 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust in the heart of Ohio Silver, the Lone Ranger. The western United States was first opened to settlers, and the wagon trains pushed west to the Mississippi. The pioneers were faced with many dangers. Outlaws in hostile Indians roamed the territory. The country was rough and the trails were poorly marked. Without the help of the masked rider of the planes, many of the immigrants would never have reached their destination. It was the Lone Ranger's knowledge of the country, his courage and resourcefulness which made possible the winning 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. It was midday, and the wagon train led by Jason Barker had halted on the open plane. Jason himself, astride a heavy bay, was stationed at the head of the long line of covered wagons. His gaze was fixed upon two horsemen who approached from the west to the gallop. Oh, oh, boy. It can't be done, Mr. Barker. It's like we said it'd be. We hadn't gone over a couple of miles into the hills before we found signs of Redskins. We'll have to circle. You don't figure it'd be safe for us, eh? You've got a powerful big party here, Mr. Barker, but just the same, I'd advised you and clear the hills. You wouldn't have no chance. It'll take longer to circle, but it'll be worth it in the end. Marthie? Marthie? Yes, Jason? Come here. You're going to make camp here for the rest of the day, Mr. Barker? Or do you figure to make a few more miles for sundown? That's my business. Huh? I said that's my business. Say what's getting into you. We do. I hired you men to guide us to Meadville. But you're finished. We'll get along without you. You can go back to Santa City. What, in places of the mind? You have the money? Yes. Give it to me. I reckon you'll find it's all here. If you don't believe me, I cheat no man. Now look here, Mr. Barker. I don't savvy what you... Take your money. But we won't argue with him, Tim. Take it. If he says we're fired, then I guess maybe we are. Dog gone, if I can savvy this. Before you leave, I'll give both of you a word of advice. Yeah? The next time you hire out his guides, don't try to trick the folks you work for. It don't pay. But I said, what's this about? Where'd we trick you? Where'd you get a full notion like that? You suggested riding ahead to scout out the trail through the hills. I'll let you go. It was a test. I wanted to see what you report when you return. Well? You say there's engines ahead. According to you, we ought to circle the hills. You're sure? If we circle, it'll take us an extra three weeks to reach Meadville. Maybe a month. What of it? Ain't that better than risking a fight with the Redskins? Well, it would be. Well, then... If there was any. Huh? If there's any. Why, Dog, on it, there's a thousand at the least in their mill. There ain't. Why, you fool, that's been engineed, Congressman, just as long as I can remember. Huh? But they ain't there now. What? They left the hills more than a month ago. They followed the buffalo herds to the north. Jason, where'd you hear a crazy story like that? It ain't crazy. It just so happens to be the truth. But where'd you hear it? From a trapper I met in Setter City. Not for now. He'd just come from the hills. He'd been from one noon to the other. I'd never seen Redskins. There's something, Dog, gone funny about this. Just who was this trapper? Did he tell you his name? Yes. Dave Humber. Did you say Dave Humber? I did. Why, Dave's the biggest crook around these parks that ever dodged hanging. And if he's a trapper, then I'm a lawyer by thunder. I expected you'd say something like that. The fact is, when he warned me again here, he said you likely would. That crook had the crust to warn you again, huh? That'll be enough of that. You'll gain nothing by calling him a crook. But, Dog, on it, he is. He didn't act like he was dodging the law. Why should he? He's always been too slick for the law to get anything on him. As a matter of fact, I asked about him. In case you got the notion it's just your word against his. Everybody I asked said Dave Humber was a fine, trustworthy man. Folks in Center City told you that? They did. Well, that beats all. Tim, how can you figure that? I don't know unless... Unless what? Well, Dave runs around with a bunch of fellas just as crooked as he is. If so be it, it happened to be some of them, you asked. And so be it, they knew he was scheming something and aimed to help. Why, then, they'd tell you just about the same as you claimed you heard. Hang on, Tim, I bet that's it. Dave's up to something, and this