THE BOUNTY HUNTER

BY Morris & GoscinnY Original title: Lucky Luke – Chasseur de primes

Original edition: © Dargaud Editeur Paris 1972 by Goscinny and Morris © Lucky Comics www.lucky-luke.com

Lettering and text layout: Imadjinn sarl Printed in Spain by Just Colour Graphic

This edition published in Great Britain in 2010 by Cinebook Ltd 56 Beech Avenue Canterbury, Kent CT4 7TA www.cinebook.com

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978-1-84918-059-7 CHEYENNE PASS SHERIFF’S OFFICE THE BOUNTY HUNTER AND COUNTY JAIL

BLOODY BART! I’VE BEEN AFTER THAT RATTLESNAKE FOR A LONG TIME! YEP! I CAUGHT HIM IN THE ACT OF HOLDING UP A STAGECOACH.

THERE’S I’M NOT INTERESTED IN THAT’S WHAT I FIGURED. A REWARD FOR THE MONEY, SHERIFF. THANK YOU, LUCKY LUKE… HIS CAPTURE. GIVE IT TO BART’S VICTIMS INSTEAD.

BRAVO! I’M RIGHT PROUD TO DON’T WORRY! AND WHY, THAT BE CAPTURED BY YOU… I’LL SEE THAT THE I HOPE WE’LL SCAB! MONEY IS HANDED GET ANOTHER OUT AS YOU CHANCE TO GIVE SAID! TO CHARITY TOGETHER!

3 WHAT KIND OF WORK IS LUCKY LUKE BEING COMPARED WITH THE WILDLIFE OF THE WEST, THE THEY EARNED THEIR BREAD IN EXCHANGE FOR ACCUSED OF TAKING? THE BOUNTY HUNTER’S. BOUNTY HUNTER WAS EVEN MORE DESPISED THAN THE LIBERTY OR LIVES OF THEIR PREY… NOT COYOTES, RATTLESNAKES AND VULTURES… ALWAYS INNOCENT FOLKS, IT’S TRUE.

SORDID ASSISTANTS OF JUSTICE, BOUNTY SOME DID RATHER WELL… HUNTERS WERE PAID WITH CONTEMPT. I FIGURE $300 PLUS $200 PLUS $400 PLUS $100, WHICH COMES TO $1,000 EVEN. THERE! NOW, I’LL LET YOU HAVE THE BUNCH FOR THAT’S 950, BUT I KEEP THEIR GUNS. YOUR $ REWARD!

OTHERS WERE CUNNING… IT WAS OFTEN A PROFITABLE JOB… THAT MAKES $825.50 FOR EACH OF US. I GET AN EXTRA $40 FOR EXPENSES, YOU HAVE PLENTY FOR A GOOD LAWYER, AND EVERY- BODY’S HAPPY.

… BUT A DANGEROUS ONE, TOO. HE WAS LUCKY HE GOT SHOT CAPTURING YOU. GOT HIMSELF A RIGHT NICE FUNERAL OUT OF THE BOUNTY…

4 THIS MAN IS A BOUNTY HE FOUND HIS CALLING EARLY IN HUNTER. HIS NAME IS LIFE. ONE MORNING… ELLIOT BELT. 25¢ REWARD WHO FER HANDIN’ CHOPPED DOWN OVER THE GUILTY I DID IT, POP. THE CHERRY PARTY ! TREE?

AT SCHOOL, HE GOT GOOD MARKS FOR TELLING ON HIS CLASSMATES. AND, IF, BY CHANCE, ONE OF THEM TOOK REVENGE… HIM, HIM AND HIM. VERY GOOD, ELLIOT. I SHALL GIVE YOU TWO STARS AND AN WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU, ELLIOT? “A” IN ARITHMETIC. ER, HOW MUCH WILL YOU GIVE ME IF I TELL?

BY NIGHT HE KIDNAPPED CATS AND DOGS. AND THEN RETURNED THEM FOR A REWARD. DURING THE RAT EXTERMINATION CAMPAIGN OF 1883, THE TOWN PAID 25¢ A RAT AND ELLIOT TOOK IN HUNDREDS…

… ALL RAISED BEHIND THE BARN. THE CHILD GREW, AND, ONE DAY… BUT, ELLIOT! MARCH, I HAVE TO DELIVER RUNT! THIS MEAT!

5 THIS LITTLE INCIDENT OBLIGED ELLIOT BELT TO RUN ELLIOT BEGAN TO AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE THE DELIVERY ROAM THE LAND… BOY’S FATHER TURNED OUT TO BE THE TOWN BUTCHER, WILD BILL CLEAVER…

HE DISCOVERED HIS GREAT TALENT FOR PROFITS WERE MODEST, AT FIRST… HANDLING A GUN. DRIVEN BY GREED RATHER THAN COURAGE, HE SET HIMSELF HERE, HERE’S UP AS A PROFESSIONAL BOUNTY HUNTER. VARMINT! YOU YER LUNCH, GET A FREE VARMINT! MEAL IN THE “DEAD OR SALOON! ALIVE,” THE POSTER SAID.

THEN, THE MONEY GOT BETTER… AND BELT OPENED A BANK ACCOUNT. I’M MAKING A LITTLE HERE’S YER DEPOSIT. RECEIPT, VARMINT!

ELLIOT BELT BECAME A BOUNTY HUNTER WITH A AND BY CHANCE, THE HUNT BROUGHT HIM TO CHEYENNE PASS. REPUTATION THAT WOULD MAKE A FIERCE APACHE WARRIOR SHAKE IN HIS MOCCASINS.

6 THE SHERIFF SAID, “YOUR SON IS SOUGHT AND INTO PRISON MUST BE BROUGHT…”

SORRY, A WHISKEY, BARTENDER, THERE’S A REWARD FOR TURNING BOYS! I AIN’T AND YOU’D BETTER MAKE IN MERCHANTS WHO REFUSE TO A-SINGIN’ WITH IT SNAPPY… SERVE PAYING CUSTOMERS! NO SKUNK ON THE PREMISES!

I HAFTA SERVE YOU, BUT I DON’T HAFTA PROVIDE A GLASS! NOW, DRINK IT UP AND GIT!

BANG!

TAKE IT EASY, KID… FOR $37? JERSEY $200? YEAH, JIM. THAT’S ARIZONA AL, A PEANUTS… 200. PRETTY TOUGH HE SOLD MY BROTHER $ HOMBRE. FOR $37!

7 LUCKY LUKE, I WANT TO TALK YOU AND I CAN ROUND UP NOPE. I LIKE MY WHISKEY WITH YOU. A LITTLE BUSINESS OUTLAWS TOGETHER AND THEN DIVVY IN A GLASS. PROPOSITION. UP THE BOUNTIES. WHY, WE’D MAKE A FORTUNE ON THE DALTONS ALONE! LUCKY LUKE!

GLAD YOU’RE STILL IN TOWN. HMMM. BIG TROUBLE MEANS BARTENDER! C’MON ALONG. MIGHTY BIG BIG MONEY! GOTTA STICK DRINKS ARE ON ME! TROUBLE’S A-BREWING! CLOSE TO THIS GUY.

FOR HE THE DEADLY WEAPON DREW THAT PIERCED HIS COMRADE’S BODY THROUGH…

BRONCO FORTWORTH IS THE BIGGEST HORSE RANCHER GIDDAP, WANTED! AROUND. RICH AS KING SOLOMON HIMSELF. IF HE’S SOUP’S ON! HOLLERING FOR HELP, MUST BE SERIOUS BUSINESS. SURE GLAD YOU’RE HERE!

8