Cliché

Previously: Lefarge and his two lieutenants did not hear their approach until, “Don’t move—and don’t make a sound.”

Mac spoke so quietly they barely heard him and turned to face the voice. Before they could speak, “Drop your weapons; quietly, if you will.”

LeFarge was not a brave man and knew if he cooperated he would likely live another day—and find a way to get out of this. He did what he was told to do and his lieutenants followed his lead.

After securing their prisoners and untying Goodfellow, the marshals moved ahead knowing there was no chance of avoiding gunfire—prepared themselves.

The outlaw traders fired on the marshals.

The outlaw traders fired on the marshals

Season Eleven—Adventure 3—Devil Track Trading II—Episode 3: THAT—was a huge mistake! In truth—GENTLE READER—a Farkleberry-Henry .44-40 hitting a person anywhere would do major damage—BUT—in the spirit of those OLDE-TYME-WESTERNS, we’ll allow for nearly harmless “flesh-wounds.”

Six of the outlaw traders suffered flesh-wounds in the marshal’s first six-round volley—and the rest— skedaddled down the hill to their horses and galloped-off up-lake.

The marshals didn’t immediately pursue—they had six wounded men to care for. Besides they have the fastest horses in all of Cook & Moosehead counties and will have no trouble catching those fellers who got away.

Roughly an hour later the wounded were all patched-up, warned to get the hell outa the territory—because the next time—the marshals wouldn’t shoot to wound . . .

This warning was not lost on the wounded men as they, with remarkable alacrity skedaddled. They didn’t stop until they left—not only the area—but Minnesota altogether.

“Okay, folks,” Mac rumbled, “It’s time we hunted-down the escapees.”

“How do we notch our rifles to show wounded, instead of killed?” Chris asked.

“Scratch a ‘w’ into the stock?” Mac laughed.

With that they (big surprise coming—a cliché) they rode off into the sunset.

To be continued…