He made no noise, and he assured himself he must be invisible.

Nevertheless, he heard shouts, then the cracking of rifles, and bullets began to zip and swish through the leafy covert.

The day was hot and windless, and Duane concluded that whenever he touched a willow stem, even ever so slightly, it vibrated to the top and sent a quiver among the leaves.

Through this the guards had located his position.

Once a bullet hissed by him; another thudded into the ground before him.