Wilderness 7: VENGEANCE TRAIL

 


In 1829, life west of the Mississippi was filled with constant peril and hardship. At any moment, a settler might find himself threatened by a murderous Indian or a deadly beast. Only rugged mountain men like Nathaniel King had the courage to challenge the unknown dangers for the freedom the wilderness offered. But when Nate and his mentor Shakespeare McNair made enemies of two Flathead Indians, their survival skills were tested as never before. If either man made one mistake, both would suffer merciless deaths.

The story opens with Nate going to visit his friend, Shakespeare. It appears that he wants advice on his wife, Winona, giving birth. Nate isn't exactly thrilled with her idea of delivering the baby, and he wants his mentor to help him. However, upon arriving at Shakespeare's cabin, Nate finds it in disarray. Noticing from the tracks outside the home, he deduces that Indians have taken his friend captive. Going after him without a second thought, Nate soon runs into three Ute warriors. He manages to kill them all, and escape the wrath of a grizzly, before finally coming up to the war party that is holding Shakespeare hostage. Or is all that it seems right? Nate is thinking about this when he feels a gun pointing at the back of his neck. Taken prisoner by two Flathead Indians, he's led down into their camp.

While there, Nate learns of Shakespeare's predicament. It seems the man is betrothed to a Flathead woman named Blue Water Woman. Going by the ways of the Indian, Shakespeare had long ago promised a blood brother that he would take her into his lodge if anything ever happened to him. Well, the Flathead has passed away and now it's time to pay the piper. As Nate muses over this, the band of Flathead Indians are attacked by a war party of Utes. They make good on their escape, pulling back far enough to massacre the Utes as they draw close. And it's here that Nate witnesses the atrocities that the Indians partake of in victory. Not only do they scalp the dead warriors, but the Flathead Indians also desecrate the corpses. It's all told in a bloody affair that will delight any gorehound.

Making their way to the Flathead village, Nate befriends Wind In The Grass. The young Flathead has been branded a coward by his tribe and is furtively awaiting the chance to redeem himself. Nate realizes that he's made a good friend with the young Indian, and accepts his offer to stay in his lodge with him. It's at this point that Shakespeare gets into a fight. Nate comes to his rescue, armed with his Hawken, and is told that the man Shakespeare was brawling with was Standing Bear, a Flathead who wants Blue Water Woman as his own. Vowing to get revenge against Nate, the Flathead marches off with his friends. Shakespeare tells Nate that it would be best for him to return to his own cabin, but Nate refuses as he does not want to be known as a yellow belly. Shakespeare can understand this and allows the matter to drop.

Soon after, Nate is asked to join the Flathead Indians on a raid of a nearby Blackfoot war party. He says that he will go, but only if Wind In The Grass is allowed to come, too. His request is pitifully honored, but the young brave gets to redeem himself in the eyes of the tribe. The Blackfoot raid is a massacre. The Flathead Indians are decimated in their numbers. Though Nate brings down a handful of the Blackfeet, and Wind In The Grass is there with their horses to escape, it is considered a disaster in the eyes of the village. Upon their return, Nate goes to talk with Shakespeare. The man is undecided about whether or not to marry Blue Water Woman, though Nate believes the old man is in love. They briefly talk, and then Nate retires to the home of Wind In The Grass. The Flathead's wife is overjoyed her husband is back in the good graces of the tribe, and she thanks Nate from the bottom of her heart.

The finale of the tale arrives in a tumultuous whirl of action. Left back at their cabin, Winona is forced to fight off a wolverine which is attempting to get inside. It's very tense as she battles the creature. And just as equally tense is the last battle of the book which pits Nate, Shakespeare, and Wind In The Grass against a formidable foe in the Blackfeet. Adding insult to injury, Standing Bear makes an appearance and attempts to kill Shakespeare, too. All is eventually resolved in a satisfying conclusion, but don't get too attached to any of the characters. David Robbins pulls the rug out from beneath the reader one last time before the final page is turned. Vengeance Trail is a very good book and easily recommended. It employs all the love and thrills that this series is noted for in the long run. You won't be disappointed.







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