 A fiery horse with a speed of light, the cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-oh silver, the lone ranger. During the years of unrest that followed the Civil War, a powerful secret organization called the Legion of the Black Arrow sprang up in the western United States. Its members were to be found everywhere defying the law, or using the law for their own purposes, working toward the ultimate goal of revolt in the foundation of a despotic empire. It was the masked rider of the planes who led the fight against this band of outlaws and traitors, and for once his great strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness were taxed to the utmost in the cause of democracy. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the West was young. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the Great Horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. Come on, Silver, run the trail of the Black Arrow, and Silver, fire! Heat rose in solid waves under the fierce sun that poured down on the Mojave Desert. Two men lay sprawled in the thin shade of a giant cactus, feebly hacking at the thick arms of the plant with hunting knives. It's no use, Sam. I'm so dry from lack of water, I haven't got the strength to cut that cactus. We've got to, Jed. We've got to. There's moisture in these branches. I can't do any more. I've got to rest. Blazing sun, everything looks like it's sliding up and down. Up and down. The heat. That's what it is. The heat. Tell you what, Jed, if we can hold out till sundown, it'll be cooler then. Maybe we can find strength to cut open this cactus and suck the moisture out. We'll be dead by sundown. Bait for the buzzards. No. No, we won't. Bait for the buzzards. I shouldn't have led you out here, Jed. It's my fault. Shucks with partners, aren't we? Don't blame yourself. Partners. Yeah, partners. Live together, eat together, work together. Now we're going to die together. Just desert. Burning hot desert. The sun beating down, beating down on us like it had fists. What's that? It's a wolf. Don't go thinking it's our dog, Lopier. Just a wolf, that's all. What difference does it make? Who gets this? The buzzards or the wolves? We're cashing in our chips anyway. We're all through. Well, it had to come sometime, Jed. There's nothing we can do now. Just take what comes. Maybe we'll see the sun go down and maybe not. Just take whatever comes. Oh, silver. Too fast for the dog. He's meeting us someplace. We're far into Mojave Desert already. I wonder where this dog is leading us. He can keep going into desert at all. Obviously, he wants us to follow. That's how he keeps looking up at us to make sure we're with him. Oh, dog, he's plenty tired. His hot sand is burning his paws, but he won't stop. Sun going down now, cool ground dog. He's the old fella. We're with you. He's going faster. He must be nearing the end of his trail. He's not got nose to ground anymore. Maybe him's the end of trail. There's nothing inside but that giant cactus. He's trying. Tato, look. Huh? The base of the cactus. Aren't those figures? Sun down now. Not much light. That's it, Kimosave. He's two men. They're lying on the sand. Come on, silver. Get them off the couch. Hello. Hi. No answer, Tato. They don't even stir. Onside, boy. Let me see them. Let me bring water. That's what it is, Tato. Exhausted from heat and thirst. Him dead? His heart is still beating. What about the other man? Him heart beat, too. Not very strong. We'll do all we can for them. Open that canteen. See if we can force some water down their throats. Don't worry, fella. We'll do everything we can to save your master's lives. The sunset and darkness spread over the desolate desert in place of the heat, the air turned cold and biting. The stars appeared, icy blue and sharp in the sky. Slowly, they wheeled through space. As the lone ranger and Tato, their breathing, making vapor in the chill air, worked desperately to bring back the flickering spark of life in the two lost men. Until finally, several hours before dawn... It's cold. Cold. Well, if it isn't love here... You'll be all right now. I reckon I was mighty close to dead, mister. How sad. Him open eyes now. That sounds like love here. Sounds like our dog. You're better now. Yeah, he better. Thanks to you, too. I don't thank us. If your dog hadn't found us and brought us here, nothing would have done any good. Can you stand up? I can. How about you, Jed? Yeah. Surprising what a little water to do to bring back a man's strength. Let's lean on Tato and me. And did you have any horses or pack mules? No, mister. We was traveling light, going on