 a fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty hyacilver, the lone ranger. In the early days of the western United States, outlaws roamed the territory. Usually working in small bands, they attacked isolated ranch houses, driving off cattle and stealing whatever they could lay their hands on. But occasionally, an outlaw with a gift of leadership became ambitious. He welcomed new recruits until his band had grown into a small army, and he was able to defy not only the local sheriffs, but the government troops as well. The hawk was such a man, and the story of his meeting with the masked rider of the planes is one of the most exciting episodes in the history of the West. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the Great Horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. Our story begins in the little town of Preston where the army post was located. Matt Badger, an engineer on the newly built railroad, is enjoying an evening at home, and... Oh, it sure seems good having you at home at least one day a week, Matt. Sometimes a get-so lonesome, I wish you wasn't working for the railroad, even if it does pace or good. I bet you ain't no more glad to see me here than I am to be here. But it ain't just being lonesome. If you was railroadin' back east where things were all safe and settled, I'd likely not mind so much. But here, with engines and hold-up men, and thinkin' of you and the cab of your engine, in the mountains with a canyon beside you, and you're likely to run off the tracks. Oh, Matt, I can't sleep half the time for thinkin' of it. Now, honey, it ain't near as bad as you make out. And our boy, talkin' of railroadin' all the time, sayin' he's gonna be an engineer as soon as the company'll take him on. He'll have to be a fireman first. Then ain't no safer. And speakin' of day or where is he tonight? Oh, man, sakes. And I've even thought to ask where he was goin' when he went out. Hey, folks, I just heard some news. Big news. Dave, where have you been? Just down watchin' the train, pullin' from Dover. Your pa's been askin' for ya. Wait till I tell you what I heard. Wreckin' it ain't anything to make use of all the bread. It ain't. Well, just listen to this. The hawks on this side of the border. The hawk? Him and all his men. They say there must be two or three hundred of them. The worst comin' all the west. They ain't comin' this way, are they? Now, don't you worry, ma. They wouldn't do that with all the soldiers there is at the fort. Not them fellas. Nope. The word is they were seen headin' for Dover. Good lord. Poor the poor folks up there. But would the hawk cross the border for her? He had a fight with the soldiers on the other side and lost. He came to this side to get away from them. Somebody oughta get that fella and string him up by the neck. He calls himself a general, don't he? Ah, he hires every border cutthroat and breath there is and calls it an army. But that don't keep him from bein' just a bunch of murderin' outlaws. Just like calling himself a general don't keep him from bein' nothin' but a low-down thievin' killer. Now, you should see the stirrer down to the fort when the news came in. Is the major goin' after him? No, you bet he is. He's got to. If the hawk raides Dover, he'll wipe out the folks up there. They won't have a chance. Put some on him. What's the matter? Oh, look. Oh, dear, now what is it? Come in. Oh, howdy herb. Matt, grab your coat and hat. Hm? You and me are takin' a train to Dover. I gots a team up at the engine and just waitin' to pull out. What is this, Matt? Day all. Don't make no difference, ma'am. These are army orders. We're haulin' soldiers into the mountains so they can get after the hawk. You better hurry, Matt. I'll do that. Pa, can't I go with you? I should say you can't. Look here. Maybe I can help you. I can handle an engine just as well as you can. Don't be pestin' me. Bass, where's my hat? Here you are, Matt. Will we have to wait for the soldier's herb? They're loadin' now. Close to 500 of them. Carly, that's gonna make a mighty hard pull up that mountain green. It has to be done, Matt. You ready? Mm-hmm. Goodbye, honey. We'll likely be back by the mornin' night. Oh, Matt, do take care of yourself. We better run, Matt. Yeah, come on. The major says we gotta be in Dover by mornin'. That'll be it, sure. You got steam up, you say? Steam up and everything's set. All you'll have to do, Matt, is open up the throttle. Gosh, you wasn't far wrong when you said it was gonna be 500 soldiers goin'. The major's takin' near every man he has in the fort. If they get the hawk, it's a good thing. There's the major now. Hey, major! Here's Matt. You ready to start? Get in your cab, Ben. We'll be ready in 30 seconds. I'll give the order to pull out. Climb in, Matt. Here, I'll give you a hand. This is gonna be a ride to remember. Captain Beverly, hello's men to get in their cars. Sergeant, seat of those arms. You watchin' for the signal to highball? Uh-huh. The major sounds like he means business. And when he sounds like that, the hawk would better watch out. Yeah. Matt, get going. Here we go. All set, major. We're ready. Go in and hurry. We'll do that same. You keep the seam up. I'll give you enough pressure to blow out the boiling. We're on our way. You just bet we are. Howdy, friend. What in blaze? Matt, they just swung a ball. Look here, you can... Listen, we got both of your covers. Keep this train rolling. Do what we tell you or stop left. It was scarcely 15 minutes after