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The Floating Outfit #7
The Hide and Tallow Men
The Pilar Hide and Tallow Company were in trouble—their enormous profits looked like dropping if Colonel Charles Goodnight’s scheme of driving cattle across country came to fruition. In order to protect their interests the five partners came to an agreement—an agreement that Mark Counter had to break.
This was all fine and dandy, except that the hide and tallow men were ruthless, unscrupulous and had small regard for the sanctity of human life. Their women were even worse. And Mark Counter found himself in the middle of the conflict, with lead likely to be thrown his way from every side...
This was all fine and dandy, except that the hide and tallow men were ruthless, unscrupulous and had small regard for the sanctity of human life. Their women were even worse. And Mark Counter found himself in the middle of the conflict, with lead likely to be thrown his way from every side...
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First published December 1, 1978
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About the author
J.T. Edson
183 books78 followersJohn Thomas Edson is an English writer of Westerns.
He was born in 1928.He was obsessed with Westerns from an early age and often "rewrote" cowboy movies that he had seen at the cinema. One thing that always intrigued him was the minutiae—how did the baddie's gun jam? What were the mechanics of cheating at cards? How did Westerners really dress and speak?
His writing was helped to develop by a schoolteacher who encouraged him. Now lives in Leicester, Leicestershire.[citation needed]
During his 20s and 30s, Edson served in His Majesty's Armed Forces for 12 years as a Dog Trainer. Cooped up in barracks for long periods, he devoured books by the great escapist writers (Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert McCraig, Nelson C. Nye and Edgar Wallace). He also sat through hours of movies starring John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Errol Flynn and his all-time favourite, Audie Murphy.
His first appearance in print was "Hints On Self-Preservation when attacked by a War Dog" in the Osnabrück camp magazine Shufti in 1947. Acquiring a typewriter in the early 1950s and putting it to good use while posted to Hong Kong, by the time of his discharge he had written 10 Westerns, an early version of Bunduki and the first of the short detective-type stories starring Waco.
Upon leaving HM forces, JT won second prize (with Trail Boss) in the Western division of a Literary Competition run by Brown & Watson Ltd, which led to the publication of 46 novels with them, becoming a major earner for the company.
He had the need for supplementary income from time-to-time and also served as a postman, and the proprietor of a fish 'n' chip shop. Furthermore, he branched out as a writer and wrote five series of short stories (Dan Hollick, Dog Handler) for the Victor boys papers, and wrote the "box captions" for comic strips, which instilled discipline and the ability to convey maximum information with minimum words.
His writing career forged ahead when he joined Corgi Books in the late '60s, which gave JT exposure through a major publishing house, as well as the opportunity to branch out from the core Westerns into the Rockabye County, the science-fiction hero Bunduki and other series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._T._Edson
He was born in 1928.He was obsessed with Westerns from an early age and often "rewrote" cowboy movies that he had seen at the cinema. One thing that always intrigued him was the minutiae—how did the baddie's gun jam? What were the mechanics of cheating at cards? How did Westerners really dress and speak?
His writing was helped to develop by a schoolteacher who encouraged him. Now lives in Leicester, Leicestershire.[citation needed]
During his 20s and 30s, Edson served in His Majesty's Armed Forces for 12 years as a Dog Trainer. Cooped up in barracks for long periods, he devoured books by the great escapist writers (Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert McCraig, Nelson C. Nye and Edgar Wallace). He also sat through hours of movies starring John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Errol Flynn and his all-time favourite, Audie Murphy.
His first appearance in print was "Hints On Self-Preservation when attacked by a War Dog" in the Osnabrück camp magazine Shufti in 1947. Acquiring a typewriter in the early 1950s and putting it to good use while posted to Hong Kong, by the time of his discharge he had written 10 Westerns, an early version of Bunduki and the first of the short detective-type stories starring Waco.
Upon leaving HM forces, JT won second prize (with Trail Boss) in the Western division of a Literary Competition run by Brown & Watson Ltd, which led to the publication of 46 novels with them, becoming a major earner for the company.
He had the need for supplementary income from time-to-time and also served as a postman, and the proprietor of a fish 'n' chip shop. Furthermore, he branched out as a writer and wrote five series of short stories (Dan Hollick, Dog Handler) for the Victor boys papers, and wrote the "box captions" for comic strips, which instilled discipline and the ability to convey maximum information with minimum words.
His writing career forged ahead when he joined Corgi Books in the late '60s, which gave JT exposure through a major publishing house, as well as the opportunity to branch out from the core Westerns into the Rockabye County, the science-fiction hero Bunduki and other series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._T._Edson
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 17, 2017
Crazy
What can you do if people don't listen to some very good advice. Time to be schooled lessons not going to be easy.
What can you do if people don't listen to some very good advice. Time to be schooled lessons not going to be easy.
March 13, 2018
Outstanding!
A great adventure which left me wondering who really did what! The book is well written and exciting all the way through.
A great adventure which left me wondering who really did what! The book is well written and exciting all the way through.
February 27, 2023
A great adventure which left me wondering who really did what! For the most part the partners and their allies are so focused on attempting to kill each other off.
October 6, 2024
This is the first Edson book that was a bore for me,too much intrigue,no
Dusty Fogg or Ysabel kid,I’m sure the next one will be better.
Dusty Fogg or Ysabel kid,I’m sure the next one will be better.
August 24, 2021
I didn't enjoy this book as much as any of the others in the series because it included far too much information about what happened to the animals sent to the hide and tallow factories.
December 24, 2013
This was not one of JT's better efforts, but then the Mark Counter solo entries tend not to be my favorites. The story picks up directly after the events of Set Texas Back on Her Feet (which was originally released under the title of Viridian's Trail) with Mark continuing his undercover assignment with the hide and tallow company. For the most part the partners and their allies are so focused on attempting to kill each other off that it's all Mark can do to keep keep out of the line of fire!
October 5, 2012
Good book.
January 16, 2017
Much less action than usual and featuring Mark Counter as the main character
January 19, 2017
A trip down memory lane. A good read that doesn't tax the brain
A good read that doesn't tax the brain and allows relaxation. Not great fiction but fun to read at night
A good read that doesn't tax the brain and allows relaxation. Not great fiction but fun to read at night
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews