Ironhawk (Perry County, Pennsylvania Frontier Series Book 6) by Chandler Roy F

Author:Chandler, Roy F. [Chandler, Roy F.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Action & Adventure
Publisher: Katherine R. Chandler
Published: 2012-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Zach Sheene suspected that even if he had looked closer, Rob Shatto might not have immediately recognized the Sheenes. Thanks to The Animal the Sheenes had risen in the world, and Zach had demanded that he and Chek and Chok change appropriately.

The Sheenes were now clean shaven, except for trimmed mustaches, and as soon as they reached a store or found a tailor they would abandon their hide and linsey-woolsey clothing for more civilized attire. The Sheenes now had cash money.

The Animal had been long away, but when he appeared, he offered a coin bag of serious weight, and his father forgivingly stroked the man-animal's matted fur and questioned how his odious son had come upon such wealth.

The tale was long, but its heart lay in a discovery The Animal had made along the great Mississippi River, far to the west of where the other Sheenes had traveled.

The Animal had watched as a small band of men plied their trade on the single path that led along the river's eastern bank.

Up-river travelers often chose the quicker if more treacherous walk rather than driving a boat against the powerful currents. The men The Animal had discovered ambushed smaller parties of travelers, stole their valuables, and buried the bodies in nearby swamps.

When he was sure of how it was done, The Animal crept into the sleeping murderers' camp and killed them in their sleep. They were only three in number, and he crushed their skulls using a rock in each hand and moving swiftly so that none could defend themselves.

The Animal took the gold and silver and hid the guns, knives, plate and other valuables. He submerged the bodies in a swamp and rolled a fallen log on top to hold them under until the gas left the bodies and they would sink forever into the muck.

For a full season The Animal had preyed on passing travelers exactly as had his first victims, but he chose wrongly, and a massive search began to discover who was killing along the trace. Woodsmen led the search parties, and The Animal fled leaving behind all but the heavy bag of coins.

Yet, even the man-beast grew lonely, and The Animal had returned home. He found his people without great searching because he knew the Sheenes' camping places, and when he appeared at their fire, old Zach was not overly surprised and was mostly irritated by his son’s extended absence—until the coin bag was offered.

The Animal conversed in a language that only the Sheenes could really understand. Despite his garbled tongue and confusing explanations, the value of The Animal’s experience, and its adaptability to another place leaped into the minds of the Sheenes with the first telling.

Old Zach’s chortle spoke for them all, because if their wild brother could succeed along the great river, so he should prosper—so they should all prosper—here among the Endless Hills where there were many trails.

To test the scheme, Zach sent The Animal forth. His instructions were simply to go far and to choose a small party that traveled alone.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.