This trail was very irregular, as if the horse had wandered at will.

Suddenly they came upon five tracks, all pointing one way, and four of these turned abruptly and disappeared in the northwest.

Half a mile beyond the point of separation was a chaparral, which was an important factor to them.
Each man knew just what had taken place as if he had been an eyewitness, for the trail was plain.

The assassins had waited in the chaparral for Johnny to pass, probably having seen him riding that way.

When he had passed and his back had been turned to them they had fired and wounded him severely at the first volley, for Johnny was of the stuff that fights back and his revolvers had showed full chambers and clean barrels when Red had examined them in the bunk house.