At night, with the sheepmen stationed in the hills, an attempt to break through that wire fence would be more than dangerous.

And this was the situation against which Mart Cooley led his determined band.
It was at the end of a hard day's ride, and, late afternoon, when the cattlemen arrived in sight of the enemies' stronghold.

They had circled the plains to the west, and ridden down in the shelter of the hills, to avoid coming within rifle range of the house.

These western hills were rocky, and at their end a growth of firs, scrub oak, and brush gave the lynchers shelter.

They were four or five hundred yards from the house, which was in plain view.
Mart Cooley, Walt Lampson, Buck Milton, and a couple of ranchmen stood in this natural screen and took in the situation.
"Sheep must be up in that coulee," said Walt.
"Sure," Mart replied.