Zane Grey Comics - Purple Sage # 372, Forelorn River # 395 and Zorro Comics # 933, 960, 976, 1037

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NO. 39S 1 OC

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ZANE GREYS

FOR10RN RIVER

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Ike 8R0NC PEELER

When the spring roundup
is over, cowboys take on
the difficult task of
catching and taming wild
horses the magnificent
stallions of the open
range often give them a
wild tussle before they
are finally led into a
corral. it usually takes
four to six weeks to tame
a wild horse and every
attempt is made to treat
him as gently as possible.
if a wild horse is man-
handled too much in the
early part of his training,
he often becomes a
permanently unmanageable

OUTLAW.

However gentle a horse is
treated during training. he is
never allowed to have much of
his own way. the cowhand must
be boss. and the sooner the
range horse realizes it, the
better the first step is to
get the horse to wear a saddle
and a blanket without getting
excited. then comes the moment
when the bronc peeler vaults
into the saddle for the first
time. it is a rare animal which
can't be trained by careful
handling and good riding once
the cowboy gets on his back. the
really incorrigible buckers
sometimes wind up in rodeos.

T. Delicorw. Jr.,

i FORLORN RIVER. No. 395.

5. bv The Curlii fghliihing Ci

Publith
■ President;
Copyright

ZANE GREYS

THE MOON SOARED WHITE ABOVE
THE LAVA BEDS OF NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA '. IN THE WINDLESS
SILENCE AN UNSHOD HOOF CLICKED
AGAINST STONE... A STALLION'S
SPLENDID FORM STOOD OUTLINED.
SUDDENLY... THE WILD HORSES
WERE COMING TO DRINK :

IN THE SHADOW OF A LAVA BLOCK,
THREE HORSE HUNTERS LIE IN WAIT-
BEN IDE, "NEVADA" AND MODOC THE

INDIAN.

After a pause, the stallion heads down
toward the cave ... an old volcanic

blo.whole that shelters a pool of

cold, pure water. a long line follows
him... fleet, wild creatures of every

COLOR...

WHAT'S THE

OTHER THING,
PARDNER?

OH, I RECKON YOU DON'T
NEED Mt TELLING, BEN '.
HER NAME 15 INA BLAINE
AND I'M WISHING YOU
LUCK, ALL THE WAY t

Three days of hard work for hen
and pack horses, supply the horse
hunter's camp with hay, grain, rope,
hardware and grub...

More time is used up, building a strong
breaking corral...

And then the toughest work of all begins
— breaking the trappeo horses, a few at

A TIME.- f— ■ ' ■ '

Taming them enough for the trip down to
ben ide's ranch on forlorn river f as the
hot weeks of summer pass.the partners
grow lean and weary...

NEVADA,WE"VE ONLY A \ ( BUT THERE'S
FEW MORE TO BRING J J SOMETHING ,
OOWN FROM THE LAVA < f WORRYING
BEDSf IT'S THE START \V YOU, BEN?
THAT I'VE WORKED AND )

DREAMED TO GET— _~A

^ YOUR DAD, AND BLAINE, AND HIS
SNAKE OF A PARTNER, LESS SETTER, \
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BLAME US FOR/

THE WORK OF REAL RUSTLERS /

LIKE THE HALL GANG, BEN.

(SNIFF) — HUMPHH.' SMELLS LIKE

MODOC HAS THE GRUB ALL READY

TO OISH OUT? I'VE GOT AN IDEA,

AND I WANT TO ASK HIM ABOUT

IT? YOU JUST LISTEN, BEN IDE"

YOU GET IT NOW, BEN
SETTER IS IN SOME
KIND OF A DEAL WITH
THE RUSTLERS—
AND HE HATES YOU?
THERE'S THE DANGER
TO OUR HORSES IN THE
PASTURE, HERE, PARD

SO WElL GET BLAMED AND NOT HIS
GANG.' LISTEN, BEN, I KNEW SETTER if.
NEVADA — WHERE MY OWN REPUTATION
WASN'T ANYTHING I WANT TO BRAG ABOUT!
THAT'S WHY I'VE KEPT SHUT TILL NOW? ,
BUT SETTER WAS BOSS OF AXL THE ,
N*. CATTLE RUSTLERS THERE?

