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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。 I knew that Powell
would need me now if ever； and I instantly urged my
horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and difficult
mountain trail。
I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without
hearing further sounds； when the trail suddenly debouched
onto a small； open plateau near the summit of the pass。 I
had passed through a narrow； overhanging gorge just before
entering suddenly upon this table land； and the sight which
met my eyes filled me with consternation and dismay。
The little stretch of level land was white with Indian
tepees； and there were probably half a thousand red warriors
clustered around some object near the center of the camp。
Their attention was so wholly riveted to this point of interest
that they did not notice me； and I easily could have
turned back into the dark recesses of the gorge and made
my escape with perfect safety。 The fact； however； that this
thought did not occur to me until the following day removes
any possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration
of this episode might possibly otherwise entitle me。
I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which
constitutes heroes； because； in all of the hundreds of instances
that my voluntary acts have placed me face to face with
death； I cannot recall a single one where any alternative
step to that I took occurred to me until many hours later。
My mind is evidently so constituted that I am subconsciously
forced into the path of duty without recourse to tiresome
mental processes。 However that may be； I have never regretted
that cowardice is not optional with me。
In this instance I was； of course； positive that Powell was
the center of attraction； but whether I thought or acted first
I do not know； but within an instant from the moment the
scene broke upon my view I had whipped out my revolvers
and was charging down upon the entire army of warriors；
shooting rapidly； and whooping at the top of my lungs。
Singlehanded； I could not have pursued better tactics； for
the red men； convinced by sudden surprise that not less
than a regiment of regulars was upon them； turned and fled
in every direction for their bows； arrows； and rifles。
The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me
with apprehension and with rage。 Under the clear rays of the
Arizona moon lay Powell； his body fairly bristling with the
hostile arrows of the braves。 That he was already dead I
could not but be convinced； and yet I would have saved his
body from mutilation at the hands of the Apaches as
quickly as I would have saved the man himself from death。
Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle；
and grasping his cartridge belt drew him up across the withers
of my mount。 A backward glance convinced me that to
return by the way I had come would be more hazardous
than to continue across the plateau； so； putting spurs to my
poor beast； I made a dash for the opening to the pass which
I could distinguish on the far side of the table land。
The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone
and I was pursued with imprecations； arrows； and rifle balls。
The fact that it is difficult to aim anything but imprecations
accurately by moonlight； that they were upset by the sudden
and unexpected manner of my advent； and that I was a
rather rapidly moving target saved me from the various
deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to reach
the shadows of the surrounding peaks before an orderly
pursuit could be organized。
My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew
that I had probably less knowledge of the exact location of
the trail to the pass than he； and thus it happened that he
entered a defile which led to the summit of the range and not
to the pass which I had hoped would carry me to the
valley and to safety。 It is probable； however； that to this
fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences and
adventures which befell me during the following ten years。
My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came
when I heard the yells of the pursuing savages suddenly
grow fainter and fainter far off to my left。
I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged
rock formation at the edge of the plateau； to the right of
which my horse had borne me and the body of Powell。
I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the
trail below and to my left； and saw the party of pursuing
savages disappearing around the point of a neighboring peak。
I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were
on the wrong trail and that the search for me would be renewed
in the right direction as soon as they located my tracks。
I had gone but a short distance further when what
seemed to be an excellent trail opened up around the face of
a high cliff。 The trail was level and quite broad and led upward
and in the general direction I wished to go。 The cliff
arose for several hundred feet on my right； and on my left
was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom
of a rocky ravine。
I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards
when a sharp turn to the right brought me to the mouth of
a large cave。 The opening was about four feet in height and
three to four feet wide； and at this opening the trail ended。
It was now morning； and； with the customary lack of dawn
which is a startling characteristic of Arizona； it had become
daylight almost without warning。
Dismounting； I laid Powell upon the ground； but the most
painstaking examination failed to reveal the faintest spark
of life。 I forced water from my canteen between his dead
lips； bathed his face and rubbed his hands； working over him
continuously for the better part of an hour in the face of
the fact that I knew him to be dead。
I was very fond of Powell； he was thoroughly a man in
every respect； a polished southern gentleman； a staunch and
true friend； and it was with a feeling of the deepest grief that
I finally gave up my crude endeavors at resuscitation。
Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept
into the cave to reconnoiter。 I found a large chamber；
possibly a hundred feet in diameter and thirty or forty feet
in height； a smooth and well…worn floor； and many other
evidences that the cave had； at some remote period； been inhabited。
The back of the cave was so lost in dense shadow that I could not
distinguish whether there were openings into other apartments or not。
As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel
a