They're trying mighty hard to perforate me--I'm losing weight dodging around here trying to keep them from drawing a bead on me.

If I had a rifle----" Williams' voice broke off with the crash of a rifle behind him, though a little to one side.

Talking to Sanderson, and trying to see him, Williams had stuck his head out a little too far.

The bullet from the rifle of the watching enemy clipped off a small piece of the engineer's ear.
Williams' voice rose in impotent rage, filling the defile with profane echoes.

Sanderson did not hear Williams.