POWDER RIVER, A PETTYGREE WESTERN ACT 1

Recently a thrilling adventure featuring profound dilemmas, cruelty and heroism came to my attention. Thinking you will find its dramatic intensity entertaining, I have the pleasure to present it in serial format during the coming weeks.

The story began in June 1877, one year after The Battle of The Little Big Horn in The Dakota Territory with two men atop a ridge near....

PEABODY'S MINE COMPANY

"Even with only one good eye, there she finally be Boss, Peabody's Mine Trad'n Post. Looksss quiet," said Snake.

"No varmints or competition for our trade goods then," grinned Burdette. "Good!"

"Alright, Snake, let's go."

"Two riders are com'n in slow with a pack horse," said Polly. 

"Howdy strangers. My name's Hank, son of the owner. This here's my sister, Polly. What can we do for you?"

"Ma' name's Nathan Burdette. We got goods to trade and a powerful thirst." 

"You've come to the right place, the only place hereabouts anyway. Take yer horses around to your right, tie 'em up and come in. Polly go fetch dad, will you?" inquired Hank.

"Any trouble with the Lakota?," wondered Burdette.

"Most have quieted down after The Little Big Horn last year and what with the Army chasing 'em afterwards. There are one or two renegade bands still off their reservation hunt'n buffalo but there ain't none within two hundred miles," reckoned Hank.

"C'mon in men. Whiskey?," asked Hank.

"Whisssskey'll do and a bath," said Snake.

"Sure thing! Coming right up."

"Nicccce place," stated Snake.

"Much obliged," said Hank.

As three cowboys quietly appeared riding toward the post.

Moments later a gunshot came from within the building  and a woman screamed.

Burdette's son Joe, shouted, "Pa and Snake are running out of the building. Fire through the doorway. Cover 'em!"

Hank fell hard struck by a bullet as Snake laughed and hissed.

 

The two robbers jogged to their horses, mounted, spurred them hard and joined the others. Boss Burdette shouted, "We got the gold. Let's get out 'a here!"

"Californy, here we come," shouted Snake.

Then from around the right....

A Winchester 73 and Colt 45 fired wildly at the fugitives.

"Did we hit them while we was a runnin' Frank?" 

"Hard to say, sir, with all the dust and we couldn't stop to take better aim," said Frank.

"Duck!," bellowed, Mr. Peabody.

"Hey Pa," said Joe, "I'll fire a shot to keep 'em back."

"Joe, ferget it. You'll get killed," yelled Boss Burdette. "Ride!"

LATER THAT DAY

"Miss Polly, what happened?," asked Marshall John Chance.

"A robbery Marshall. My brother Hank is near death and our gold was stolen," said Polly. "Dad and Frank rode west pursuing the gang but they're outnumbered five to two!"

"We'll get 'em, Miss Polly," said Chance. "Ryan, ride back to town. Get back here fast with a posse, a week's rations and plenty of cartridges."

"Right away Marshall." He doffed his hat to Polly stylishly turned about and galloped away raising a cloud of dust. "Heyahh!"

"Oh Marshall!, exclaimed Polly. "My brother, dad... What's to become of...."

"We'll make things right Polly. Burdette and his gang won't escape forever. Some of the Army is still in Wyoming and Montana. I'll wire Forts Phil Kearney and Fetterman to be on the lookout for the scoundrels. If we don't get them, maybe some scattered Lakotas still hot and not reporting back to the agencies will." 

MEANWHILE, TWENTY MILES AWAY 

A war party of Lakota Sioux had indeed not yet reported back to The Spotted Tail Agency.

To the captive, Red Hat sneered, "Do not fall or your fate will be decided now instead of later." Matt, the terrified son of Nathan Burdette increased his speed.

"Hoppo!," [Let us go/hurry], shouted Red Hat.

The other warriors loudly exclaimed approval saying, "Hoye!" 

COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS FOR

WARPATH!

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CLOSING REMARKS

Decades ago USA movie theatre patrons viewed serial westerns. Powder River is my first installment homage to that celebrated tradition. Respectfully, Bill P.

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RESCUE IN 54mm: BLACKEST TREACHERY #6

A Fortnight Later - Cliffside Manor

With

Detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson

"Holmes, do you not find it peculiar that we are bringing such news to General Pettygree?"

"My dear Doctor Watson, when my brother Mycroft offered luncheon at the Diogenes Club this Monday past, I surmised because of its rarity and deduced singular importance to accept."

I interrupted, "Yes, naturally, but surely we are the most unusual of couriers quite outside the military chain of command."

"As you know, Watson,  from your Army service in Afghanistan, there are often more than two explanations for events. One is for the public at breakfast reading The Times to prevent indigestion to advance an agenda whilst another is quite a different more real truth known to few."

"But Mycroft is a government auditor of plans and books. How could he...?"

"That is a protective deception in itself. Reason with me. When he came to me with you kindly present about the submarine plans...."

"Ah, the Bruce Partington plans. I remember now. Very plain now that you say it."

"Ergo, my dear fellow, such a grave case would never be known to a mere auditor."

"Then he is higher in government than people realize."

"I do not exaggerate to believe though I do not know for certain, that he is the government."