is just another one of his crooked schemes. Yeah? And what would he stand to gain by? I don't know, but he's... Then we won't argue no more. Your pay, just clear out. You really mean that? You really figure to make out alone? Without no trouble at all. Gosh, I... I asked it, Tim, if he's fool enough to take Dave's word again hours, then let him. It's nothing to us. Come on, let's get going. I don't like it. Just clear out. All right, then, Jason, we will. But you mark my words, the day you believe the pole cat like Dave is going to be the sorriest day you ever spent. Keep that in mind. And I got a notion the time will come when you will recollect it without no prompting. Adios. Get up, pal. Get up. Get up. Get up. Well? Are you sure you're done right? There's been other times when you were sure... Of course, I'm sure. A native woman's place to question a man's decision. Get back to the wagon. We'll be starting. Yes, Jason. All right, folks. Whip up the horses. Keep going straight ahead. We're making for the hills. Get up. Get up. Come on. Get up. A little more than five miles from the trail was a large wooded depression on the level surface of the plain. There a group of hard-faced men had made camp. Less than two hours after Jason had given the order to head for the hills, a horseman raced from the camp and... Move over there. Move. And high, fellas. Well, Dave, you was right. It worked. Did, eh? What happened? I kept watch from cover when I seen Tim and that other fella ride back to the wagon. You could see they had an argument with Jason. Then they rode off. Which way? Like they was heading for Center City. They were... They were all gone. Who you got over there? Just a red skimmy coat sneaking around camp. Hanging on to him to these sides to tell us what he was spying for. What's your handle? You hear me, engine? Who in blazes are you? You savvy white man talk. Ah. Oh, you got a tongue, huh? Well, an answer up. Me not talk. Eh. Now how about it? Me not talk. Why, you know... No, Spike. He won't talk. Come on back here. Just let him be. He's had time to think things over a bit. Wonder where he come from. I know. I'll find out before he gets loose again. Spike, which way is that wagon train traveling? You get a chance to see? Them? Shucks, they're making for the hills. They ain't gonna waste no time circling. Not them folks. They know to just be a waste of time. That barker, I'm raised just the kind of fella I like to fool. It's a dog gurney easy. I would have said just the opposite. That's why I can scheme things at work and you can't. Now take this fella, Jason Barker, for instance. Suspicious as they make him and stubborn as old get-out. You figured he'd be the last man you'd try to trick and get away with it. I sure thought he'd be. You just gotta know how to handle him, though. You seen what a fine fella he thought I was before he and his bunch pulled out of center city. You had a meeting out of your hand, Dave. Sure. By telling them how smart he was. He was so dog-gone convinced I was telling the truth there that he believed everything else I said along with it. Well, what'll we do now? Just stay on here? For the present? Yeah, that'll feel good. I've been on the move, so dog-gone... You ain't staying, Spike. But look here, Dave. There ain't nothing to do right now. I don't see why I can't... You can stay and rest up for the night. But that's all. Why? The train won't get into the hills till tomorrow sometime. Sure, so why... So you can stay here tonight. But I want you to follow that wagon train all the time it's in the hills. And just to second them red-skinned strike, you hightail back and let us know. But why can't somebody else do that? Who else is there good enough so they won't be caught? Dog-gone, Dave. You can follow them immigrants in a wagon and they'll never see you. It ain't the immigrants I'm worried about. It's the Indians. All them wagons will never get through the hills without the Indians attacking, don't you? Well, then why not wait, say, a week and then ride when we know them immigrants must have been killed? Because if we did that, there wouldn't be nothing left worth of stealing. But the red-skins didn't take themselves in. They wouldn't be burned up. What we gotta do is get there just when they beat the immigrants. But just before, they've had a chance to loot the train. We'll ride down on them like we was reinforcements. Grab what's to be had when they scatter and be on our way before they have time to save it. They got us outnumbered. And what if they don't scatter? You ever see the time Indians