
So Whitey knew why Mart alone had fired.

It was to add to the fears of the sheepmen--if that could be done.