NEVADA' THEN HE'S FOOLED \
MY DAD... AND INA'S'HE AIMS )
TO RUIN THEM? I'LL KILL HIM /

EASY, PARONERf I TOOK
THE LAW INTO MY OWN
HANDS ONCE... BUT ALL IT
DID WAS MAKE ME A MAN
WITHOUT A NAME. TRYING
TO DODGE MY PASTfMAYBE
WE OAN GET THE LAW TO
HANOLE LESS SETTER '

BUT IT WOULD BE NEWS
IF WE CAPTURED 'EM
AND TURNEO 'EM OVER
TO SHERIFF STROBEL
I RECKON HALL COULD
BE MADE TO TURN
STATE'S EVIDENCE..
AGAINST SETTER, TOO

GOOD'IN THE MORNING MODOC AND
I WILL GO FOR THE LAST OF OUR
WILD HORSES... YOU STAY HERE.BEN,
AND GUARD WHAT ARE IN THE
PASTURE? FORLORN RIVER IS OUT
.OF HALL'S TERRITORY... BUT YOU
NEVER CAN TELL?

NEXT DAY, AT THE BLAINE
RANCH ACROSS FORLORN RIVER,
INA HEARS AN UNWELCOME
VOICE...

YOU'RE SWEET ^v
ON HIM? FIXING J
TO MARRY HIM— 4
A BOY THAT YOUR \
DAD HAS WARNED
OFF THE PLACE? I

— AND IF YOU OWNED

THE WORLD, YOU
WOULDN'T BE FIT TO
CLEAN BEN IDE'S BOOTS

That afternoon, ben ide spots the approach

_r

lUMPHr HERE

COMES LESS SETTER
AND A -COUPLE OF
BLAINE"S RIDERS'
WONDER WHAT BUSINESS
THEY'VE GOT—?

But ben is not the only one to notice less
setter's approach. young marvie blaine, against /
his father's orders, has ridden over to enjoy f
ben's favorite trout hole...

GOLLYf IT'S SETTER, CALLING ON BEN'
I RECKON IF BEN KNEW HOW THAT
CURLY WOLF HAD TRIED TO KISS INA
HE'D KNOCK SETTER'S HEAD OFF?
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE TOLD HIM.

YOUR LAND! MY PARTNER, BLAINE
AND I AIM TO BUY YOU OUT, ALONG
WITH SIMS AND HIS NEIGHBORS' - ~
THOSE HORSES IN YOUR PASTURE
AREN'T STOLEN, YOU CAN THROW
THEM INTO THE BARGAIN,

I'M NOT SELLING* AND
AND HIS NEIGHBORS CAN'
SELL, BECAUSE I'VE BOUGHT
THEM OUT, LONG AGO"
EXPLAIN WHAT YOU ME
BY HINTING THAT I'M
HORSE THIEF!

BLAST IT!—
ARE f AND IF
WON'T SELL
YOU'LL BE
DRIVEN-

BUT SETTER'S DRAW IS SLOWER
THAN BEN'S LEAP'

^■l KV-EEE-OOOOOO'

TELL INA I— I'D C^VE
AN ARM TO SEE HER'
BUT MY COMING WOULD
JUST MAKE A FAMILY
RUCKUS— YOUR FATHER

FEELING THE WAY

HE DOES, MAR VIE.

TWO NIGHTS LATER, WITH BEN'S PARTNERS
STILL ABSENT... AND A LATE MOON RISING OVER
THE RIVER...