didn't when whites attacked? They will at first, all right. You're the boss. Sure, Dave's right, Spike. Dave, you got any notion how much we're likely to get out of this? You pumped Jason any? Plenty. And if there ain't at least 10,000 in cash to be had, besides the grub and other things we can pack away to sell, then I'm loose. Hey, look! He's loose! Hey, stop that! Get that red-skins! How'd he get loose? How do I know? You missed. Shoot again. He's got to the horses. Get him up! Get him up! Well, actually, he's getting away. And if he's sabbied what we were saying, he's heard of plenty. We gotta get him back. Come on! Hit Leather! $100 for the man that brings that red-skins down! Get up there! Get up there! Riding low upon the neck of his powerful stagion, Tonto raced toward the hills. He came at last to a gully and followed it until he reached a small, well-hidden camp. Hold Scout! Hold! Hold! Hold! What's the matter, Kimosabe? He'll ridden Scout hard. Huh? Me ride heap hard. What happened? Me find outlaw. Made Humber? Huh? They saw you? Me fall, get caught, then take Tonto prisoner. They caught you, Tonto? Huh? But how'd you get away? Then not tie Tonto good. Me get loose. Good for you, Kimosabe. Then chase after Tonto. Can they follow? Me not know. Did you learn what they're doing in this part of the country? Did you hear anything to tell you what they're planning? Me hear plenty. Yes? Them want bad engine kill white people. The people with a wagon train? That's right. And then? Pale face die, outlaw steal cash. Then their scheme won't work. Why it not work? I know the guys who were hired to lead the wagon train. They're old timers. They'd never let them go through the hills where the Indians would attack. Wagons go in hills, though. You're sure? Uh, guide, not with wagons. You mean those immigrants are going ahead without guides in a country like this? Them won't, we know. They'll never get through. We better... What's that? Them outlaw. They trailed you, Tonto. Into the sand. We can't waste time putting it out now. That's right. The wagon train must be one on its way toward the hills by now. And they've got to be warned before the Indians can strike. Let's go, Kimosabe. Tonto! Tonto! Silver! Silver! The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. After escaping from Dade, Humber, and his men, the Lone Ranger stopped only long enough to hide his mask and assume a disguise. Several hours later, he and his faithful Indian companion sided the wagon train. It had already threaded the narrow pass which formed the entrance to the hills and had drawn up in a protective circle on a flat plateau several miles beyond. Dust was beginning to fall and the campfires, the emigrants could be seen plainly in the distance. There they are, Tonto. How's my disguise? All right. I'll have a better chance to persuade them. I'm telling the truth that they don't see my mask. See those trees ahead? Me seeing. You leave me there. You can watch our back trail for Dade and his men. It's better that these people don't see you. They'd mistrust an Indian. All right. Here we are, Kimosabe. Now return as quickly as I can. Oh, Scott. Come on, boy. I think they see you, Silver. Who's there? A friend. Oh, Silver. Oh, boy. Who's your leader here? He's coming, mister. I just called him. We're heading for a meat field like us. Now I just... Howdy, stranger. You're the leader of this wagon train? Uh-huh. That's me. Yet yet. If you ain't, the women folks are just getting the vitals ready and you're welcome to have... That can wait. I'd advise you to forget food for the present and pull out of here. Huh? Hasn't anyone warned you that this was Indian country? The Redskins in these hills will attack whites at any opportunity. Oh, you don't know about it neither, huh? About what? Well, you see, stranger, I knew this was Indian country right enough. But they done cleared out. Ain't a one of them in the hills. They've fallen the buffalo to get meat for the winter. I've been in and around these hills for the past month. Yeah? In that time, I've seen no less than a hundred Indians. That means there's at least ten times more I haven't seen. You chose the hill trail believing yourself safe. You're badly mistaken. Oh, stranger, you must have made a mistake somehow. I got my information on right good authority. Look, Jason, well, this fella's saying just the same as those fellas that was gardeners did. And I'm beginning to think that maybe we've been banking too much on that trapper's say so. It seems to me that it don't... Dan? Mr. Humber must have known. Humber did you