 horse for the speed of light, the cloud of dust, and a hearty hyo-silver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the masked rider of the planes led the fight for law and order in the early Western United States. The stories of his strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness have come down to us through the generations and nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. 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. Come on, Silver! Faster, boy, faster! Oh, Silver! The long winding wagon trail was deeply rutted by the passing of countless wheels. Through the narrow ravine, thousands of covered wagons had rolled toward the green fertile farmlands of the West, newly opened to settlers by liberal homestead laws. Now, still another wagon train was marching westward, bringing more families from the east whose imagination and hopes had been fired by the tales of land and opportunity awaiting those who pioneered across the prairie. It came to a swift moving stream and Seth Holloway, leader of the train, held up his hand. Then, cautiously passing the rushing current, he signaled the wagons on. The air was alive with the shouts of men and the crack of whips as the horse-drawn canvas-covered vehicles lumbered heavily into the stream. Hit up! She up there! The currents are way treacherous. Watch out, it don't sweep you down the stream. We have to loot them. Now, as we leave them horses be. Land, safe, the poor beast are doing the best they can. That water moves up to their necks. Don't be telling me what to do, sir. They're having a wagon team as a man's job. Hey, what do you send me? It's Tom and Lucy. They're in trouble. Seth! Seth! Well, look up, horses. The currents are coming away from the wagon. I can't hold them, Lucy. The lines have slapped. The team will break loose. Tom, watch out. The horses will pull you into the water. I'm going to carry it down. I've got to have ground under my feet again. Let me help you, Lucy. Oh, Seth. Oh, you poor child. You're still shivering from your shock. Here, now put this shawl around your shoulders. Oh, Seth, we've lost the wagon. And all the nice new things I bought to make a home for Tom out here on the west. There, there. Now don't take on so. Everything will turn out all right. Seth, look. Yeah, what is it, Tom? Those four trace straps that joined my team to the wagon. They didn't just break. They were cut more than two-thirds through with a knife. At night, the Lone Ranger, Tonto, and Dan Reed rode along a ridge overlooking the campfires of the wagon train in the ravine. The wagons had been drawn into a protective circle where a strip of wood split the ravine in the center, forming two narrow prongs of open country. In one of these, the settlers had made camp. In the flickering firelight, the three riders could see them moving above. Another group of homesteaders from the east, Tonto. From the east? Golly, they've come a long way. Yes, Dan. They've risked a lot to make this trip. They gamble their whole future. They're the kind of people the west needs. People who will make homes here. People with the courage to face danger and fight for their rights. Then make plenty good farmers. Yes, Tonto. Land is plentiful in these parts. More than enough for everyone. The people who will make it rich are pioneers like those. Say, what's that? Oh, listen. Oh, it's a little bit... Oh, it's got no power. That buffalo. Yes. It's just possible to make them out in the moonlight. Golly, they're coming like the wind. Something's frightened them. They're stampeding. Ah! Did you hear? Ah! Men stampede buffalo with guns. Why should anyone want to do that? I don't know, Dan. But that wagon train is camped directly in the path of the stampede. That's right. That narrow ravine, the settlers are liable to be crushed to death. What do we do? There's one chance. Come on, Sylvia. Let's go, Victor. Come on, Sylvia! Now, unaware of the danger that threatened them, the homesteaders clustered about their campfires and listened to as a returner. Voice his dissatisfaction with the Western trip. I'm telling you it was a mistake to come out here in the first place. We should have stayed back east where we belonged. You knew this trip wasn't going to be any better roses. Maybe so, Seth. Today, I didn't think it'd be a garden of thorns. If you ask me, as a returner, you're the only thorn around here. And you're sticking in everybody, including your wife. There, hold your tongue, sir. Women folks