WELL, THESE DEPUTIES, JUDO
AND WALKER, TOLD DAD
THEY'D COME TO FORLORN '
RIVER TO ARREST CERTAIN I
PERSONS AGAINST WHOM
SETTER WOULD PRODUCE
EVIDENCE? THAT ,
WORRIED ME-

— BECAUSE YOU HAD A HUNCH THEY ^
MEANT NEVADA AND MODOC AND ME'
BUT THEY'VE GOT NO EVIDENCE
AGAINST US? WE'VE DONE
NOTHING DISHONEST!

I KNOW, BEN? BUT AFTER THE

BEATING YOU GAVE SETTER THE

OTHER DAY — OH.MARVIE TOLD

ME, AND I SAW SETTER WHEN

v THEY BROUGHT HIM IN —

°J

I AIM TO FIGHT SETTER TO A FINISH?
IF HE KEEPS HIS HANDS OFF YOU, I'LL
STAY WITHIN THE LAW... PROVE THAT
HE IS THE CROOK WHO HAS SCHEMED
WITH RUSTLERS TO CONTROL
THIS RANGE — CLEAR MY
NAME, AND THEN —

'T.THEN I'M GOING TO ^
ASK YOU TO MARRY ME, J
INA BLAINE? I LOVE I
YOU, AS MUCH AS A )

MAN CAN LOVE,' J

MODOCf I WANT YOU TO RIDE TO
HAMMEL NOW, WITH A LETTER TO
FRISBIE. HE'S BEEN ASKING TO
BUY OUR HORSES-' HE CAN
SEND MEN FOR THEM, AND
PUT OUR MONEY IN THE
BANK'

INA BLAINE? SHE AND MARVIE
CAME HERE LATE LAST NIGHT.
INA THINKS THOSE TWO WILL
SHOW UP HERE SOMETIME
TODAY WITH WARRANTS FOR

OUR ARREST ON SETTER'S

CHARGES. WE'RE NOT RUNNING,
NEVAOA— WE'RE JUST OUT-
SMARTING 'EM/

Near sundown, at the end of a thirty-mile ride,
ben and nevada reach the rendezvous...

THAT FAR RIDGE MARKS SILVER CANYON--
WHERE MODOG SAYS THE RUSTLERS DRIVE
MOST OF THEIR CATTLE ACROSS THE

DIVIDE?

wM$*&*

WE'LL RIDE THE RIDGE
AND LOOK FOR SIGN
THEIR CAMP, NEVADA

LOOK, NEVADA!
THEY'RE FIXING TO
MOVE OUT! YOUR
HORSE'S WHINNY
: WARNEO 'EM'
WHAT'O WE

/"come on? THEY'VE

DUCKED INTO THAT SIDE
CANYON' WELL KEEP
'EM ON THE JUMP'

THE "\

y

IT'S MODOC! I KNOW
BARK OF HIS OLO .45-90
HOW HE GOT HERE SO
QUICK 1 DON'T KNOW.

WE CAN'T CHASE HALL 'N/'THEN LET'S"
ANY FARTHER TONIGHT— I HEAD FOR
GETTING TOO DARK, BEN f AmjR CAMP

Back at camp.the boys still find their
indian ahead of them. . .

SORRY WE DIDN'T )
WAIT FOR YOU </ \

BEFORE JUMPING ) '
HALL, MODOC J

HALL SCARED— THINK-UM BIG^
POSSE CHASE- UM ' SO HIM TAKE
SIDE- CAN YON — HARD GOING— J
BAD WATER WHEN HIM REACH
MULE DEER LAKE! HAVE TO GO ]
MODOC CAVES FOR WATER! WE >
\KETCH-UM THERE?

YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT OLD

CHIEFFOR FIGURING HOSS J

TRAPOR MANTRAP! WE'LL
EAT QUICK AND PACK FAST —
MOVE OUT IN HALF AN HOUR!

SUITS ME.

NEVADA?
WE'LL NEED

A SPARE
HORSE APIECE.J

AND FULL
CANTEENS'

Daybreak brings the weary man-
hunters TO MULE DEER LAKE'S
STAGNANT WATERS. . .

Near sundown, two days later, the end
of the trail is near. .