"And now unless I am very much mistaken, there is the General digging in his garden. Let us proceed on our mission, shall we?"

"General! - Hello!," announced Holmes.

"Gentlemen, this is an extraordinary pleasure seeing you again. What brings you to Cliffside Manor, if I may ask without further ado."

"A matter of the gravest import Sir, which you will hear nowhere else," explained Holmes.

"Really? Shall we go inside, then?"

"No General, we must be discreet though your servants may be secure. There is not a minute to lose. I must be quick in explanation because an officer of Skinner's Horse is en-route with official news this afternoon.  Watson and I bring different information from the highest government source upon which you may more readily rely before he arrives," said Holmes.  

 

"Commence, if you please," stated Pettygree grimly.

"And so my companion, Holmes, explained the entire matter about the hasty Manzibar Island expedition to rescue Princess Alice Windsor and Miss Elizabeth Roosevelt from the clutches of the malevolent Ragnar Khan II. Holmes briefly related the facts you my dear readers already know as I finish with his dénouement."

"It is a matter of the blackest treachery, General, said Holmes. "It ended this way...."

"According to my highly placed source, Ragnar Khan II's forces were creditably thumped on the first day of the battle by your protégé Brigadier Grandmaison. After strenuous frontal attacks, they fell back behind the Undunga Creek followed by British and American Rescue Forces. The latter chose to reorganize rather than push on with the sun soon to set. Later the enemy became discombobulated at night when a Blood Red Moon frightened them causing almost all to run. It was on the occasion of this confusion that Princess Alice and Miss Roosevelt perceived an opportunity to escape, did so and after some adventure reached our lines. The next day...."

DAY 2

"Khan rallied his dispirited warriors."

"Small numbers returned on his right with similar...."

"Poor results to his left."

"Whilst our left stood to opposing Khan's right as...." 

"Reserves just landed marched up from behind."

"Our Right Flank allies were similarly ready awaiting...."

"Their own recently landed reserves."

"In the pause before recommencement of hostilities, Brigadier Grandmaison ordered two American cavalrymen to escort the ladies...."

"Back to the beach landing area...."

"Where they boarded a whaleboat immediately departing to the safety of...."

"HMS Zanzibar."

OUR LEFT FLANK

"It was at this moment that the Khan shockingly erupted regular Askaris with indigenous warriors into our left flank."

"They had secretly forced marched through the jungle."

"Our Royal Marine and Sailor Shore Party at first turned insufficiently as they foe boldly came on with elan." 

"Warriors charged while the line was adjusting but were thankfully beaten back."

"Whilst nearby one of the two Askari battalions presented close fire."

"Soon both enemy battalions formed a long impenetrable firing line which could not be overcome by our dwindling number of rifles."

"The Americans courageously sent aid but it was too little and too late. The game was already lost." 

"Our left was decimated with remnants backing to the beach."

OUR RIGHT FLANK - THE AMERICANS

"The warriors opposite the Americans came on indolently due to their rough handling the day and evening before." (A scenario design flaw.)

"However, their courage rose as they neared our Allies in a charge."

"Khan's Lancers got the better of our fewer horsemen, but the line held."

"However, with our left hanging in the wind, the Americans wisely withdrew to the beach. There they awaited whaleboats to return to the squadron as our warships kept Khan's victorious force from further mischief by naval gunfire."

"And Grandmaison?," inquired the General.

"I'm afraid he is very much discouraged. Some argue he is a disgrace while others are demanding his Court Marshal."

"Can you do anything for him, Sherlock?"

"General, this is purely a military matter. Still I have surmised several strings of evidence which are in his favor. It has the hallmarks of a malignant trap from which Napoleon himself could not have escaped. More data is essential though. I will investigate further offering my findings to his military solicitor," offered Holmes. "And...."

"I see our time has run out General because...."

"The official government dispatch surely arrives with this elegantly uniformed officer of Skinner's Horse. We'll leave you with him and depart for London. Watson, we will board the 3:25 afternoon train back to Waterloo Station. Goodbye General Pettygree. We will be in touch."

FOUR MONTHS LATER

"It is imprudent for me to reveal more than a little about  subsequent investigations in which my friend Holmes with his extraordinary powers of investigation and connections caused the Court Martial to find Grandmaison not negligent. His sword point was turned away from conviction and after a respite in Switzerland, he plans to return to duty. I will only say that state secrets were involved to thwart a man of such malignance that the world, if it knew he exists, would be pleased to imprison he and his confederates for life."

"Let me leave you only with the following as I know it today."

"After the battle, Ragnar Khan II left Manzibar Island aboard a submarine in the service of The German Republic arriving at Penang in The Malay States. From there he made his way back by various means to Bombay to rendezvous with his benefactor whose name must remain undisclosed for now."  

 

"Holmes learned about a conversation overheard at the airfield. Apparently the benefactor congratulated Khan on his more than successful trap to annoy the great powers by the kidnaping ruse, to cause resource consumption and future destabilizations. The sum of a million in sterling was mentioned for a new diabolical plan involving Khan, several other malcontents and an obscure entity named Alexander. Holmes said it early on. It is the blackest treachery though how he knew this escapes me. More I cannot say."