should be seen and not heard. Why, you tongue-wagging old galoot. We've had nothing but trouble since we started west. Trouble with a capital T. We've been cheated, robbed, and dog-gone if I don't think now somebody's trying to murder us. What intonation's that? My declare, sounds almost like thunder. Can't be thunder with a full moon, shall I? It's coming closer. What in places? Sure, but when you hustled, I was right. Death is stalking our trail. That's Buffalo coming in. Buffalo, are you sure? The old fool's telling the truth for once, Lucy. I can see him as hell. Get to the wagons. They're heading this way. Trouble! Hurry, Lucy. Hitch up the horses. Drive the wagons out of here. There isn't time, Seth. They're almost on us. Everybody climb inside the wagon. Protect yourselves as best you can. Buffalo will rip through those old crates like paper. There must be three or four hundred in their heads. Our only choice. They smash the wagons. None of us will come through alive. Here they come. Hello, Silverman. Mr. Silverman. Streaking across the ravine on the powerful White Stallion, the Lone Ranger maneuvered between the wagon train and the onrushing Buffalo and fired several shots in the air. Master Bigfellow. Racing close behind the Mask Rider, Thanos swerves scot between the stamp-eating beasts and the helpless settlers and followed suit. Get them up. Count. One moment, the Buffalo seem to hesitate in their mad flight. Then, although a few of the buyers and plunge straight toward the camp, the herd itself swerved into the open country, which lay on the opposite side of the wooded strut. Two of the Buffalo got through. Time to penny damage to camp. Come on, Silverman. Anybody hurt? How about you women, folks? Who are those men, Seth? The two that turned the Buffalo away. I don't know, Tom, but they sure saved our bacon. Hadn't been for them, the whole herd would have run through here, instead of just a few. Ah, bless them few. Look what they did to my wagon. Yep, sure looks like a mess of splinters, Ezra. Lucky you and Sarah were in Tom's wagon when them bison came through. Ain't even enough left for Kiddlin. With stuff strung out every which way. By Shunder, I've had all the ways I can stand. Two horsemen coming. A mask and an engine. Outloads. More trouble, eh? Well, I sure might give trouble as well as take it. Oh, wait. Mask man's on a white horse. It was a rider on a white horse who turned the Buffalo. Horses on a horse! Don't try any tricks, mister, or you'll get a bullet from this gun. My friend and I came to see if the Buffalo had hurt any of you. Oh, then you two were the men who drove the Buffalo off. That's right. I ain't much of a hand for speeches, stranger. But I'm telling you, there ain't a man, woman, or child in this outfit who ain't thankful for what you and your partner did. The Buffalo did much damage. Well, some of the wagons are pretty smashed up. But I, Hanker, we might get them rolling again. Yeah, there's plum foolishness, Seth, and you know it. We haven't got a ghost of a chance of getting them wagons to run. I said it before and I said it again. Let's turn them horses around and head back where we come from. And I ain't alone in my argument, either. You weren't a quitter, are you? Of course you ain't a quitter. Don't you go insinuating them. Well, you embarked on this trip knowing the risks and the responsibility. What would you call a man who backed out on his bargain? I'd call anybody who backed out on this trip plain smart. We've had nothing but trouble since we crossed to Mississippi. And I'm heading east and I'm inviting everybody here to join me. Oh, wait. What about the rest of you, man? I'm following my nose, stranger. At its pointed west. What about you, Tom? I don't know, Seth. Maybe Ezra's right. After all, Lucy and I lost just about everything we owned when our wagon washed away in that stream. Don't see much point in going on now. You can thank your lucky stars. You went both round with killers on the trail. Killers? What do you mean? Who else would cut the traces on the wagon team? Oh, I see. Well, that's it. I reckon we all agreed that the best thing is to turn the wagons around and hit back. We are not agreed as we turn... Tenderation, Seth. I thought I told you important things like this. Ain't for women folk to decide. Shut up, you old windbag. Us women are going to have a say in the matter whether you men like it or not. You bet we are. Lucy, I mean, you want to go on? Of course I do, Tom. Why, what