=== apom_ch1_pt7 === 

About nine oclock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to proceed on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail at a fast walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about midnight, I reached the water hole where Powell had expected to camp.  I came upon the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely deserted, with no signs of having been recently occupied as a camp. =

I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, for such I was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell with only a brief stop at the hole for water, and always at the same rate of speed as his. =

I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they wished to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the torture, so I urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping against hope that I would catch up with the red rascals before they attacked him. =

Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of two shots far ahead of me. =

=== end of pt7 ===