Two-Gun Western #7 — Nick Peron

Aug 23

Aug 23 Two-Gun Western #7

The Human Sacrifice!

YACReader - Two Gun Western #7 (1951).cbz 2019-08-23 09.42.06.png

Near Judson, Arizona territory, radical Apache warrior Dragon Face and his followers attack a group of army soldiers, slaying all but one which Dragon Face demands to be sacrificed to the gods and the soldier is burned at the stake. Not far away, Aloysius Kare is part of a wagon train that sees the smoke. Noting that it is smoke to attract Apache bands, he holds the train there to go and investigate by himself. Finding the remains of Dragon Face's sacrifice, Kare returns to the wagon train and sends them off to Fort Madison to explain what happened to Captain Bill Gregory.

Kare rides off and changes into his alter-ego the Apache Kid to warn his adopted father Red Hawk of what happened. He arrives at the Apache village and learns that Dragon Face has already sought council with Red Hawk to try and convince his tribe to also participate in human sacrifices to their gods. Apache Kid storms in on them, but Dragon Face refuses to listen to the Kid due to his white upbringing. The Apache Kid however manages to appeal to Red Hawk after he defeats Dragon Face's warrior Grey Fox. Red Hawk agrees that he will not reduce their tribe to human sacrifices but tells the Apache Kid that he must extend tribal hospitality by allowing Dragon Face and his band to stay for the night.

Satisfied, the Apache Kid then races to Fort Madison where he meets with Captain Gregory to tell him that Red Hawk will not be joining Dragon Face and his zealots. However, Dragon Face finds a means to sway Red Hawk's Apaches to be loyal to him. He and his men disguise themselves in the US Army uniforms they stole from the soldiers they killed and track down some of Red Hawk's warriors who are at a nearby geyser, gunning them down all for one witness, who returns to the tribe to tell of the attack by "US soldiers". This greatly upsets the Apaches and Dragon Face uses this opportunity to have them eject Red Hawk as their leader and put Dragon Face in his place, Dragon Face then rallies the Apaches to prepare for a hunt to find a human sacrifice.

Meanwhile, at Fort Madison, Apache Kid tells Bill about Red Hawk's refusal to join with Dragon Face. This greatly relieves Bill as his sister Mary is about to leave on a coach. The Apache Kid promises that the coach will not be attacked and sends it on its way. However, Mary's wagon is soon attacked by Apache warriors and all aboard are slain but Mary who is taken prisoner to be sacrificed. That night when the Apache Kid returns to his people's village he is horrified to find that Dragon Face is in charge and Mary is about to be burned at the stake. Dragon Face orders his new followers to kill the Apache Kid, but they refuse and allow him to go. The Apache Kid leaves and finds Bill out with a war party to try and find Mary.

Going to Bill and explaining what happened, Bill agrees to do things the Apache Kid's way. Taking a wagon filled with ammunition, the Kid lights it on fire and sends it into the Apache village. As the Apaches are fleeing for cover, the Kid races in on his horse Nightwind and rescues Mary. Furious at this, Dragon Face chases after them on horseback and the Apache Kid leads him to the nearby geyser. As Dragon Face passes over it, the geyser goes off, killing him with scalding hot water. With Mary reunited with Bill and Red Hawk put back in place as leader of the Apaches, the Apache Kid marvels over the fact that the geyser went off an hour earlier than usual, leaving him to wonder if the gods themselves responded to Dragon Face's sacrifices by putting an end them by slaying him.