say? You know him? If it's Dade Humber, I do. It's the same one. He's the fella told me about the Indians leaving the hills. Dade Humber isn't a trapper. He's a crook. Just what them guys said. You got something against him? Only the fact that he's an outlaw who's been too clever to let himself be trapped. That's why I'm here. To see that he's brought to justice. Oh, you're a lawman, eh? I'm not a lawman, but I help... Oh, not you say? No. Then if Dade Humber's a crook, which I ain't admitting just on your word, stranger, just what authority you got to jail him? That doesn't matter. What does matter is the fact that you're in danger. Your party will never get through these hills alive. Mr. You're up to something. You think so? I don't know what it is, and I don't care. Maybe your friend to them guides I fired, figuring to get their jobs back from. Maybe it's something else. But whatever it is, I'm free to say you won't get away with it. In other words, you mean you intend to keep on going. Is that it? I do. That's plain enough, ain't it? Door gone, Jason. You listen to me. I'm the leader of this party, Dan. Sure you are. But you're door gone stubborn, too. You've made your share of mistakes before this. Maybe you can tell us what to do most times, but when it's our lives we're risking, the rest of us should have something to say. Dan, you know by heavens this is once you're going to listen, whether you're a hank or two or not. I met that Dade Humber just like you did, and I didn't like his cut. He soft-soaked you. You figured him to be the finest fella you ever met up with. Well, he didn't soft-soap me none, and I still don't like him. And I'm telling you right here and now what we're going to do. Well, we're calling everybody together. You can have your say and the stranger can have his. When everybody's had the chance to listen to both sides and decide for themselves, then if they still want to go ahead, that's all right with me. But if they decide to turn back and circle the hills, by thunder you'll do it. I've got no objection to seeing what the rest have to say. You ain't? Because I know they'll do like I tell them. All right, call them together. The immigrants gathered around their leader ready to take part in the discussion. Jason soon learned that his customer making decisions without consulting his companions had become increasingly unpopular. And when the Lone Ranger had finished speaking... Folks, I don't know what the rest of you think, but what the stranger just said makes sense to me. I'm for turning back while we still got our scouts. Oh my, Jason, how about the rest of you? Well, wait, folks. Circling the hills means all them extra weeks. It means... We've heard all that already. And I say there ain't no sense in going over it again. You said it was up to us to decide, Jason, and you divide by it. Don't you think you better listen to him, Jason? Er, doggone fools. Well, if they can stand spending a month or so extra on the trail, I reckon I can. Look here, stranger. Yes? You've won out. Now that you've made such a point of our turning back, I'll just let you decide what to do. Do we turn back now or wait till morning? I doubt the Indians already know you're here. If there are any. There are. The villages are quite a few miles into the hills. They believe you intend to continue on. No doubt they'll wait until you've reached a place where an attack would be safer. Meaning? There should be no danger in staying here until morning as long as you post proper guards. In the morning you can back trail and be out of the hills before the Indians realize you're escaping. You seem to be the boss around here. All right, folks. You can do what you please. We're staying here for the night. Hey! Look, there's a redstead! Grab your gun! Shoot him down! Maybe there's more! Hold on! Put down those guns! It's a redstead, I tell you! It's Kondo! Tell you, Kimozabe! Don't fire, I tell you! Kondo's a friend! Oh, oh, oh, oh! What is a Kondo? It's me. It's me, the outlaw. Tate? They're here? Then a pass. What are they doing at the pass? Them got blasts and powders. Wagons go back. Them blow up pass. What? What's the matter, stranger? What's happened? You can't go back! If you do, you'll never get through the pass. You'll have to go through the hills! What's this all about? You'll have known the Indians appear, Jason. Yeah, worse. White Runagage will prey upon their own race. What are you talking about? Go ahead and you'll meet the Indians. Return and the pass will be blocked. But do as I say and we'll find a way out yet. The Lone Ranger explained