foot. Sam and me are old hands that trample across deserts. Only this time, we come to grief. Well, you can ride double on silver and scout. You'll have to be out of the desert as soon as possible. Before the morning sun makes it unbearable again. Uh, me get horses pronto. Here's count. Here's silver. Jed, you can ride with me. Sam can go with Tato. You know, but first let me grab our pack. I'll get it, Jed. Yeah. Wait a minute. What's this? What's what, mister? You have a water bottle and it's full. Yep. Why didn't you use it? Why'd you let yourself almost die of thirst when you had a full bottle of water? Mister, uncork that bottle and taste that water. But don't swallow it. Just put your tongue against it. Well, this is... Here, Tano. Taste it. Be careful not to swallow any. Well? Demon zombie. That water not good. That water's been poisoned. Where did you get it? That's the funny part, mister. We fill that water bottle straight out of the well with good, sweet drinking water. Ah, that means somebody put poison in after. Yes, Tato. But who did it? That's what we don't know. Lots of people had the chance. If we could get back to Arrowhead, maybe we can find out. Sam, Tato and I will make sure you get back. We'll help you. Come on, up on the horses. We're all ready. All set. Just sing out, mister. We'll hang on. Cork that water bottle, Tato. Make sure the water doesn't leak out. Sam's head. Whoever did this is nothing short of a murderer. We don't like murderers in the West. Get him up! Come on, sit down! A few hours after sunrise, two men were riding their horses along the rim of the desert after playing cards in the Arrowhead Cafe most of the night. I reckon I can sleep to sit around, Bran. When we get to that bunkhouse, we're gonna flop into blanket roll boots and all. Maybe we ain't going to the bunkhouse, Sheila. Oh, now listen. Cast your eyes out westward. Look what's coming from the desert. What do you bet? Well, I'll be dogged. A couple of horses carry a double. Yeah. You know who that is? Of course not. Can't make him out of this distance. You don't have to. Look what's traveling with them horses. A dog, ain't it? Well, pardon me if it ain't. It looks like creeping catamounts. That looks like love beer. It didn't save us, dog. But it can't be. It is. That means sure as fate that Sam and Jed are riding them horses along them other two gents. Twist your reins, Shuller. We're hightailing back to town. Is somebody gonna be mighty interested in this news? Get a man. Get up. Get up. I've said it enough times already, Lembearsley. But it'll bear repeating. My husband, Jed, went out into the Mojave Desert again yesterday after he promised not to. And you're the one who first talked him into it. Church, don't give me all the credit. And Jed's got a partner. Sam follows Jed's lead. Don't go blaming Sam for this. What are you so all fired worried about, anyways, Molly? They've been on the desert many a time. They're old hands. I don't trust that desert. It's mighty treacherous. And there's other things being treacherous, too. Now, look at here, Molly Hawkins. If you're hitting and I had some dark reason for sending them out of the Mojave, you've been listening to gossip. I'm just a storekeeper. Jed and Sam owe me a plenty for back bills, for food advancements. You got shares of their discoveries, didn't you? Sure. I grub-staked them. None of the claims they filed was worth anything, so I had to... So you egged them into trying again? I mean, it's got a right to get some of his money back. Jed and Sam are the best doggone prospectors in the West. They've just been having hard luck, that's all. Naturally, I'm eager for them to strike at Rizzle. Lamb beer, please! Who's that? It's you there calling, whoever they are. Howdy. Looking for me? Do you love beer, please? That's my handle, mister. What can I do for you? I'll let you tend to your store, mister. Me and my sidekick want some supplies. Well, glad to oblige. All right, right along with you. Adios, Molly. Don't harbor any hard feelings to get me. Jed and Sam will be all right. You'll see. It won't be your doing if they are. Goodbye, and do me a favor and stay away. Let's go, mister, with an all-fired hurry. Right. Get along, horse. Get up, get up, get up, get up. Hmm, more strange goings on. I'm almost certain I've seen those two gents in Lamb Beardsley's store, and yet he acts like he never met them till just now. And besides, telling the way to his store, they're hidden someplace else. We acted like we didn't know you, Beardsley. Just so as the woman wouldn't get any suspicion. All right, friend, what's up? Trouble, Lamb. Yeah, I