Now that he possessed ample time for thought, the situation became more puzzling.

This tragedy which he had accidentally stumbled upon must have had a cause other than blind chance.

It was the culmination of a plot, with some reason behind more important than ordinary robbery.

Apparently the wagons contained nothing of value, merely the clothing, provisions, and ordinary utensils of an emigrant party.

Nor had the victims' pockets been carefully searched.
Only the mules had been taken by the raiders, and they would be small booty for such a crime.
The trail, continually skirting the high bluff and bearing farther away from the river, turned sharply into a narrow ravine.