does losing our belongings matter when we have the whole west and our future in front of us? You're right, Tom. I'll listen to me all of you. When new people started out, you were determined to make new lives in a new country. Don't give up now. The west needs you and you need the west. Don't pay no attention to them, boys. Ezra, you haven't got the brains of a canary. Anybody with half a mind could see the masked man's talking for our own good. But be that as it may, us women ain't budging from this spot until tomorrow when everybody's had a chance to speak their piece. Hold it, Victor. Hold it. Waited where you told me to, but I saw you riding toward camp. I thought it better follow. Is everything all right? No, Dan. But perhaps tomorrow it will be. The next day, while Dan remained in camp, Seth and Tom accompanied the Lone Ranger and Tonto as the latter trailed the buffalo to obtain fresh meat for the homesteaders. Some time later, they sighted the herd, grazing quietly in a basin. Tethering their horses and keeping against the wind, they crept through the tall prairie grass and stalked the game, Seth parrying off with Tom, the Lone Ranger with Tonto. I've got my sights on a big fellow over at the left. Let me take one next to him. Ready, Seth? Tom? Just give us the word, stranger. We're ready, whatever you are. We'll all fire together. That confused buffalo will give us a chance for a second shot. I got mine. Here we all got one. Looks like we're going to have fresh buffalo meat for supper tonight. Ready again? You bet. Wait. Who's that? Maybe somebody else out there. It's Indians. They're on the other side of the herd. There they are. And they're shooting at us. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Them, through the tall prairie grass, Seth and Tom peered anxiously across the buffalo herd for a sight of their attackers. Then, assuming the masked men of the Indian were of the same mind, they diced for the horses. The Lone Ranger and Tonto stayed behind. Head for the horses, Seth. We've got a war in the camp. How many inches do you reckon there are? Most likely. There are blurs, there are hides. I'll wager even the women folk will want to return east when they hear we're allowed to be attacked by rescues. Them run plenty fast. We follow them. No, Tonto. Let them go. I want to... listen. Indians stop shooting. Yes. As soon as they saw Seth and Tom run for their horses. That's strange. That's not like Indians. They were careful to keep their distance, too. Even though there were only four of us. That's right. I wonder why they... Look. Indians still not come to attack us. In the right way. Come on, Tonto. Where we go? To the horses. We're going to investigate those Indians. Release that crumb of trees, Tonto. Maybe Indians make camp there. We'd better continue on foot. We don't want to be seen. Indians not far away now. Oh, Silver. Oh, boy. Oh, Scott. Oh, Scott. It hits them out of sight under these trees. These men smoke. Indians maybe make camp fire. The smoke's rising from behind that brush, Tonto. Come on. That's where Trey lead. Judging by the tracks they've made. Maybe that's why they're not attacking us. Careful. This is as far as we can go without being discovered. There they are. There are not many. Maybe 15. Yes, sir. Look. What is it? They're not Indian. What? They're white men dressed as Indian. Wear buckskin. Plenty war paint. Are you sure? Ah. Then wear long hair, Indian, too. You look. They're men take off weak. You're right. Why them do that? I don't know, Kimasabe. We weren't for this clearing. We could move closer and hear what they're saying. Ah. We not find Bush closer in this. Someone has been trying to stop or discourage the homesteaders ever since they entered the ravine. My guess is that these men are behind it. Ah. Them shoot at Seth and Tom. Maybe think us homesteaders, too. Unless I'm greatly mistaken, they also cut the traces on the wagon team. Stamped at the Buffalo toward the camp. Them make plenty trouble. I wish I knew why. Come on. I can't run anymore here. Ah. Tonto. Ah. Did you notice the situation in their camp? Ah. Time to see it. They may be able to make use of it. Prevent the wagon train from turning back. Homesteaders say they'll not want to go on. Some men, principally, are discouraged. They met an unusual number of hardships. They're right. We can't let them turn back, Tonto. They're too badly needed in the West. What we do? Steady, big fella. We'll return to camp. We'll find the help we need there. Ah. Come on, Silver. Get them up and scout them. Meanwhile, the camp of the homesteaders was suddenly aroused with the sight of Seth Holloway and Tom Barkley, racing their mounts through the ravine toward the wagons. Their haste, the sound of their shouts, brought people running to meet them. Indian, we've seen rich kids. Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go. Where'd you see the critters? Oh, Tom, are they coming to attack the camp? I'm not sure, Lucy. Seth and I are hunting Buffalo with a masked man and his friend when they shot at us from the other side of the herd. Where is that masked fellow? I don't know. Tom and me thought him and the engine let out when we did, but they must have stayed behind. Maybe they've been killed. Not them two. They can take care of themselves. Indians. Well, hey, sender, that settles it. Settles what? We're heading back east. We've had more in our share of trouble already. When it comes to having our scops lifted, it's time we showed Seth enough to get out of here. Are all of you fellas of the same mind? I wasn't sure before, Seth, but those Indians represent real danger and we've got to think of the women for them. Stop it nonsense. It ain't us women that's afraid of a parcel of painted savages. It's you men. That's your confunded lies, yeah. We ain't afraid of nobody. We just don't see no sense and run a risk when we don't have to. But it's shameful to turn back after we've come so far. There ain't no use talking. Now, mind's your made up. Seth, you're the boss. When do we break camp? Well, it's too late to start back today. Better force to get a good night's rest and start early in the morning. Yeah, I suppose them Indians take it into their heads to attack tonight. I'm thinking they won't long as we've got the wagon circled and keep a strong guard posted. They'd more likely wait to ambush us on the trail. And turning back would fool them. Tom, Tom, you want to go on. Talk to the men. Make them see how important it is. I think they're right, Lucy. Oh, Tom. Now, don't take it so hard, huh? Tomorrow you'll realize it's all for your own good. Oh, Seth. And the adult-headed fools. All of them turning back after we've come all these miles. If there was only something we could do. There is. Mercy, me is the mess man. Get behind this wagon where no one can see us. But... Hurry. You seem to be the leader of the women, Sarah. Your voice is important, too, Lucy. How anxious are both of you to continue on West? Stranger. When Ezra and me started on this trip, I had my heart and mind set on the kind of home I've always wanted. And when a woman sets her heart and mind on something, even wildcats won't stop her. That's just how I feel, too. I hope you'd say that. And the rest of the women feel the same way. Your dog gone right, they do. I'll give them a chance to say nothing. I can help you persuade the men to continue West. You're willing to help. You just tell us how. Very well. Quiet, somebody's coming. It's Toto. Kim of Sabi. Ask me to bring Dan. Good. Dan, I've got an errand for you. It's important that you carry it out with all possible speed. Gosh, you can count on me. What is it? I want you to ride to Cedar Ridge and bring the sheriff back here. Here. This will make him understand how urgent it is. Yes, sir. I'll go right away. Come on, I'll help you settle up. Lucy, did you see what he gave the lad? I know. A bullet. A silver bullet. Lucy, he's the man we've heard so much about. He's the Lone Ranger. Night, Seth Holloway posted sentries at strategic points around the wagon train to guard against a surprise attack. He himself kept one watch, sitting cross-legged near a campfire. His rifle cradled in his arm ready for instant use. With him, keeping company, sat Tom Barkley. Seems like a darn shame, Seth. Coming all the way out here just to turn around and go back. Well, that's the way the men wanted you. You spoke up for yourself, Tom. Ain't nothing to do about it now. I wouldn't feel quite so bad about it if it weren't for Lucy. She took it mighty hard. All the women folk took it hard. Funny thing, though. You know, they seem to be acting kind of chipper about it later on in the evening. Yeah, I noticed that. Wonder what brought about the change. I don't know. Women are a mystery to me. Can't figure them out in no ways. Likely they just had a change of mind or something. One minute they're mad, and the next they're busting with smiles. Seems to me they're mighty