This is a rousing good story and reminds me of Louis L'Amour's style. When the novel opens, we find our hero, the town drunk, being led to the gallows along with three postitutes and a slow witted kid. The reason? The town is surrounded by Apaches and is running out of food so the towns people hang or exile anyone considered to be useless. Our five former citizens are exiled and forced out of town to meet their fate at the hands of the Apaches. How they prove themselves and survive makes for a fast moving and exciting tale. My first Compton and I will be looking for more. ( )