Again he was going out to meet a man in conflict.

He could have avoided this meeting.

But despite the fact of his courting the encounter he had not as yet felt that hot, inexplicable rush of blood.

The motive of this deadly action was not personal, and somehow that made a difference.
No outlaws were in sight.

He saw several Mexican herders with cattle.
Blue columns of smoke curled up over some of the cabins.