This thought yielded him a degree of satisfaction.
He took no advantage of the leisure to reconsider and weigh the circumstantial evidence against Indian Jake.

He had accepted it as conclusive proof of the half-breed's guilt and he had already convicted him of the crime.

Once Eli had arrived at a conclusion his mind was closed to any line of reasoning that might tend to controvert that conclusion.

He prided himself upon this characteristic as strength of will, while in reality it was a weakness.

But Eli was like many another man who has enjoyed greater opportunities in the world than ever fell to Eli's lot.
Once Eli had set himself upon a trail he never turned his back upon the object he sought or weakened in his determination to attain it.
His object now was to overtake Indian Jake and have the matter out with the half-breed once and for all.