the train had left town that young Lieutenant Rooney in command at the fort in the major's absence was startled by the sound of loud voices outside his office. You can't tell me... What in blaze? This... Matt, stop right there. No, you gotta stop me. Put down those guns. Out until you take me to Major Wilson. Major Wilson isn't here. Now get out before... Down here? Then where is he? You're one of the hawks' men. Quick, Lieutenant, where's the major? I'll tell you where he's gone. And there's nothing you can do to stop it. He's gone to wipe out your rotten bunch. Shed over. By train. If I haven't when he gets there, your friends will pay for their murders. I'm not from the hawk. Don't tell me that. I came here to warn Major Wilson of the hawk's trap. You're planning... I've been following the hawk ever since he crossed the border. Trying to learn his plan. Lieutenant, he has no more idea of attacking Dover than you have. That's a lie. We have information to... Which the hawk supplied for his own reason. It's a trick, Lieutenant. The hawks and only enough men to add over to frighten the people and make them think he was approaching with his full force. Then what are you doing? Right now, he's coming here by way of Eagle Pass with more than 200 men. I don't believe... Listen to me. What reason would he have for attacking Dover? When he wants his arms and ammunition. With those, he can recross the border and fight the soldiers there on even terms. It seems impossible. He's clever. He knows he's not safe on this side of the border. He plans just one daring raid and then escapes. But if that's true... It is true. Once more, the hawk has sent two men here ahead of him. They probably came to look over the ground to see if their trick worked. Where are those men? We lost their trail once, but Tonto picked it up again just outside of town. He went and to Tonto look for them while I came here. Tonto? An Indian, my friend. Then we'll pick up those men. If you've told the truth, the major will have to be warned and brought back here. You say the hawk is at Eagle Pass now? He is. Thank heavens, there's still time for the soldiers to return. Orderly. Yes, sir. We'll have to get the soldiers... He's not that new. What are you doing? Tell us that way. The two men you followed? Uh, we get there too late. They're more inclined. What's that? You saw them get on? Me not see them. Other fellow see them. Get an engine. Major Wilson and the soldiers on that train with two hawks men in the engine? But what can be done? If we knew their plans. That train has to climb a steep grade to get it over. That's right. The train won't be able to travel at full speed. Scout could get you it over almost as soon as the train. You're going to ride it over. Perhaps the two men seen getting in the cab weren't the outlaws we followed. Tonto think they're outlaws. I'm afraid they are. But if they aren't, if the soldiers arrive at Dover safely, give Major Wilson the message to return. Tonto do that. It'll be morning in a few hours. Lieutenant. Yes? We don't know why those men boarded the train. There may be a branch line or something to sort between here and over. They might plan on forcing the engine crew to sidetrack the soldiers. Figuring to delay them long enough for the hawk to attack and get away. There is a branch line. It goes to Dawson. Your men are equipped with heligrass, aren't they? Mirrors to reflect the sun and send signals? Of course. And get one for Tonto. But what's he going to do? If he finds the soldiers have been sidetracked, he can tell us he'll be in the mountains. It'll be easy for him to send the message and for us to receive it. You're right. And we'll know what's happened. And then we can make our plans. Now hurry so that Tonto can get on his way. Through the long hours of the night, the train toiled up the steeper sent to Dover. The tracks winding between a sheer cliff on the one side and the drop of thousands of feet on the other. During all that time, Matt and Herb were conscious of the unwavering guns of the two outlaws who stood over them. There's no use you fellas pretending. We know you're from the hawk. But you won't get away with this. Where's your well enough? It'll be sadder when you're a well off. You'll pay more attention to your worth than the spike in me here. In daylight, are you getting pretty close to Dover? It'll be more than 10 or 15 miles from here. And just how do you sidewind this figure you're going to get away from the soldiers after we reach town? That's just it. The soldiers ain't going there, huh? What do you mean? Don't get anxious. The passenger cars kept on a spurn, Dover, ain't they? They were old as is. That's just fine. They'll be coming in handy. Our boss sent some of the fellas to make the folks in Dover think all of us were nearby. You mean they ain't? If there were, there's nobody's note about it till it's too late. Choose these friends. The hawks marching on the fort this very minute. No. And we're planning on using them cars in Dover to pick up our parts there and join the hawk at the port. By the time we get back, you likely have a tooth on you. Keep your big mouth closed. By then, they better stop the trains. All right, I can look. This one's doing as good as any place. Stop the train. What for? Don't ask them any questions. Just stop it. And after it's stopped, any soldier sticks his head out of the window to ask why you tell them nothing's the matter. Or get drilled. But you can't get them. Stop this train. You