 Mastinaharney Howe Silver, the lone ranger! With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the planes led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Join with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. Mow the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver. The lone ranger rides again! On the broad top of Medicine Butte, high above the volcanic wilderness of Arizona territory, a resplendent yet terrifying tableau was taking place. Hundreds of Apache Braves crouched in a circle around a huge blazing fire, and their voices droned monotonously in a ceremonial chant as they watched two figures standing beside the fire. Chief Red Fox gazed sternly at Pyroma, the medicine man, then raised his hand and shouted for silence. Pyroma! Pyroma! Pyroma, for many moon you make medicine for Apache. You gave solemn promise that white men never come to high lands of Apache. I made that promise. Today our Braves find white devil on mountain trail. Your medicine not good. Have the Braves and their mighty Chief Red Fox lost faith in Pyroma? Yes! And I will again offer proof that I have done many times before. Let my magic robe and the sacred moccasins be brought from my teepee. Burn them all again! I bring big medicine to Pyroma. And as I place the robe around my shoulders and the moccasins upon my feet, let the fire be raised to even greater heat. Kizya Galkway, Jabronza! The cold shines brightly like the gleaming red eyes of a million devils. The flames are leaving tons of destruction to all but Pyroma. First the prayer to the mighty fire god, O nadakomu, O sinota, sumaum danaoka. Oh, Pyroma walks into the fire. Is that not proof that I and only I am favored by the fire god? This medicine is big. You adjust before sundown on the following afternoon when a lone ranger in Tonto on a trail not far from Medus Debut rained their horses to a halt. Oh, oh, oh, oh! Why stop here, Kimosabi? That flock of buzzards circling overhead are pretty low. Look, Tonto. Set him afloat. They're all through his back. And that Apache era. Poor old fellow. He probably never knew what hit him. And not far from Medus Debut, Tonto. It's a dangerous country for a man to travel alone. Clothes look like maybe him prospector. Yes, he's been dead for several hours. The way of telling who he is unless it... Oh, wait a minute. I'll go through his pockets. You find paper? Yes, it's a letter addressed to Dr. John Moffatt, Merrittville, Arizona Territory. That's no help, but there might be a signature inside. What letter say? Not much. I'll read it. It says, Dear Doc, I found the kid's mining claim, but your loco, if you think, has any gold out here. There's nothing but a lot of gray stones and Apache engines. I'll send this ahead by mail and take my time coming home with a mule. Signed your brother Ben. Apache kill'em. Maybe steal mule. Yes. At least we know his name. The name of one of his relatives. How far is Merrittville from here, Tonto? Ride one day, one night. That's too far to carry a dead man. You bury him here and then ride to Merrittville and deliver his letter. That's strange. There's generally someone at the doctor's house. There's somebody here, mister. The window is open. I'm sitting in a chair with a shotgun coming. Both of you gun-hawks. This time, you won't get inside the house. Is this the home of Dr. Moffatt? You know playing well it is. And I know who you are. But a trick coolman's all hood gang. We're not outlaws. I have a letter to deliver to Dr. John Moffatt. Is he here? Line won't get you anywhere, mister. You got anything for Doc later on the force and bamboos? All right. I think Dr. Moffatt will be anxious to get this letter from his brother. What? You mean from Uncle Ben? That's the way it's signed. What did... I mean, how do you get a letter from Uncle Ben? If you'll put down that gun, I'll tell you about it. All right. I'll turn up the lamp and you can come in the house. But remember, I'll have you both covered. Come on, Tonto. This meant I let the lamp... What? You're wearing a mask. I was right, John. Who's the engine? A friend of mine. We're not outlaws. What are you wearing that mask for? I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll put both my guns on the table over there. You do the same with your shotgun. Then we'll both be even. How about it? I never saw one of trick coolman gunslicks do a thing like that. This is a trick. I've never heard of trick coolman. Well, when you match my play, you have nothing to lose. Well, maybe you're on the square. