Twenty guns were drawn from their holsters.

There was a moment's pause, and the guns were raised.

But the curtains of the wagon were drawn, and a figure appeared and descended to the ground.

The guns were held suspended in the hands of their surprised owners--for they faced a woman.
The lynching party drew the line at killing the woman--though she did not know that--but they did not draw the line at making her talk.

She was a half-breed, and she spoke English very badly, but with a gun thrust in her face, she spoke enough.
And from what the frightened creature gasped out, and from what Mart Cooley figured in his mind, this is what was learned: Knowing that the cattlemen would seek revenge, but would first round up their scattered herd, the sheepmen had had time to act.