handled trouble before. Things aren't going the way you calculated they would. Get to the point. Point out. What's wrong? Tell them, Shaylor. You sent me and Brand into the Mojave to make sure Jed and Sam were dead. Yeah, seems to me it got back mighty quick. Because we didn't have to go far. Went no farther than the edge of the desert. Why? Because Jed and Sam aren't dead. We saw them. What? Yeah, they're alive. They're heading back there ahead right this minute. That's impossible. They couldn't live without water. Somebody found them. Two gents with two horses. The white's starting to paint. The horses are carrying a double and coming this way. And I reckon you boys better earn the cash I'm paying you. How do you mean? Rain up. Stop your horses. Pull that. Pull that. Now listen to me and listen close. From this spot, you can see the trail plain. I'm not sure. We're right above it. Uh-huh. I want you to make sure Jed and Sam don't get to town. Yeah, but they're coming this way now. Yeah, so they are. The morning sun will be right in their faces. You can shoot them down before they know what hit them. Ma'am, you mean? Sure, I do. I mean just that. An ambush. The only way I want Jed and Sam to reach Arrowhead is feet first. Dead and adorned. Dog on coyuzes would stop stopping. Oh, forget it. Those riders are galloping toward us. Their horses make too much noise for me here much. They'll be real close soon. They'll hold you fire till I give the word. Yeah. Just like Birdsley ate it. Why didn't he stay here instead of heading back for town? Well, that's his business. He's paying a shaler. Besides, we don't need him. The shooting will be as easy as skinning the gopher. Here they come. A nice, clear target. And get set. Any time you give the word, they got to be drawing the Jed right in the paint horse. I got the stallion. A couple more seconds. Just a couple more seconds. What's in places? What's getting to that door? I don't know. He's barking fit to kill. I don't understand. You're putting mavericks in. That's how it smells. The wind's giving them a scent. Start shooting before they catch you on poor lead into them. Shoot. 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. Now to continue our story. The shooting was fierce and short. Only a few seconds after Brand and Shaler first pressed their triggers and emptied their guns, they stopped shooting. Well, that was short and sweet, wasn't it, Shaler? Yeah. They didn't even get a chance to draw their guns and fire back at us. Yeah. Nothing moving but the dog. They look at him whimpering over Jed's body. Pretty good shooting, if I do say so. Perfect shooting. Four men and two horses, all of them flat on the ground. They'll sample and spread the good word to Lamb Beardsley. You know, say, maybe we got a ride down there and make a sit-in all day. Yeah, maybe we ought to. Might as well make... No, no, we won't. Like that. No sense leaving tracks for folks to see, Shaler. Besides, there's no reason for it. We didn't miss. Yeah, rigging your ride. Come here, horse. We sure earned our pay, didn't we? Come on. Get up there. Right now, they're gone. Up on Pete's count. Hello, silver old fella. That's it. Here, up here, we sure miss sudden death at time. We can thank the dog for warning us of that ambush, Jed. It wasn't time to start shooting back. That do no good, Kimo Tubby. They're well-hidden. We not have chance. Has anyone hurt? I caught one in my arm, Mr. Just a scratch, though. All right, be all right. Time to fix it. You let me rip shirt. Sure beats everything the way those two horses rolled over and played dead when you told them to. Silver and Scott are well-trained, Jed. If your horses hadn't been carried in double, you might have headed right straight at those ombris and written them down. And mighty fast horses. Scratch all fixed, Kimo Tubby. Yeah. What do we do now? What kind of question is that? Why bother asking? We're going up on that hill where those snakes tried to ambush us and start right after them while the trail is fresh. No, we're not, Jed. Huh? You and Sam are staying right here. But, Mr. I think my reason is, Jed. Oh, just tell us where your cabin is, so Tullip can go there. A cabin? Nobody there but Molly, my wife. Well, where is it? Well, it's just north of town. There's a cottonwood at the door. But I don't savvy why you want us to stay here. Instead of going... Jed Hawkins, you talk too much. Huh? The masked man's got some scheme up his sleeve to trap these ombris. Ain't that right, Mask Man? Yes, Sam. But even more important, I want to trap the man who gave them orders. Well, sure, only way... Only