When she gained the shelter of the rock she was about to kneel in some fringing mesquite at its base when she heard Calumet yell at her.

She turned, hesitating in the act of kneeling, and looked at Calumet.

His face was ashen.

His heavy pistol pointed in her direction; it seemed that its muzzle menaced her.

She straightened, anger in her eyes, as the weapon crashed.
Her knees shook, she covered her face with her hands to shut out the reeling world, for she thought that in his rage he was shooting at her.
But in the next instant she felt his arms around her; she was squeezed until she thought her bones were being crushed, and in the same instant she was lifted, swung clear of the ground and set suddenly down again.
She opened her eyes, her whole body trembling with wrath, to look at Calumet, within a foot of her.