by J. T. Edson
Following the girl, Rags saw the blond giant before him and sent his hand grabbing for a gun. Like a flash Mark lunged, driving forward the lance. Steel sliced into Rags’ belly, ripping it open. Picking up the screaming man on the lance’s head, Mark flung him aside like a cowhand forking hay into the corral. Then, without a glance at either his victim or the girl, Mark took up the chase once more.
With the ambush chance ruined, both his enemies alive and his friends out of the game, Billy had the fear of death to spur him on. From the corner of his eye he saw the black dressed young man bounding up to cut him off. Behind him heavy feet thudded on the ground, drawing closer. Catching his foot on a root, he stumbled and, in trying to prevent himself from falling, dropped the rifle.
Reeling against the next tree, Billy flattened back to it and glared through wild eyes at the approaching blond giant. Snarling terrified curses, the young killer gripped his revolver’s butt. The holster turned on its swivel and the Colt fired through the open bottom. While allowing a real fast first shot, such a holster made re-cocking its revolver difficult and did not lend itself to accuracy at any but close range. So the bullet missed but Mark knew better than chance going any closer.
Back swung his right arm, carrying the lance over his shoulder, then hurling it forward. Its head struck Billy just under the center of the breastbone, penetrating with such force that it sank into the tree trunk behind and pinned him to it.
Slowly the red fighting rage ebbed from Mark and he stared at what he had done. Coming up, the Kid cradled his rifle across one arm and took in the scene with no great show of emotion.
‘Damn it,’ he said indignantly, looking at Mark. ‘You’re not supposed to throw a war lance.’
‘It seemed the best way to get rid of the fool thing.’ Mark replied. ‘How about his pard?’
‘He’s one lucky hombre. My bullet only creased his skull and he’ll live to hang.’
While Augie lived, he did not hang or even stand trial. He had not been present when Sailor Sam was murdered and Winnie pleaded for him, saying that he had saved her from Billy. Guessing what would have happened to her had Billy been alone, Mark patched up Augie’s skull, saw him safely back to Lake Travis and let him go free.
That came later.
Mark looked at the writhing body on the lance then growled to the Kid, ‘Go stop the gal coming here until I’ve got that lance out.’
‘Sure,’ the Kid replied. ‘We’ll not tell her about the silver. The less who know about it the better.’
Mark nodded grimly. The silver had cost Sailor Sam his life. Eleven of Churn Wycliffe’s gang, Pegler and his hired help had all died through that ill-fated mine. As far as Mark was concerned, the silver could stay in the ground forever.
About the Author
J.T. Edson was a former British Army dog-handler who wrote more than 130 Western novels, accounting for some 27 million sales in paperback. Edson's works - produced on a word processor in an Edwardian semi at Melton Mowbray - contain clear, crisp action in the traditions of B-movies and Western television series. What they lack in psychological depth is made up for by at least twelve good fights per volume. Each portrays a vivid, idealized "West That Never Was", at a pace that rarely slackens.
The Floating Outfit Series by J. T. Edson
The Ysabel Kid
.44 Caliber Man
A Horse Called Mogollon
Goodnight’s Dream
From Hide and Horn
Set Texas Back on Her Feet
The Hide and Tallow Men
Quiet Town
The Hooded Riders
Trail Boss
Wagons to Backsight
Troubled Range
Sidewinder
Rangeland Hercules
... And more to come every month!
THE FLOATING OUTFIT 14: RANGELAND HERCULES
By J. T. Edson
First published by Corgi Books in 1968
Copyright © 1968, 2017 by J. T. Edson
First Smashwords Edition: August 2017
Names, characters and incidents in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information or storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.
This is a Piccadilly Publishing Book ~*~ Text © Piccadilly Publishing
Series Editor: Ben Bridges
Published by Arrangement with the Author’s Agent.
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More on J. T. EDSON
i Told in The Ysabel Kid.
ii Told in Sidewinder
iii
Told in The Wildcats.
iv Told in McGraw’s Inheritance.
v Told in The Bad Bunch
vi
Told in Calamity Spells Trouble.
vii Told in Troubled Range.
viii Told in The Cow Thieves.
ix Told in Comanche.
x
Fighting-pimp: Texans’ derogatory name for Kansas peace officers.
xi Told in Comanche
xii Tehnap: an experienced warrior