better do like he says, Matt. They ain't the kind that has to take much about the tooth. What's tough on this grade? We'd never be able to get started again. We don't worry about that. You fellas must be local. Don't argue with them anymore, Luke. Drill on. I'm stopping. Stick your head out of the cab and tell them fellas nothing is wrong. All right. Go ahead. Matt, call your sub-call. Speak up. Ain't nothing, Major. We'll be out of our way again in a minute. Anyway, though. But don't stare at us. Is he outside the train? No, he just shouted from the door back there. Now climb out of this cab, you fellas. You've just got one more thing for you to do. And you'll find that down right easy. Over all, fellow, we should be getting Toto's signal soon. If there's anything to delay to him. What's that? Light signals. Silver all, boys. It's Toto. The Hawk has done something I didn't believe even he was capable of doing. Yes. The train stopped eight miles this side of Dover. There's no French line at that point. The train stopped and the engine uncoupled from the cars. You mean the train? I mean that at this moment those cars are loose. They're running away down the grade. And when they jump the track, every man inside will be dashed to his death. The curtain falls on the first part of our thrilling Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. When the Lone Ranger received the startling news from Tonto that railroad cars carrying 500 soldiers were hurtling unchecked down the mountain grade, he brought the news to Lieutenant Rooney at the fort. Every man will be killed. Every last train. Listen to me, Lieutenant. But what can we... How many men have you here? Only 15. The Hawk will be arriving in very few hours. Send your men into town. Warn the townspeople. Get every man, woman, and child inside the fort. We'll never be able to hold out. You can for a while. But what... Go ahead in a second to waste explaining. Just do as you're told. Get those people in the fort. At once. Come on, kill me! A word about the soldiers yet, son? Not a word, Ma. Oh, I'm not worried. I just can't sit still. Ha, now, shucks. There ain't no sense in that. We're poised with the soldiers. And as for getting word, you know as well as I do. There can't be no word till the train gets back. I suppose I'm foolish. Of course you are. Now, what are you fixin' for supper? Well, now, I ain't just decided yet. There's a... A mask man. You wait. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Son, leave it to me. Dale, Dale! What the door? You won't be hard. Let me be. Let me go. You cook your... Where are you? Help it, the mask man. Come on, show me. What's this fur? What's the idea? This is my mother, Dale. This is a matter of life and death. But what's here? I've told you, you can run an engine. But sure, I can. But not to help out, Lord. You're gonna save the lives of 500 men. So far? Here we are. Oh, come on. Get down. I don't... This is the only engine here. And you're the only man who can run it. Now get in that cab. In the meantime, obeying the Lone Ranger's instructions, Lieutenant Rooney sent his men to summon the townspeople to the fort. And a frenzy of fear and confusion thrown into a panic by the dreaded name of the hawk. The townspeople gathered their families, noted their possessions into carts, wagons across the saddles of their horses, into and onto anything available, and made their way to the fort. For hours, an unbroken stream of horses and wagons covered the short distance between the fort and town. All was chaos at first inside the fort. Baggies was strewn at random. Untied horses got in everyone's way. Children were lost and frantic mothers searched for them. Men busied themselves at useless, self-appointed tasks. But at length, the discipline of the small body of soldiers prevailed. And the measure of order was finally restored. Get those horses out of the way! Put the children in the barracks! All the men are to stand by for orders, and the women make ready to load the guns. Sergeant, have ammunition brought from the magazine. Yes, sir. Lieutenant. Well, what is it? Over there. Down the trail. Don't you see anything? I don't. What do you think? It's the hawk and his men. If they would eagle past at the time the masked man's head, they're just about due. Oh, they'll kill us. I know they will. But not before they know they've been in a fight, ma'am. Orderly, the hawk is in sight. Men! To the stockade! Make ready for an attack! Well, ahead of steam and the boilers, and with Dale at the throttle, the engine taken by the Lone Ranger raced from town and up the mountain grade. While he fed the fumes of a blazing firebox, the Lone Ranger explained his purpose to the young man. So that's why you made him come along. We may even lose our lives in the attempt, but it's worth the risk. We can save the lives of 500. I'm glad you made me do it. I thought you'd feel that way when you understood. But I wouldn't have hesitated, even if I'd known you wouldn't. There's too much at stake. If only them cars don't dump the track before we can get to it. So we can do nothing about that except toast. Strangely, do you think them crooks killed Pawn? I don't know. But I do know this. Tonneau was somewhere nearby, and if there was anything to prevent it, Tonneau would have taken a hand. You said Tonneau. Yes. I've heard that name before somewhere. Perhaps you have. But I can't just seem to place it. It doesn't matter now. All that counts is reaching those runaway cars as soon as