Lucky Luke Volume 9 The Wagon Train

A wagon train of Pioneers drives through Nothing Gulch en route to California. Its ill-tempered driver is sent away by the passengers and Lucky Luke is asked to step in and replace him. He accepts, amused by this fun group. When the wagon train moves off again, the trouble begins: a mystery vandal keeps trying to sabotage the expedition. But Lucky Luke needs a lot more than that to make him turn back!

A gang operating around Nugget City is attacking stage coaches to steal gold shipments. After rescuing the driver of one of them, Lucky Luke arrives in town just in time to stop the murderous intents of a cheat. Pursuing the scoundrel after an epic bar fight, Luke finds out he’s a member of the gang, and will have to arrest him and the others before riding on to new adventures on the other side of the Rio Grande.

As he roams with his horse Jolly Jumper, always seeking new adventures, Lucky Luke meets two suspicious characters, Denver Miles and Colorado Bill. Together they arrive on the outskirts of a deserted city, Gold Hill, which counts only one inhabitant. The old man, Powell, is the sole survivor of a gold rush that he has not given up on, despite years without success. He continues to work his mine, which Denver and Colorado soon try to take over any way they can. But Lucky Luke, who has taken a liking to the old man, is looking out for him and will save him from many troubles...

At the funeral of old Baddy, everybody is moved except Ready, who has waited for the 100-year-old man’s death a long time in order to buy his ranch. Unfortunately, the old fellow has an heir, Waldo, a “tenderfoot” who arrives straight from his native England accompanied by his butler Jasper. Two worlds clash: the ancient, so refined, and the new, equally “rustic.”

Mulligan’s Western circus—his troop, lion and elephant—arrive in town under the escort of Lucky Luke. Zilch, a rich businessman and organizer of the annual grand rodeo, thinks the circus is going to compete with his business and does everything to prevent it from putting on a show. He even engages killer-for-hire Rattlesnake Joe, but in the end his attempts will provide unexpected publicity for the circus. On with the show!

Calamity Jane saves Lucky Luke from a delicate situation. A friendship is quickly formed, and they arrive together in El Plomo... where Calamity Jane proves by her manners and her strength that sheâs not a weak woman: She acquires the local saloon by winning an arm-wrestling match! Its ex-owner, August Oyster, is hopping mad and has only one obsession: to send her packing. During this time, Lucky Luke tries to clear up a dark affair involving arms traffic...

Grand Duke Leonid of Russia is in Washington to sign a commercial treaty on behalf of the Tsar. But this larger-than-life aristocrat has read too much Fennimore Cooper and wants to visit the West. The US government is forced to agree to his whim—but wisely chooses Lucky Luke to escort him to the cattle capital of the West: Abilene. A good thing, too, because the Russian Grand Duke encounters real American desperadoes on his visit!

At the end of the Civil War, many former soldiers turn to a life of crime to survive. Joss Jamon and his gang are among the worst of such men. After sacking the town of Los Palitos, they arrange for Lucky Luke to be arrested for their crimes. The lonesome cowboy, a rope already around his neck, is forced to make a deal with the angry citizens: Bring the real bandits back within six months or hang.