Introduction
WAR ON BEAR CREEK. Received by Kline Agency on November 19, 1934. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins.First published in Action Stories, April 1935. The story sold for $60 and Howard earned $54 after Kline Agency got their commission fee.
This short story was altered slightly to become Chapter 12 of the novel, A Gent From Bear Creek.
“War on Bear Creek” is a rollicking tale featuring the formidable Breckinridge Elkins. This story, filled with humor, action, and exaggerated frontier life, showcases Elkins’ misadventures as he navigates misunderstandings, family feuds, and a peculiar English tenderfoot. The narrative is rich with the colorful dialect and larger-than-life characters typical of this genre, painting a vivid picture of life in the rugged American West.
Summary
The story begins with Breckinridge Elkins returning home to find his father, Pap, digging buckshot out of his shoulder. Pap laments the chaos caused by pigs, a schoolteacher, an English tenderfoot, and their bloodthirsty relatives. Breckinridge maintains that the trouble wasn’t his fault, recounting a series of incidents that include breaking Joel Gordon’s leg, injuring Erath Elkins, and burning down Bill Kirby’s cabin. However, he places the primary blame on Uncle Jeppard Grimes’ razorback hog.
The chaos truly starts when Tunk Willoughby brings J. Pembroke Pemberton, an English sportsman, to Bear Creek. Tunk, recognizing the potential trouble, quickly departs. J. Pembroke, with his refined manners and unusual attire, is introduced to the Elkins family. Breckinridge is tasked with showing J. Pembroke a good time and protecting him from his own kin. They set off on a bear hunt, but J. Pembroke is more interested in his unique elephant gun and less in the practicalities of the wilderness.
During the hunt, Breckinridge leaves J. Pembroke to visit Miss Margaret Ashley, the local schoolteacher. Margaret is struggling to adapt to life on Bear Creek and is shocked when Breckinridge implies that everyone expects them to marry. Before the situation can be clarified, a gunshot interrupts them. J. Pembroke has shot off the tail of Uncle Jeppard’s prized razorback, mistaking it for a wild boar.
Uncle Jeppard, furious, demands retribution. Breckinridge tries to calm him down with a gold piece, but Jeppard vows revenge. The next day, while fishing, J. Pembroke leaves and later returns from an unknown errand, appearing more enthusiastic. They head up Apache Mountain to hunt turkeys, where J. Pembroke shoots Uncle Jeppard, mistaking him for an Indian. This further inflames the family’s anger.
Returning to Uncle Saul Garfield’s cabin, Breckinridge is confronted by a mob led by Polk County Grimes, demanding J. Pembroke’s life. A fierce fight ensues, with Breckinridge and Uncle Saul fending off their enraged relatives. The battle is interrupted when Medina Kirby announces that Bill Kirby’s cabin, where Margaret boards, is on fire due to a stray bullet.
Breckinridge heroically rescues a figure from the burning cabin, only to discover it’s Uncle Jeppard, not Margaret. A note left by Margaret reveals that she and J. Pembroke have eloped to Europe. The story ends with Breckinridge, dazed by the betrayal, vowing to confront Bill Glanton for introducing him to J. Pembroke and to find and confront the Englishman.
Characters
- Breckinridge Elkins: The protagonist, a brawny and impetuous mountain man.
- Pap (Elkins’ father): Breckinridge’s father, who laments the chaos caused by various disturbances.
- Tunk Willoughby: A man who brings J. Pembroke Pemberton to Bear Creek.
- J. Pembroke Pemberton: An English sportsman seeking adventure in Bear Creek.
- Ouachita Elkins: Breckinridge’s sister who reads the note from Tunk.
- Miss Margaret Ashley: The local schoolteacher and Breckinridge’s love interest.
- Uncle Jeppard Grimes: An older relative, owner of the prized razorback hog, President Polk.
- Joel Gordon: A relative whose leg was broken by Breckinridge.
- Erath Elkins: A relative injured by Breckinridge.
- Bill Kirby: A cousin whose cabin is burned down.
- John, Bill, Jim, Buckner, and Garfield Elkins: Breckinridge’s brothers.
- Medina Kirby: Bill Kirby’s daughter who announces the cabin fire.
- Uncle Saul Garfield: Another relative who helps Breckinridge fend off the mob.
- Polk County Grimes: A relative leading the mob against J. Pembroke.
- Joe Braxton: A non-relative who dislikes Breckinridge because of Miss Margaret.
- Various Gordons, Buckners, and Polks: Relatives involved in the mob against J. Pembroke.
Published in:
- ACTION STORIES Volume 13 Number 1, Fiction House, Inc., April 1935
- THE SUMMIT COUNTY JOURNAL, December 4, 11, 18, 25, 1970; January 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; February 5, 12, 19, 26; March 5, 12, 1971 (15 part serial)
- THE COMPLETE ACTION STORIES, Hermanthis, November 2001
- THE COMPLETE ACTION STORIES, Wildside Press, November 2003
- THE COMPLETE ACTION STORIES, Wildside Press, January 2005
- RIOT AT BUCKSNORT AND OTHER WESTERN TALES, Bison Books, April 2005 (magazine version)
- THE SCALP HUNTER, AND WAR ON BEAR CREEK, Dodo Press, February 2008
- THE BEAR CREEK OMNIBUS, Dennis McHaney, June 2009
- A GENT FROM BEAR CREEK AND OTHER WESTERNS, Halcyon Press, Ltd., January 2010
- THE ROBERT E. HOWARD OMNIBUS: 99 COLLECTED STORIES, Halcyon Press, Ltd., May 2010
- COLLECTED WESTERN STORIES OF ROBERT E. HOWARD, Halcyon Press, Ltd., October 2010
- THE WESTERN MEGAPACK, Wildside Press, March 2011
- THE WESTERN MEGAPACK, Wildside Press, September 2011
- THE BRECKENRIDGE ELKINS STORIES, Jame-Books, August 2012
- ROBERT E. HOWARD’S COLLECTED WORKS, Jame-Books, February 2013
- A GENT FROM BEAR CREEK, Fiction House Press, February 2015
- THE ADVENTURES OF BRECKINRIDGE ELKINS VOLUME 1, REH Foundation Press, August 2016
- WAR ON BEAR CREEK, Raging Bull Publications, April 2017
- WAR ON BEAR CREEK, Audible Audio, June 2017
- WAR ON BEAR CREEK, Raging Bull Publications, June 2017