we can. And with us going toward them and them coming toward us, if we don't see them in time and meet head on, there ain't likely to be enough of us left to know who we are. Runaway cars gathering momentum as they roll down the grade were soon racing at terrific speed. They roared down straight away. The iron wheel rims just barely clutching the rails as they flipped around curves. The cars rocking madly from side to side as they threatened to leap the tracks and plunged into the waiting canyon. Inside the cars, the soldiers were at first paralyzed, then shouted their terror. Finally became grim and silent. Not a man among them, but was certain that the lightning journey could end only in death. And all the time, engine and cars were rushing toward each other. At the fort, too, the townspeople and the small body of soldiers were prepared to sell their lives dearly, expected only death at the hands of the hawk. Do all the men arms? Guns and ammunition have been passed around. Are you ready and waiting, sir? Don't fire until I give the word. There are hundreds of them, Taylor. Hundreds. Not many more than 200. Is there anything I can do? There is. Have some of the women prepare bandages. Detail others to stand by with ammunition. Our guns must be loaded as fast as they're empty. And ma'am, the most important thing you can do is keep the women from becoming frightened. Well, they ain't no more scared than the men folk cars. And I'll see you the bandages and bullets right now. The hawk is getting ready to charge! Man, make every bullet count! Take it! Pour and tell of us every soldier in there! And the townspeople don't count! About the whole blast and bunch of them! Look, guys, we're just going around this curve. You'll be able to see better than me. There should be a straight stretch here. Sign anything? This here, yes. They're coming. How far ahead? Stop what I say. If they hit it now. We'll never know it. There we are. Now back up. Head back to our townspeople. Give me more tea. You'll get it. Write the news for the fellas. They picked up a doger. I told them, fellas, we'd be inside the fort by the time they got here. Now come on. That's one promise I'm keeping. Get set. And when I say the word, follow her, man. Control well, sir. And there she is again. But I don't understand. The town will pull the troops. If those cars were in couples. I don't have either, sir. That man had some plans. But I don't see what he could have done to prevent it. Well, we'll soon be known. The last whistle was for when the train reached town. And the hawk is getting ready to attack again. And I'm afraid we won't be able to fight him off much longer. Well, we'll try. What are those people shouting about? I don't know, but I can... The boat! The boat! The boat! He's a major, sir. And over the man! With a masked man leading him. But how in blazer did he do it? That's something I don't know. But watch out. The hawk, he's charging to your station! By the appearance of the soldiers they had thought dead, the outlaw army fell into confusion. But there was no escape for them. For the fort on one side and the advancing soldiers on the other. At length, the hawk and his followers, seeing themselves in danger, being killed by the last man, threw away their guns, and the victory was won. While the outlaws were being hurted inside the fort at the command of Major Wilson, the best badger ran toward the Lone Ranger, saying... Rangers? My husband, man. What's become of him? Where's he at? Is he killed? Betty, Silver? I'm sorry, I can't say. Ma, oh, Dale, you're back. Wait, there's Thanos. Thanos? With two men. Kimosami! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, Matt! Matt, it's you, honey! Pa, you're wounded. It ain't nothing much. It's just what them crooks down on me and Herb with an uncoupled train like they told us. What, they shot you? They shot me and knocked Herb out. Then the skunks let the cars loose and went on to Dover with the engine to get the rest of their parts. They seem to know how to handle the engine all right. You say they went after the men, the hawks sent to Dover? I heard it. My gully, that's right. They was going to pick them up, then come back here. Major, yes? This man has information that more of the hawk's men are coming here. They can only be a handful. They'll come by train, thinking their friends have captured the fort. You can be prepared for them, and you will have the last of the worst gang of killers this country has ever known. Thanks to you, stranger. I don't see us how you got us here alive. They only serves the credit for that. And he can tell you about it better than I can. Jail? Son, did you have a hand in saving a soldier? I'd just done what the masked man told me. Okay. We went up the tracks with another engine until we caught sight of the cars heading to town. Go on. When we seen them, we stopped and started backing up just as fast as we could. We was only going about four or five miles slower than the cars, wasn't in the same direction. So when they hit us, the bump didn't amount to much. Oh, son. Well, after that, there wasn't anything to it. We just slowed down as easy as we could, and the cars slowed down with us. Then we hooked on proper and brought the torches into town. And saved both us and the force. Son, you're a railroad man by thunder, and I'm here to say you're a better one than your father. I am looking for bulls-mills. I'm sure you have just heard as a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.