The Ventisquero Peaks were hidden by a mass of cloud.

At seven o'clock the night crew began work, as ordinarily; no wind was stirring and the steam that came from the horses' nostrils was light.
"I'm taking a little time to skip down to Sarita Creek and see if those girls are still there.

If they took a notion to stick, they'd try to do it, whether McDonnell sent after them or not.

But I'll pry them out.

If the storm breaks in a hurry, get the men and teams into camp at once.