Not more than a dozen shots were fired and these at intervals, after which there was no more shooting during the rest of the night.
At daybreak Hippy dozed off, first nodding to Nora to take the watch for him, which she did.

The others of the party were sitting on the rocky floor of the cave leaning against the wall, also dozing.

Nora, for a short time, sat watching her husband who was snoring loudly; then she got up and peered out at the reddening sky.

Unthinkingly, she stepped from the cave and stood inhaling deeply of the fragrant morning air.
Nora suddenly uttered a cry and clapped a hand to her left cheek.

At the same instant, it seemed, the report of a rifle woke the echoes.
Hippy, awake and on his feet in an instant, jerked Nora back into the cave, but not before a bullet had flattened itself against the rocks close to his head.
"Lie down and keep tight to the sides of the cave!" he commanded.