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't notice that was a wheelchair you were in. That's all right. I had an accident. My legs won't work. If I get around to all right this way... I see. Is Dr. Moffat your father? No, our Doc's just... See, what about that letter? Here. It had to be open because the man who wrote it never had a chance to mail it. Let me see. Gee, it's from Uncle Ben, all right. But Doc's on his way out there, so he'll see him. What's your name, son? Jimmy. Jimmy Burke. And Uncle Ben is... Oh, he's not my real uncle. I just call him that because he's Doc Moffat's brother. My father was killed last year, and I had an accident. So Doc Moffat and Uncle Ben adopted me. Doc's awful smart. He says if this all mine and claim a pass turns out, we'll have enough money for me to go back east and have an operation that'll fit... Uncle Ben says, hey, that claim's not so good. I'm afraid it's worse than that, Jimmy. What do you mean? Your Uncle Ben is dead. We found him on a trail near Medicine Butte. He was killed by a patches. Uncle Ben's dead? I'm sorry, Jimmy. Doc was afraid of Trig Coleman. He went out there after Uncle Ben, but... Easy, easy, steady, steady. Tell me, why did your Uncle Ben go over into the Medicine Butte country? And why did the doctor follow him? Well, I guess you could say it started about a week ago. Doc's busy out calling on sick folks most of the time, and Uncle Ben used to sit right here and tell me stories. They were good stories about how he used to fight engines up in Colorado. Yes, sir. I tell you, Jimmy, they were rappers who used to be mighty fish. Mighty tricky, too. Golly, Uncle Ben, did you have many fights with them? Oh, and I can give a count, son. And mine, one time, I was guiding some trappers up to Gunnison River. He was ambushed. Ambushed? He was like this. Hey, shucks, I wish I had some rocks here. I could string them out on the floor and show you just how it happened. Why don't we list some rocks, Uncle Ben? Pause our samples. Over there in the bottom door of the dressing room. Just a thing, I'll get it. These will work fine. I'll build them up just like that gold. See the color of it. Now look. Uncle Ben saw me how he's ambushed by engines up in Colorado. Just one of the times, Jimmy. Where'd the rocks come from? The old ore samples Pa used to have. Oh, yes. I remember your father talking about samples. Let me see. Ben, did you have these, I said? I didn't need them. I've been prospecting long enough to know real color when I see it. Jimmy's Pa could have saved himself a trouble of lugging these back. I'm not so sure. Nothing but scrub rock. You must have had them left up in twine. Look at the little pieces of string. That's exactly what I'm looking at. Where was this mine? Over towards Medicine Butte, someplace. What's the difference? Slow grade scrub or... I don't know. I've been mining close on to 40 years. Jimmy, your father left a map. Where is it? In the dresser drawer, I guess. Yeah, champion to your harsh of it. There's nobody more ignorant about mining than the Shah Boons. Even the fierce moon, brother. He and I told you a thousand times that Jimmy's Pa didn't... He's got the mine mark. It's in the valley just below Medicine Butte. Then you're going over there. Stake it out and file the claim and Jimmy's... Yeah, you look good. I tell you there's no gold there. Maybe not gold, but hurry up. Get out in the barn and saddle your mule. You're heading for Medicine Butte today. Oh, golly. Doc, do you think maybe Pa really did find something? I don't know for sure, Jimmy. This is just a hunch of mine. But for your sake, son, I hope I'm right. Doc insisted so he left that night. I see. And when did Doc follow your Uncle Ben? Well, not till the next day. That's when Trig Coleman and his gang moved in. Moved in? Yeah. You see, I was in here in the house all alone, and Doc was out making calls. All at once, Trig Coleman and Letty walked right in without knocking. They found the map, and when I started to yell, Trig hit me. So Trig Coleman hit you, huh? So hard I didn't wake up for almost an hour. You say he and the other outlaw found the map? Sure they did. When Doc came home and found out what had happened, he's so mad he could hardly talk. Oh, don't blame him. Then he left to trail your Uncle Ben. That's right. No, I don't know what'll happen. Doc finds Trig and left it'll be two to one. I can take care of myself here, but I can't help Doc. Don't worry about that, Jimmy. I don't know how to tell Doc you're getting along all right. You? You mean you and the engine are gonna... God, you're the funniest outlaws I've ever seen. I don't think Trig Coleman and Letty will think we're funny. We can find them. Hello. We're heading back for medicine beaut. Ah. How are you, Jimmy? Goodbye, Mr. I hope you... God. She may have just been sitting here dreaming, and they weren't real. Maybe I just imagine I've been talking to them. One, two, three, let's go. Oh, golly! 