ten o'clock
The herd gained twelve miles by dark and would pass through the northern fence by noon of the next day , for Cook 's axe and monkey wrench had been put to good use . For quite a distance there was no fence : about a mile of barb wire had been pulled loose and was tangled up into several large piles , while rings of burned grass and ashes surrounded what was left of the posts . The cook had embraced this opportunity to lay in a good supply of firewood and was the happiest man in the outfit . At ten o'clock that night eight figures loped westward along the southern fence and three hours later dismounted near the first corral of the 4X ranch . They put their horses in a depression on the plain and then hastened to seek cover , being careful to make no noise . At dawn the door of the bunk house opened quickly and as quickly slammed shut again , three bullets in it being the reason . An uproar ensued and guns spat from the two windows in the general direction of the unseen besiegers , who did not bother about replying ; they had given notification of their presence and until it was necessary to shoot there was no earthly use of wasting ammunition .