A hole in his shirt sleeve near the shoulder testified to his narrow escape.
His rage against Taggart was furious and with a grimace at him he turned again to the ranchhouse.

Betty had left the wagon and had walked several steps toward him, standing rigid, shading her eyes with her hands.

Apparently she had heard the report of the rifle and was wondering what it meant.

At that instant Calumet looked over the edge of the gully to see Taggart shoving the muzzle of his rifle around the side of the rock.

Its report mingled with the roar of Calumet's pistol.
Taggart yelled with pain and rage and flopped back out of sight, while Calumet laid an investigating hand on his left shoulder, which felt as though it had been seared by a red-hot iron.
He kneeled in the gully and tore the cloth away.