quiet, all of a sudden. Mighty scarce, too. I had them quartered in them wagons in the center of the circle. So they'd be safer in case the engines come. Oh, I guess that's why we were down. What was that? Hmm? I didn't hear nothing. Sounded like somebody stumbled. Listen. Reagan, your imagination's acting up, son. I'd swear I heard something. You'd better fetch your rifle. Time for you to take over my watch. It's in the wagon over there. I'll get it. If the engines are planned to massacres tonight, they'll find Seth Holloway in bed with his boots on. Can't hardly keep my eyes up there. Seth! Seth, my rifle! What's the matter now? My rifle, it's gone. Disappeared. Disappeared? Yes. I put it in that wagon just a few minutes ago. Now I can't find it anywhere. There wasn't thunder this coming. Seth! Hey, Seth! What's Ezra Turner and a lot of the other men? Ezra. He's supposed to be standing guard. Well, there's thieves looting the camp, rifle thieves. Huh? They've stolen guns right and left. Got mine and the guns belong to these boys, too. They'd hardly have shot nine left in camp. Jump, print, see, horse of hatch. If the engines come now, we're gone. Straining his tired eyes through the shadows of night, Seth kept his vigil over the wagon train until, to his relief, dawn lightened the sky without a sign of Indians. But his relief was short-lived. No, no, watch. Hey, Seth! Seth, we've been visited by engines. You must have slept by us in the night. Why don't we say I'm here, are you two talking about it? Sure. I'm talking about Sarah. She's gone. What? She'll stand there like a glute. We've got to go after her. Who? The engines, your Paiite, Marshorn. They sneaked in when we wasn't looking and kidnapped him to women. That must have been the noise I told you about last night, Seth. The redskins stole the women and all them rifles. What on Sunday would they do that for? How on Sunday do I know? Quit plucking and let's get the horses. We'll get after them farmers. Hey, look, it's the mask man. Great day. He's got the women with him. Yeah, there's Lucy and Sarah, too. Who's the rest of them riders? Indians. Engines. And duration must be more than a dozen. They're prisoners. The women are holding guns on them. Sarah! Sarah! Lucy! Lucy, what have you done? Keep your eyes on them prisoners, Lucy. Don't worry, Sarah. I've got them right in my gun sight. What's going on here? What have you been up to? We've been doing your work. That's what. You tongue-wagging old fool. Yours and the job of every other able-bodied man in this outfit. Go on this woman! Right now I'm doing the talking and you're doing the listening. Those Indians are the ones who shot at Seth and me while we were buffalo hunting. They're not Indians, Tom. They're renegade whites. Look! Jumping juniper, there were an engine wing. These are the savages who frightened all you men into deciding to turn back. Fifteen outlaws who surrendered to two puny women. You mean you and Lucy captured them critters just by yourselves? The masked man helped us. It was his idea. But how? It wasn't as dangerous as it seems. The outlaws were camping the clearing. In the night it was easy for us to poke several rifles through the brush surrounding the clearing without being seen. Enduration. That's what become of all our guns. Women stole them. While the women stayed out of sight, Tom and I fired several shots in the air and called on the outlaws to surrender. And that's just what they did after seeing all them rifles staring at them from the brush. They thought they were surrounded. Well, I'll be whore-swuggled. Oh, Victor, hold on! Hold on! Hold on! Hold on! Hold on! Hold on! Hold on! Tom, I hope I'm not too late. I brought the sheriff just like you said. Looks like we got here just in time, son. You know these outlaws, Sheriff? I should say I do, but I was never able to get the goods on him. They'll talk now. They're gunmen. I hired by a few gritty cattlemen to stop settlers from homesteading the land. So they're the ordinary skunks who cut them wagon-traced straps and stampede the buffalo? They sure are. And if us women hadn't showed you what you're scared of, you'd have let them lick you into going back. Or are you still aiming to go east? I should say not. We can't turn back now, not after letting a couple of petticoats do our fighting. It would be a laughing stock wherever we went. We're heading west, thanks to Lucy and Sarah. And the Lone Ranger. A copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.