But, instead, he shot again--another time--a third.

And his heavy bullets tore and splintered the boughs dangerously close to the hunter's head.

Then came an awkward, almost hopeless task for the rustler, in maintaining his position while reloading his gun.

He did it, and his panting attested to the labor and pain it cost him.
So much, in fact, that he let his knee protrude.

Wade fired, breaking that knee.