He dropped down into the gully again and scrambled to the other end of it, raising his head again.

He saw Taggart, twenty-five feet behind the rock, backing away toward the wood where his horse stood, crouching, watchful, endeavoring to keep the rock between him and Calumet while he retreated.

Altogether, he was fully a hundred and twenty-five feet away at the moment Calumet caught sight of him, and he was looking toward the end of the gully that Calumet had just vacated.

Calumet stood erect and snapped a shot at him, though the distance was so great that he had little expectation of doing any damage.
But Taggart staggered, dropped his rifle and dove headlong toward the rock.

In an instant he had resumed his position behind it, and Calumet could tell from the rapidity of his movements that he had not been hit.
He saw the rifle lying where it had fallen, and he was meditating a quick rush toward the rock when he saw Taggart's hand come out and grasp the stock of the weapon, dragging it back to him.