Running out of Gun Powder!

 

cover artist unknown

In "Rage of the North Wind"  (Ben Bowie #13--Nov. 57-Jan. 58), Ben and his young apprentice Jim are out hunting when they spot a war band of Algonquins heading for the nearby fort. The two hurry back with a warning and, by the time they arrive, the wind is really starting to blow hard. A big storm is coming.

This is a problem, because the fort is low on powder and the storm will prevent any more from being delivered upriver from another fort. 

So the mountain man do what they can, waiting until the attacking Indians are close before opening fire. This is followed by some hand-to-hand combat when a few of the Algonquins make it to the top of the fort's wall, but the fort holds out.

But this leaves the mountain men enough powder for only one more volley. At this point, Ben realizes that the storm is a blessing as well as a curse. It might be preventing the delivery of gun powder, but it is now blowing hard enough to prevent the Indians from accurately firing their arrows. So maybe--just maybe--there's time for a small party to make it to the other fort and bring back more powder.

Naturally, Ben and his crew make the attempt. They sneak out of the fort, but Jim's hat blows away and is found by the Indians, who then realize what's up. Ben's crew dodges the Algonquins, while Nakah saves Jim from a tumble off a cliff. Finally, they make it to the other fort and load powder kegs onto a raft for the trip back to their besieged friends, sailing through rough waters.

They make it just as the storm finishes dying down and the Algonquins renew their attack. Four kegs of powder are taken into the fort. The fifth is used as an improvised bomb to effectively discourage future attacks.

The writer is unknown and the artist is Albert Micale. "Rage of the North Wind" is a very simple and straightforward tale, but it shows the strengths of the Ben Bowie series. The men deal with the dangers of the frontier in a steadfast manner, using their brains as well as their fighting skills to plan their way out of desperate situations. 

You can read this issue online HERE. "Rage of the North Wind" is the final story in the issue. 

Next week, we'll finish our look at the career of Travelin' Toughy.