nothing. Him and the engine saved us from dying on the desert, didn't they? Yeah? They brought us out safe, didn't they? And it was the masked man's quick-sinking, telling us to drop to the ground and play dead that kept us from getting filled full of lead, wasn't it? Well, sure. Then don't go questioning his judgment, because I ain't. I aim to do exactly as he says. Well... Tino, Sam, Mr. will play it your way. You'll have no cause to regret that, either of you. I remember. Wait here. Adios. Goodbye. Hit him up. Hey! There he is, Silver. Here you are, Kimusari. That's right. And they're caught in the woods near the door. This is James' cabin. How do you do? Are you Mrs. Hawkins? Yes. Come in. You're him. What's that? You're wearing a mask. You're the masked man she told me about. Who do you mean? A woman told you about me? You're the long ranger, ain't you? And this here's Tonto. Uh-huh. That's right. Mr.... Not more than ten minutes ago, a lady wrote up just like you did. She knocked on the door and asked me, was this the home of Jed Hawkins? And when I said it was... Yes? What then? She gave me a message. She said to warn Jed to look out for them Beardsley. Beardsley? The storekeeper in Arrowhead. And, Mr. I'm plum worried, because it was Beardsley who slick talked my husband into going out in the desert again. Oh, I see. And, uh, how did you know about us? Because of what the woman said. She said to tell nobody I couldn't trust. But if a masked man wrote up with an engine powered, then I could speak freely, because that man was the long ranger. The woman's gone? Yeah. Spoke her peace and left just as fast as she'd come. What did she look like, Mrs. Hawkins? I couldn't see, Mr. She was wearing a veil. Uh-huh. He must hubby. That woman who helped us. Yes. The mysterious woman. If she's been here, that means a black arrow was mixed up in this somewhere. What's that, masked man? Did you say black arrow? Yes, I did. Well, now that's strange, Mr. because Lem Beardsley's got a black arrow tattooed on the inside of his left wrist. What's it mean? Oh, that's pretty bad. Never mind, Mrs. Hawkins, but thanks for the information. Your husband and Sam were ambushed this morning on the edge of the desert. Am ambushed? Masked man, you mean to say that you're... I know Mrs. Hawkins. He's alive. They're both alive. It's up to us to get the men who planned that ambush. You've told us about Beardsley. Now, here's what you must do. Yes, that's what happened, Beardsley. Soon as me and Shaler blew the smoke out of our gun barrels, we straddled our horses and come here to your store. All four of them, hey? And the horses. Nice shooting, James. Real nice shooter. Wait a minute. What's the matter? Did you cover your tracks? No, we didn't. Yes, our nation fools. When that murder is found out, they'll track you right straight here. You can't... Now, hold your horses, Beardsley. You didn't let me finish. Huh? Nobody can follow our tracks all the way here. Don't you save me as soon as we hit the regular trail into town, our tracks got mixed up with all the regular travelers. Oh, yeah, they're so... We're safe as if we were sitting right in church. Well, we could even go out there and discover the bodies ourselves. No one would think anything of it. That's right, Shaler. Now, I'll pay you, James, often. Beardsley! Beardsley! What in thunderousion is Mrs. Hawkins? Don't be local, Grant. No need to bamboos. You said yourself no one suspected. Now, come on. We'll move to the out front and see what she's belling about. Now, come on. We'll move to the out front and see what she's belling about. Beardsley! Everybody! Help! What's the matter, Molly? What's all the fuss about? Maybe your husband's stricken ribs. I haven't been ambushed. He's been ambushed on the edge of the Mojave. Molly, what's that? Jed shot... The dog come to the cabin. I followed him out there. Jed was ambushed and so was Sam and two strangers. It must have happened this morning. I come to ask you to help him. Oh, Tabarium. Well, what are we waiting for? Oh, come on, James. Get your horses. We'll ride out there this instant. And what's more, we'll get the scheming yellow coyotes who shot him down. That's telling them, isn't it, Brad? Yeah, Liam. Instead of worrying about a Percy, we'll be the Percy ourselves. Where's my horse? Oh, hurry! Come on, come on! Come on, come on! Come on! Come on, come on! Come on, come on! Come on, come on! Come on, come on! Come on, come on! Come on, come on! Come on, come on! Come on, come on! Come on, come on! Come on, come on! Are they coming that way? They'll be here in a few minutes. How long I saw