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. The wound was a
slight one and he sneered at it. He made his way to the other end of
the gully, expecting that Taggart, if injured only slightly, might
again attempt a retreat, but he did not see him and came back to the
end nearest the ranchhouse. Then he saw Betty running toward him,
carrying a rifle.
At this evidence of meditated interference in his affairs a new rage
afflicted Calumet. He motioned violently for her to keep away, and
when he saw Dade run out of the house after her, also with a rifle in
hand, he motioned again. But it was evident that they took his motions
to mean that they were not to approach him in that direction, for they
changed their course and swung around toward the rocks at his rear.
Furious at their obstinacy, or lack of perception, Calumet watched
their approach with glowering glances.
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