Ken Maynard #7

A stranded city man asks Ken Maynard and his friend George for directions to Prairie City, only to learn neither knows the way. After a moment of panic, the man decides to follow them, hoping they’ll lead him somewhere familiar—only to discover George is just as lost.

Ken Maynard and his talking horse, Ya-Ta-Ta, spar with witty banter as the horse mocks Ken’s landlocked cowboy life, claiming he’s more at home dreaming of the sea than tending to his duties. Their playful argument escalates into a series of clever comebacks and exaggerated boasts, culminating in Ya-Ta-Ta dramatically “kicking the bucket” — literally — when Ken threatens to withhold his oats.

Ken Maynard and Pitkin confront the dangers of the Badlands, where treacherous terrain and a hidden enemy threaten their journey. After narrowly escaping a deadly fall and surviving a trap set by Renolf Paine, Ken finds himself trapped in a deep, smooth-walled pit with no way out—while Paine and his accomplice celebrate their apparent victory.

A hungry stranger named Sassy Sam claims he’ll work for a meal, but when offered food, he’s quick to protest—only to realize he may have promised more than he meant. Ken Maynard, the boy with the terrible temper, isn’t about to let him off the hook so easily.

Ken Maynard finds himself trapped at the bottom of a deep pit, facing slow death by starvation or cold, but uses his wits to discover a hidden air passage. After blasting his way out, he reunites with Pitkin, only to learn that their enemy Paine has betrayed them and is now plotting to eliminate everyone to claim the treasure from the Seven Wonders for himself.