them from the ridge? We get off, of course. This is the spot where we were lying, Masked Man, right here. All right, then we'll all lie down. Down, Silver. You scout, lie down. Lay dead. Lock here. Hush up that barking. Hush up. Jett and Sam dropped to the ground. Silver and Scout obeyed their masters and stretched out on their sides. And the ranger and tanto followed suit. By the time the posse topped the rise and slowed to a halt, only the dogs seemed to be alive. They're ambushed. They look like they've never had a chance. Horses and all. No, it's a crying shame. No, no, Molly. You've got to buck up. I know Jed's your husband, but everybody's got to go sometime. Weepin' won't do any good. Come on, gents. Land us a hand with them. We'll give them a decent... Never mind, Glen Beardsley. You won't have to bury my husband or any of them. Now what kind of talk is that? Molly, have you gone over? You won't have to because none of them are dead. None of them are dead. He's right, Beardsley. Up on your feet. We've got a welcoming committee. If this is your idea of a joke, Molly Hawkins, I throw in my hand. I'm heading back for town. Just a minute, Beardsley. Who is he? Put your guns and get while you can. We don't like outlaws in these parts. Don't listen to them, Beardsley. That there's a lone ranger. What Mrs. Hawkins told you was the truth. We were ambushed this morning, but the bullets didn't hit us. Never mind, making up stories. You shut your mouth, Beardsley. What the masked man said is gospel truth. And furthermore, he knows who tried to finish us off. You see them, Tutto? Ah. Two men stand beside Beardsley. Then they can... Bridge! Run for it! Get to the horse! Now, fix your mask, Beardsley. Oh! Did you see that, Jed? Shot the guns right out of the hand. Sir, he's the lone ranger, all right. All right, Masked Man, you got it. Do go to jail. Let's watch. Kino, but savvy this. We're telling you right now. We were just following orders. It was Lem Beardsley paid us to try to kill him. Yeah. And here's why. Hawkins didn't you and said, take out a claim on the little smoking and give Beardsley a share in it? Sure. But there wasn't enough order. Philip Polk ran out in no time. That claim was worth it. Now, that's what you think. Suppose I tell you, Beardsley's found a rich vein behind the old Diggins. He planned to get rid of you, too, so he could have it all for himself. So that's it. My orders knew Lem Beardsley was no good. Just a minute. Hold on, Beardsley. Let go of my arms. We're holding you. Yeah, let him go. I'll speak up, Beardsley. Here, dog gone tooting. I'll speak up. I never had anything to do with any shooting, not me. What's more, I don't know these two hombres. Never saw them before today in my life. Well, you wouldn't... They came into my store to buy supplies, put them in the caliber, string them up for all I care, but I had nothing to do with it. Oh, let me free. I'll make you eat your word, John Rick. I'll... You can't prove it. You can't prove nothing. I'm a respected citizen of this here town. Beardsley. Well, what do you want? You're not telling the truth. No. Well, my claim still goes. And if nobody can prove that these gents say... We'll prove it. I don't get that water bottle. Uh-huh. Time to do it. Water bottle? Well, what are you talking about? Here, bottle. I want you to take a drink from this water bottle, Beardsley. I'm not thirsty. Go ahead. Well, there's gents' water bottle. I can't be anything wrong with that. Beardsley, either you drink from this bottle before I count three, or I'll force it down your throat. No, no. One, two, three. No, no. All right, hold his arms, Todd. No, no. I won't drink it. That water's poison. This poison, I tell you. How do you know it's poison? I won't drink it. It's poison. I put it in gents' water bottle myself. If I drink that out... Let him go, Todd. He's confessed already. You all hurt him. Mass Man, you not only saved our lives, but you also helped rid this town of a no-good crook. We'll slap all three of them in the jailhouse. They'll be there right pronto now. Come on, start moving. Time for us to hit the trail, Todd. Uh-huh. Here's count. Here's silver. Wait. Mass Man, which way are you heading? Well, I don't know, Mrs. Hawkins. We have no definite plan. Well, if I were you would go north. North to Tamarack. Why Tamarack? Well, no reason, Mr. Only just before that mysterious woman left, she said that's where she was heading. To the town of Tamarack. Adios, Mass Man. Adios! We hit trail for Tamarack. Get him up, Scalfall! Silver! You have just heard as a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.