The Avengers

By Robert F. (Bob) Turpin

The Avengers contains two short stories: one of revenge, the other of savage cruelty and greed. Both are based on the harsh realities of life as it was lived on the western frontier in the late 1780s and early 1800s. 1) A Mountain Man’s Revenge - Mountain Man Joe Meek’s small daughter was slaughtered by a raiding party of Indians he thought to be his friends. His revenge came in a surprising manner. 2) Alexander Harvey’s Savage Madness - Alexander Harvey was a cold-blooded murderer of the worst kind. To merely kill was never enough to satisfy his never-ending lust for blood. He needed to prolong the death of his victims so he could watch their suffering, misery, and pain as long as he could. He wanted to see them die a slow lingering death, especially if they were Indians. Like many frontiersmen, he believed the only good Indian was a dead Indian, including squaws and babies, so he killed as many as he could.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781304527899

Book preview

The Avengers

The Avengers

Copyright

© 2013 by Bob Turpin – All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be copied or reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

Dedication

To the folks who like to read about the Old West.

A Mountain Man’s Revenge

Joe Meek, a mountain man well-known and highly respected trapper by the Indians and white men, was in the middle of running his winter trap lines in the rugged Blue Mountains, Oregon Territory, when he noticed a rider coming toward him waving his hat and yelling. He stopped his horse on the steep, winding trail around a rocky mountain­side. His pack mule carried over two dozen prime beaver and muskrat pelts. He was far enough away so he could not hear what the rider was saying. He turned in his saddle and removed a strip of dried deer meat from his travel bag to chew on while he waited for the rider to arrive. He wrapped his leg around his saddle horn and studied the rider carefully as he neared. The fellow appeared to be in a state of excitement. Suddenly Meek recognized the distant rider from the way he sat in his saddle.

Jimmy Rabbit, a half-breed Nez Perce Indian from the settlement, stopped his pony a few yards away. His face was flushed with excitement. Before he spoke Meek waved his hand. Calm down, Jimmy! Talk slowly so I can understand what you’re saying.

The half-breed straightened then breathed deeply.

The Cayuse are on the warpath, Joe. They attacked the mission and killed everyone there. It was an awful sight.

Meek put his foot into his stirrup, his face grave, his voice low and raspy. My daughter, Jimmy?

Jimmy lowered his head sadly, gripping his saddle horn, not wanting to speak.

Slowly and sadly he answered, Everyone, Joe. Doctor Whitman and his wife. Tears gathered in his eyes. Everyone!

The news dazed Meek. His vision blurred, his heart pounded like a blacksmith’s hammer, and a bitter taste filled his mouth. If Jimmy Rabbit was right, and Meek had no reason to think otherwise, fourteen people were dead. Doctor Marcus Whitman