Man with No Name- Diving Off Horse

From somewhere toward the heart of town came the sudden far-off jangling of a bell. The sound seemed to originate in or around the big Mission Hotel, whose battered bell tower dominated the scene. There was a flicker of movement in the shadowy interior of the tower and a long and slender object poked out.

The hunter flung himself sideways out of the saddle as the slender object blossomed a gout of flame and smoke, followed a moment later by the crash of a rifle shot. The slug struck the saddle and screamed away, leaving a pale gash on the dark, butt-polished leather. The hunter landed heavily on his side, rolled and dived into the narrow areaway between twin adobes. His bay horse, no stranger to ambush attacks, lunged after him on his heels.

He snatched his rifle from its saddle boot, levered a shell into the chamber and ran to the corner of the building to peer out. There was a vague movement up in the bell tower and the sound of distant shouting. He threw the rifle to his shoulder, fired and ducked back.

- The Devil’s Dollar Sign, chapter 14