LEAPS THE LIVE THUNDER

An action-adventure tale (Scarlet Cockerel- 1948) follows the close escapes and high and wide escapades of Rackham Ballarol, his cat Colonel Turpentine, and Kelsie, the former governess he had taken from Nassau to New Orleans where she had become a dancing woman. Rack, on the way to join General Nathan Bedford Forrest, finds Kelsie once again- now entertaining in a circus show which is a cover for the prisoners who are smuggled through the Confederate lines. And while Kelsie's sympathies are with the Union, her heart belongs to Rack- who is badly wounded, nursed back to safety by Kelsie in her circus wagon on whisky, water and axle grease. Kelsie is forced to go back with Regulus- who owns the circus- to conceal Rack's presence; Rack moves on and back into action; Kelsie escapes, in an attempt to warn General Forrest, is caught- by Regulus, and finally freed by Rack and his Colonel Turnpentine.... A bold young man- and a woman to match his mettle- this derring duo is likeble and the war retreats and recedes in the face of personal exploits and private involvements.