Produced by Suzanne Shell, Gene Smethers and PG Distributed Proofreaders
THE UNTAMED
BY MAX BRAND
1919
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. Pan of the Desert
II. The Panther
III. Silent Shoots
IV. Something Yellow
V. Four in the Air
VI. Laughter
VII. The Mute Messenger
VIII. Red Writing
IX. The Phantom Rider
X. The Strength of Women
XI. Silent Bluffs
XII. Partners
XIII. The Lone Riders Entertain
XIV. Delilah
XV. The Cross Roads
XVI. The Three of us
XVII. The Panther's Paw
XVIII. Cain
XIX. Real Men
XX. One Trail Ends
XXI. One Way Out
XXII. The Woman's Way
XXIII. Hell Starts
XXIV. The Rescue
XXV. The Long Ride
XXVI. Black Bart Turns Nurse
XXVII. Nobody Laughs
XXVIII. Whistling Dan, Desperado
XXIX. "Werewolf"
XXX. "The Manhandling"
XXXI. "Laugh, Damn it!"
XXXII. Those who See in the Dark
XXXIII. The Song of the Untamed
XXXIV. The Coward
XXXV. Close in!
XXXVI. Fear
XXXVII. Death
XXXVIII. The Wild Geese
THE UNTAMED
CHAPTER I
PAN OF THE DESERT
Even to a high-flying bird this was a country to be passed over quickly. It was burned and brown, littered with fragments of rock, whether vast or small, as if the refuse were tossed here after the making of the world. A passing shower drenched the bald knobs of a range of granite hills and the slant morning sun set the wet rocks aflame with light. In a short time the hills lost their halo and resumed their brown. The moisture evaporated. The sun rose higher and looked sternly across the desert as if he searched for any remaining life which still struggled for existence under his burning course.
And he found life. Hardy cattle moved singly or in small groups and browsed on the withered bunch grass. Summer scorched them, winter humped their backs with cold and arched up their bellies with famine, but they were a breed schooled through generations for this fight against nature. In this junk-shop of the world, rattlesnakes were rulers of the soil. Overhead the buzzards, ominous black specks pendant against the white-hot sky, ruled the air.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: The Untamed by Max Brand
- 2: Or a dog as tall and rough coated as a wolf
- 3: Still with the quizzical smile
- 4: No man will criticize his own hoss
- 5: Satan an' Black Bart are still as wild as they ever was
- 6: Black Bart was fighting hard but fighting hopelessly
- 7: He jest looked at me sort of bored
- 8: And when I sent my cowpunchers south after him
- 9: They partially forgave Cumberland
- 10: Like that of the tawny haired rider
- 11: There was a loud greeting for a newcomer
- 12: Mike wiped his forehead with a rather unsteady hand
- 13: Morgan was saying to Mike noncommittally
- 14: The big roan was footing it nervously here and there
- 15: For the roan reared and plunged
- 16: For a time the roan increased his advantage
- 17: Satan backed away with a snort
- 18: And he's already taken water from Purvis
- 19: You don't figger to be peeved at me
- 20: Morgan moistened his white lips
- 21: Dan looked back to him in gentle surprise
- 22: He turned to one of the cowpunchers
- 23: When they reached Jim Silent he stared fixedly upon Haines
- 24: But Haines scowled and coloured
- 25: Lazy brown eyes turned up to Haines as the latter approached
- 26: Dan placed the liquor before Silent
- 27: Dan darted under the outstretched arms of Silent
- 28: Dan planted two smashes on Silent's snarling mouth
- 29: Black Bart slid noiselessly across the floor
- 30: Black Bart was crouched at watch beside him
- 31: But I couldn't figger out where I heard it
- 32: After he hit me I was almost glad
- 33: Joe Cumberland was saying complacently outside her door
- 34: Bill Kilduff broke into rolling bass laughter
- 35: Hal Purvis turned and caught Bill Kilduff by the shoulder
- 36: Lee Haines sat with fixed eyes
- 37: 'Now what in hell have you come to Elkhead for
- 38: The leader turned back to Shorty Rhinehart
- 39: Hal Purvis leaned his weazened face towards the ground
- 40: Haines turned from his task of saddling his mount
- 41: She moaned softly in her impatience
- 42: They know Barry is on the trail
- 43: At other times Elkhead dropped back into a leaden eyed sleep
- 44: Wells Fargo hasn't sent me here
- 45: The hesitancy of Hardy changed to downright enthusiasm