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 we will continue our story. Although the Lone Ranger and Tonto rode west toward medicine beaut with all possible speed, they had no way of knowing that Dr. Moffat had already reached his destination. It was late afternoon when he pulled his horse to a halt in the valley below the towering natural fortress of the Apaches. Oh, oh, oh. As I remember that map, this is about the place where... Mr. Eddy, now, I just want to get off and scout around. I can't see any sign of... Yes, there is. A little lean-to over near the base of that cliff. Maybe Ben's camp in there. Ben! Oh, Ben! You can stop yelling at that shag, Doc. It's empty. Trig Coleman! Don't think you're the only gentleman who can leave Meredville, do you, Doc? Coleman, you filthy scum, I ought to like you. Listen to a ruler. You sent your brother out here to stake a claim. You wouldn't have done that unless... or it's a real claim. The gold claim. I don't know anything about a gold claim. You're lying. Why, I ought to... Try to persuade him, Trig. Maybe I can jog the old Coot's memory. All right, Lefty. We'll come over. Oh, who's got a old fella? This is where we buried Jimmy's uncle, Tutto. I have no idea where the mine is located. This is as good a place as any to start looking for sign. That's right. The ground hits the horses here. I'll take one side of the butte, you work along the other. I'll meet back here in about an hour. You do it. Where is it? Start talking, you, or... Twist and wet row hide around my arms may give you yellow buzzards some satisfaction. But it can't make me tell something I don't know. Trig, I've got an idea. Let's take the old gold over to that empty mine. The real shaft must be somewhere nearby and he might tell us. All right. There's nothing to lose. Get on your feet, Grandpa. We're going for a walk. Here we are, Trig. All right, Sawbones. We're giving you another chance. Where's the gold mine from here? I don't know. This is a place where you hadn't marked on a map, but it's a fake. And you know where the other one is because your brother ain't here. He must have found it. I hope he found something besides a couple of snakes like you two. You dirty little Sawbones. I'm good at... What was that? I don't know. Sounded like something hit their tree over there. I'll see when... What the... Engine's Trig. Apache's got him. Got him down before it's too late. Skins, I'm glad of it. They're not crippled kids, Coleman, so you haven't got a chance. None of us have. Capture White Fuller. Best of all, there must have been at least a hundred braves in that party. We're lucky we didn't arrive here a few minutes sooner. Apache have camp top of bluff. Take prisoners up there. You think them Fullers we search for? I'm sure of it. The elderly man looks something like the man we buried. There must be Dr. Moffat. The two are probably Trig Coleman and Lefty. First time we see Apache take prisoners. Yes, I know. I generally take scalps and leave dead men behind. There must be some reason for... Take a look at that mine, Fuller. This gold mine, Fullers try to find? I suppose so. Jimmy's uncle Ben said there was no gold here. He was an old prospector. He couldn't have been fooled by... Wait here, Tato. I'm going to look in the shaft. Only a few feet deep. Nothing there except loose rocks. Here's a piece. That not look like gold ore. It isn't. I can't think of any reason why Dr. Moffat will send his brother out here to take a claim unless he... Wait a minute. He's not savvy. This is ore. What kind of ore? There's no time to think about it now. We've got to get back to the horses and find a trail to the top of Medicine Butte. In the Apache camp atop Medicine Butte, flames of the ceremonial fire threw their weird light on a wild and frenzied scene. The measured beat of tom-toms became faster and faster as hundreds of half-naked savages circled the fire in a dance of death. Hiroma, the medicine man, urged them on by pointing to the bound figures of the three prisoners who lay on the ground before him. Suddenly, Chief Red Fox signaled for the dance to stop. Moah! Manoa! O mighty warriors of the Apache, we dance tonight to honor the great fire god. Fire god! The fire god who