La Corde du pendu


La Corde du pendu et autres histoires is a Lucky Luke adventure written by Goscinny with Morris and illustrated by Morris. It was originally published in French in the year 1981. The album contains seven short stories.
The name recalls La Corde du Pendu, the last and incomplete novel featuring Rocambole.

Stories

''La Corde du pendu'' ("The Hangman's Rope")

In a small town, a rope seller named Ropey regularly instigates the local mob into hanging every culprit for even the smallest of offenses - a method Lucky Luke decides to put to an end. Lucky Luke barely saves a drunk from hanging, wrongly accused of stealing a horse.

''Les Dalton prennent le train'' ("The Daltons take the train")

The Daltons escape again and decide to attack trains.

''Le Justicier'' ("The Justiciary")

Lucky Luke arrives at Coyote Gulch and meets Zozzo. Zozzo is a vigilante but is not able to bring justice. Lucky Luke helps him train without getting positive results. Then disguises himself as a vigilante and walks around the city to scare Zozzo, who reacts by making a reputation as a great hero.

''La Mine du chameau'' ("The Camel Mine")

Lucky Luke meets Hadji Ali, a Muslim who lost his camels. He will help him find them.
This story is inspired by a real failed attempt by the American army at the time to use camels for convoys crossing the deserts of the United States. Hadji Ali, a Jordanian who came to America as an instructor, will end his life in Arizona after having come across a gold mine.

''Règlement de comptes'' ("Gunfight")

Saloon dancer Laura Legs loves Lucky Luke. This makes the son of a rich breeder jealous, who loves Laura and who, out of jealousy, will cause the cowboy to duel. The blacksmith's daughter, in turn, is in love with this breeder's son...

''La Bonne parole'' ("The Good word")

Absestos Misbeliever, mad preacher, preaches on the territory of the Apaches. As Lucky Luke tries to get him out, they are taken prisoner.

''Li-Chi's story''

Li-Chi disembarks from his native China to settle in the American West.