- 46: Shorty told you about Tex Calder
- 47: This Tex Calder What about him
- 48: Except that it's on the eighteenth instead of the nineteenth
- 49: Calder strove to find some way out
- 50: He said My name's Tex Calder
- 51: Calder observed his performance with starting eyes
- 52: Always missed the flesh of the stallion
- 53: Calder could stand it no longer
- 54: Rhinehart was cursing beneath his breath
- 55: Muttered Rhinehart in devout admiration
- 56: Haines dropped back beside Kate
- 57: Lettin' a slip of a yaller haired girl make fools of you
- 58: We're goin' out after Haines an' the girl
- 59: Venomous snarl from Black Bart checked his words
- 60: Tex Calder prided himself on being a light sleeper
- 61: Calder was actually shaking with excitement
- 62: Haines eyed his chief narrowly
- 63: An' that's how Whistlin' Dan made his getaway
- 64: Even when the stallion whinnied a question in his ear
- 65: As Calder sat up in the blanket
- 66: The light of his lantern fell upon Black Bart
- 67: Recovering from his start Calder cursed softly
- 68: That older feller is Tex Calder
- 69: Calder halted his horse to watch
- 70: Lee Haines dismounted and rapped loudly at the door
- 71: She saw Haines peering under shaded eyes far down the track
- 72: Silent climbed into the first baggage car
- 73: Tex looked at the two dead bodies
- 74: Jacqueline had apparently uncovered a tenderfoot
- 75: Went on that caressing voice of Dan
- 76: Calder was busy talking to a table mate
- 77: And then a big voice boomed behind him Tex Calder
- 78: The next Haines was lifted bodily
- 79: Dan groaned and leaned close to Calder
- 80: If I'm taken to Elkhead it'll be simply a matter of lynching
- 81: Purvis was out scouting for the news of Haines
- 82: After I found out about the fight I swung towards Elkhead
- 83: Lee Haines is jailed in Elkhead
- 84: But Kilduff and Rhinehart held him
- 85: The stallion nosing his shoulder affectionately
- 86: But the effect upon Satan and Black Bart was startling
- 87: If you let 'em get Haines well
- 88: Give me a written order for Haines
- 89: Whistlin' Dan Barry is the man
- 90: Haines shouted as his hands fell free
- 91: The lynchers raced their horses around the jail
- 92: Haines argued briefly with himself
- 93: Black Bart crouched still lower
- 94: Satan started at a swift gallop
- 95: And the growl of Black Bart answered
- 96: Maybe it's some feller Dan knows
- 97: The men went back to the stallion
- 98: Kilduff ain't feelin' none too well tonight
- 99: Kilduff and Rhinehart pushed him back into a chair
- 100: Hal Purvis took Haines to one side
- 101: He got into the jail while the lynchers was guardin' it
- 102: An' you're goin' to see that it's delivered in Elkhead
- 103: What's all that talkin' about Delilah
- 104: They opened a letter in Elkhead
- 105: Buck was already in the saddle
- 106: Hal Purvis grinned mirthlessly
- 107: Purvis viewed him with compassion
- 108: I don't hanker after his hoss like Bill Kilduff
- 109: Buck met the cold blue eye of Haines
- 110: Growled the deep bass of Bill Kilduff
- 111: Rhinehart and Purvis and Jordan ran up to him
- 112: Her response made even Buck forget her pallor
- 113: Lee Haines drew Buck a little to one side
- 114: Where Buck immediately joined the circle
- 115: For answer the front door of the shanty squeaked
- 116: Lee Haines was already dressed
- 117: The keen glance of Silent moved from Buck to Haines
- 118: Queried Sam in a hasty whisper
- 119: Daniels sat in the dining room
- 120: It was several days later that Hal Purvis
- 121: But Purvis nodded with perfect sympathy
- 122: Far away the coyote wailed again
- 123: Who stood with two revolvers covering the posse
- 124: Half the posse rushed after him
- 125: I don't want to believe what Purvis says
- 126: Haines turned and took his place
- 127: Terry Jordan and Bill Kilduff rushed at the dim figure
- 128: Twice Whistling Dan was sighted
- 129: You've got to get to Elkhead and turn Dan back
- 130: Kilduff has swore that Dan was bribed by Silent
- 131: Unarmed he still seemed more dangerous than six common men
- 132: Panther step he crossed the barroom
- 133: The remorseless hands unlocked
- 134: The wind's growin' sharper an' sharper