STEALTHLY ASA COUGAR, THE

INDIAN MOVES AHEADf

/"THERE'S THE ) /^HALL'S BUNCH HAVE A
V^CAVE ' y— ^GONE INSIDE. MOOOCJ>/

WAIT TILL THEY COME OUT W1TH1
THEIR HORSES AND CUT LOOSE
WITH ALL WE'VE GOT. WE
WONT SHOOT TO KILL.BUTTO
SPOOK THE HORSES CLEAN

OUT OF THE HOLLOW "^

LEAVE HALL AFOOTf

After a few minutes, six horses emerge
from the cave's blackness. . . behino
them move shadowy forms

OF MEN

For a moment, the outlaws pause in the
cave's sheltering shadow...

THE LAW, HUH' WELL, BLAST >
YOU. we're NOTALLAGREED j

ET DOWN.HERE BUT I **

SAY, COME AMD GET US ... )

THAT YOU CALLING, BILL HALL

THE TERMS MIGHT INCLUftE

\ VENISON STEAK. AND HOT

/ BISCUITS, AND COFFEE

^WITH CREAM, AND

HAW' LA
ON THICK, BEN
CAN SMELL IT, TOO

AND ABSOLUTE SURRENDER!

LEAVE YOUR RIFLES AND THROW
YOUR SIX-GUNS OUT WHERE
CA61 SEE 'EM ! THEN COME ON OUT,
THE WHOLE BUNCH OF YOU f

Next morning, snow is
falling, after a
sudden, bitter freeze...

WELL.PARDNER.THISIS THE
TOUGHEST DEAL WE'VE HAD
YET! CALIFORNIA RED ON ICE
WE COULD CATCH HIM, WITH
> HALF A DOZEN MORE RIDERS
8UT EVEN IF WE WEREN'T
HERDING PRISONERS.WE'RE
ONLY THREE

HALL! IFI PROMISE
TO LET YOU AND YOUR
MEN GO FREE. WILL
YOU HELP ME CATCH
THAT STALLION

YOU AND ONE MAN
COME WITH ME,HALL!J
THE REST WILL
COMPLETE THE CIRCLE?
WE'LL CLOSE IT
SLOWLY!

Sighting danger.the red stallion whistles
a warning to his mares. . .

IN THE TELESCOPE'S LENS.THE RED HORSE
BREAKS FROM HIS BAND- .IN A DESPERATE
RUN TO BREAK THROUGH THE HUNTERS'
CIRCLE. ..

.. . AND SOMEHOW HE SUCCEEDS! AFTER
HIM RACES BEN, HIS MOUNT'S SHOD HOOFS
SPURTING LITTLE PUFFS
OF CUT ICE.

INA! INA< RED
IS DOWN! BEN'S j
GOING TO CATCH ^
HIM AFTER
ALL' LOOK--

OOOHf

YOU'RE

IGHTf

Red's momentum still shoots him
forward. legs flailing . . . but above
him swings ben's rope.

SuDDENLYHIS FOREFEET GRIPf HIS FIGHTING
CHALLENGE RINGS BUGLE- CLEAR, ASHE
GATHERS HIS MIGHTY MUSCLES .. .

Then the treacherous ice betrays him?
ben's rope neatly falls over those
strong forelegs.

WELL, MR SETTER, WE'VE GOT
IDE AND THE EVIDENCE THAT

HE'S A COW THIEF HE

AND HIS PARTNERS THAT
COT AWAY.

JUDO AN5 WALKER' k
REACH FOR * r-*"}
CLOU I

NOT DEPUTIES
ANYMORE r

But insteao.the two men reach
for their guns.. .

YOU GENTS HAVE PROMISED ME A LIGHT
SENTENCE, IF I'D TURN STATE'S EVIDENCE
WELL---HERE GOES! LESS SETTER WAS
THE BOSS OF THREE RUSTLIN' GANGS,
INCLUDING MINE! HE FRAMED SEN AND
BEN'S PARTNERS TO COVER OUR TRACKS!