The fact that the servants followed Ammon, who was a stranger to the terrain, suggests that the scattered animals were still in sight. The fact that men “rushed forth with much swiftness” suggests that the animals, though probably not still running, were still skittish and prone to bolt again. They did not wait passively to be caught. Furthermore, the fact that the men could “head the flocks” means that most of the animals were close enough to each other to be called “flocks” rather than individual animals heading to all points of the compass. The “thieves” would have had the same difficulty (and success) had they made the attempt, although apparently they did not.