speaks to us through the lips of Hiroma. We honor fire god. It is good that we pay him homage by sacrifice. The sacrifice of blood! The least thing you can do is die like a white man, even if you didn't live like one. But first, that the fire god is a friend of the Apache. The magic robe and the sacred magazine. Routing in the shadows at the edge of the camp and beyond the circle of firelight, the lone ranger in Tonto watched the scene before them. Medicine man made big talk. Let him kill prisoner. Burn him. Looks at way, Toto. I don't know how we can save them. Our guns wouldn't be any match for hundreds of Apaches. Two of those thullish crooks. Maybe better them die. No human being deserves to be burned alive. He must have a look. Medicine man put on light coat. He'm gonna walk in fire. That's one medicine man's trick I've never seen before. He walked through fire. You see? Big magic. There must be some reason for. Although there is. I think I know the answer. Maybe there's time to say the lies of Dr. Mockham most. I mean to not know what you mean. I'll explain it later. Go to the horses, Tonto. Our camp gear is trapped back in the saddles. Bring one of our blankets. A white one. Hurry. Me bring it. Here. Here. Good. Now help me tear off two pieces. So that when we wad them up, they'll look like moccasins. Look. Medicine man. Take off coat now. You see him? Yes. I've been hoping he'd do that. He doesn't want any of those Apache braves to examine his magic coat too closely. And take coat back to TP. That's our chance. Be not savvy. Take off your shirt, Tonto. Put some pain on your face. And this light you'll pass for an Apache brave. Now sneak around the other side of the camp. The medicine man asked for his magic coat again. You bring him this blanket. But what you do, Kimusavi? I'm going out there and try to talk faster than Pyroma. Hurry, Tonto. There's no time to lose. For his sacrifice, put the white devils into the fire. Oh, wait. Wait. I bring a message. Another white devil and he wears a mask. Who is angry and speaks through my mask is angry because the Apache listens to the false words of Pyroma. He lies. Kill the white devil who dares to... His magic coat will no longer keep him safe from the flames. He lies. I have proved my medicine. Then prove it again. White man and mask is full. Prove it, Pyroma. It shall be done. My robe, the magic robe. He bring coat. Oh. I shall prove again that... Just a minute. The robe will burn. I'll throw it into the fire. Pyroma has no fear. His medicine is strong. Is that so? Look at your robe and your moccasins. They burn. Fire consumes them. Oh, it cannot be. You believe your eyes. Don't you, Chief Red Fox? Oh. Oh. Pyroma's medicine is gone. The fire god burns his robe and his moccasins. Man with mask speaks truth. There is but one way to appease the god of fire. Release these prisoners. Then fire god no longer angry with the Apache. I promise you he won't be angry. We startle you at your bomba. Thanks. I don't know who you are, but thank heaven you're here. We owe our lives to you. You sure fool the Reds. Shut up, you. Try walking the edge of the mesa. Don't run. Just keep walking. Yes, sir. It was really a close shave. I thought we were gone. I never figured we'd be free like this again. You won't be free long. You and Frank Coleman are going to jail. What? Listen, you can't set a knife. No, you won't. No, master, I'll get away with that. Take them to the shack and I'll ride into town and bring out a sheriff. I don't mean to seem curious, mister, but who are you? You know these two armies are crooked, yet you save our lives. Who I am isn't important, Dr. Moffat. Not nearly as important as the money you tried to get for Jimmy's operation. You mean the mine. I never did get a chance. I'm sure your guess was right. The medicine man proved it. Crystalite. Isn't that what the mine is? You're right, doctor. What it is, crystalite, crystalite ore, pure asbestos. It's a shame little Jimmy's poor couldn't have lived to know that an asbestos mine is almost as good as gold. Your brother is dead, doctor. He was killed by the Apaches. Tato and I buried him. We found a letter addressed to you. And Jimmy told us the story. I'm sorry about Ben, but I'm glad for Jimmy. So am I. Tato will wait here with you, doctor. I'll send out a sheriff to take care of Coleman and Lefty. Adios. Wait. Wait a minute. I want to say... Well, go on. He wears a mask. He can't be an outlaw. Tato, can you tell me who he is? Ah, him. Lone Ranger. I'll do that. What you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.