the plan he had in mind and the men of the party carried out his orders. In the morning, the train moved on. Meanwhile, the outlaws had made a new camp at the pass and... Did Spike say the wagons was keeping on, Dade? Yeah. He was watching when they started out this morning. They signal us when to come. They've attacked a day here. They'll have to ride back here. If it's later, then he'll build a smoke signal. Don't worry, then. You'll get word to us all right. Well, the sooner we hear the better. I'm getting tired of this. I want to get back to town. You will. And when you do, you'll have your pockets lined with cash. How does that hit you? Good enough. Wait. Huh? You hear anything? That's a horse. Coming this way to Gallup. I wonder... Look, it's white. You think this happened already? You figure it's time to ride? Wake up the boys and tell them to get to the saddle. If the engines are struck already, we'll be out of way. Right! Come on, boys! Spike! Hi there! Spike! The engines! The engines are struck! You hear that man? Get to the saddle, like I said. Hold on! Hold on! Hold on! Where they're engines at? Where they're attacked? Not a dozen miles down the trail. Right where it cuts off to the west. They got guns? Not many that I could see. And here's where we collect. Come on! Spur them horses till they run faster than they know how! Get up, man! Get up! Scurrying and whipping their horses, Dade and his men swept up the trail. As they approached the scene of the attack after less than an hour of hard riding, they heard shots and gunfire. And when they pressed to the rise, they saw the train surrounded by savages. And for almost half an hour, they watched the battle below them. They've sure been going at hot and heavy. Just about over there. Look there. See them far wagons? They've been a shot fired from them in the last ten minutes. There's another where they've all been killed off. They've been on their way to ride. Ain't it just about time? I don't think there's one of them immigrants left, Dade. Look, them redskins are getting off their horses. They wouldn't be doing that if it wasn't over. Right. All right, fellas, listen carefully. Follow me when I start. Whoop and holler as loud as you can and fire your guns as fast as you can load them. Make them Indians think there's a couple of regiments swooping down on them. Grab what you can and light out again when I say the word. Everybody got that straight? Then let's go! Get up, man! Get up! Weeping down on the wagon train, the outlaws fired wildly and yelled at the tops of their voices. The Indians below looked up and the parents surprised. Milled about in confusion for a moment. Then jumped to the backs of their mouths and disappeared in the forest. The outlaws raced on toward the silent wagons. Make it fast, boys! You watch as the engines don't turn back if they do get the signal. Right! Ain't nobody moving! Pull up! Oh, oh, oh! PQ and Redstone over there. Mike Huber down awaits. Snake, take the rest of the boys and stuff on the other end. Get all the cash and everything else we can carry that's worth it. And be blames sure you don't overlook nothing. Now get moving! Come on, fellas. We ain't got much time. Oh, fire three shots. We have to light out. You move! What's up? Drop that gun! Take them in! One, two, three, four! Last Tuesday, one time, you didn't get away with a date. We got the scum. They dropped their guns off fireless shots. They yell at poor cats. That's the way you fellas come from. We thought you was all killed. Because it's strange that they're skinned it that way. Them fellas you thought were engines were just some of us with our skin stains. We've done it to draw you coyotes from the past. Now just try and blow up the past so as we can't get through. You spiked, you spiked, you got us into this. You had let them pull you. I was high enough. You'd have been pulled just like I was. And you didn't claim difference. That'll be enough. They ain't you and your men are going to Meadville with a wagon train. Now you'll be turned over to the law. You can't keep still. New Jason, you'll have to back trail until you reach the plains again. Then circle the hills. You still have time if you hurry. Just as you say, friend. He's learned his lesson, stranger. Good. Come on, Tutter. Hey! Get it over with! Get it over with! Now why in blazer did he leave in such a big hurry, Martha? Landscapes, I don't know. All I know is that we'd better hustle and do the same. And if it weren't for them, we wouldn't be able to. This is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.