But reason outweighed instinct.

He was fleeing for his life; nevertheless, the strongest instinct at the time was his desire to fight.
He knew when these three horsemen saw him, and a moment afterward he lost sight of them as he got into the mesquite again.

He meant now to try to reach the road, and pushed his mount severely, though still saving him for a final burst.

Rocks, thickets, bunches of cactus, washes--all operated against his following a straight line.

Almost he lost his bearings, and finally would have ridden toward his enemies had not good fortune favored him in the matter of an open burned-over stretch of ground.
Here he saw both groups of pursuers, one on each side and almost within gun-shot.