 A cloud of dust and a hearty hail, silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the mask 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. Oh, Silver! The things are on the trail ahead! Oh, Silver! Away! The lone ranger and Tonto topped a sharp rise on the sunscorched plateau west of Fort Smith and rained up their horses. Oh, who's this guy? What's that? A quarter-mile to their left, the sluggish Canadian River cut its way through the red-red clay of Indian territory. Directly ahead lay a hard-packed wagon trail. It was this that held their attention. Or rather, a small prairie schooner drawn by a yoke of oxen, which was jogging slowly along in the sun. Suddenly, the team of oxen broke into a gala. They left the trail and headed across the plateau, dragging a wildly careening wagon behind them. Tonto, look! A wagon driver planted crazy. It's a runaway. Whoever's driving that wagon doesn't know this country. They'll be killed unless we... Come on, Silver! Come up, Scout! Oh, there! Oh, David! I can't stop the rude. Be some suddenly-going man. Who's that? Oh, David, look! Two men on horses. They see us and they're riding this way. That won't happen, listen! Who's that? Who? You'll never stop in that way. I'm gonna use a gun before they upset the wagon. I haven't got a gun in that chance. David, he's wearing a mask. And that Indian one, they must be outlawed. I don't hold the other side. Pass this, Scout! Jump to the right, Tonto. Try to pull the pin on the wagon turn. I hope it's loose. David! Oh, hold her! Jump alongside there, Silver, so I can... I've got a Tonto! Jump! They do it! Oh, Tonto! A break! Right to break! The horse is Tonto. Oh, Scout! Oh, Scout! Oh, I think... Oh, David, we're safe. We're alive. Just a moment ago, I thought... And so did I. And we owe our lives to these two men. We had a Tonto and I happened to see you. The rate you were going would have been only a few minutes until you were... Yeah, but you pulled the coupling pin on the wagon tongue and saved it. I still can't understand why my team of auctions should suddenly... They must have gone mad. No, nothing like that. They just smelled water. They reached the river by now, and they would have taken you and the wagon with them. Yes, but I can't understand. Steady, Silver. Steady, big fella. When did you leave Fort Smith? The day before yesterday. I noticed your water barrels are empty. Both of them sprung a leak. The oxen haven't had a good drink of water for a day and a half. That's true. My wife and I have been rationing ourselves and the animals, too, but... Right over to the river and bring them back, Tonto. They'll be all right now. Get them up, Scout. Isn't sure a fault. A lot of people make the same mistake. Don't realize that when oxen or any other animals are deprived of water, it's dangerous. Both my wife and I are deeply grateful to you, sir. It's odd that our lives should be saved by outlaws. Tonto and I aren't outlaws. But you were wearing a mask and... I'm surprised that homesteaders like you folks don't carry a gun. Shooting the oxen would have been your only salvation if Tonto and I hadn't come along. Well, I haven't carried a gun for several years. My wife and I aren't homesteaders in the usual sense of the word. We're missionaries. Oh, I see. And you're heading west into Indian territory. I've been told that the Cheyennes, if they can be made to understand the teachings of peace as well as they understand war. Cheyennes? You've picked a difficult job for yourself, Mr. I'm David Russell. This is my wife Ruth. How do you do? Not that the Cheyennes or any Indians for that matter are wholly to blame. When trouble comes, there's generally a renegade white man behind it. I know that. And I hope to prove by counsel and help that all of us are not alike. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Are you all right now, Tonto? Uh, oxen drink plenty water. He'll keep good. I don't know how to thank you. Oh, no, thanks are necessary, Mr. Russell. And I hope you have a lot of luck in the work you're doing. Thank you, sir. That is a little bit easy. I suppose you know that Indian territory is wild country, that you have a dangerous trip ahead of you. Aren't you afraid of it? Why should I be afraid? Many years ago, certain doubting men questioned the great teacher whose scriptures I follow. And the teacher answered them saying, Why are you fearful? Oh, ye of little faith? Why, why, yes, it's it. It's my faith that will protect. But you were not law quoting the Bible. Not all I are not laws. I told you that before. But I don't understand. Ready, Tonto? You ready? Adios. Good luck to both of you. Come on, sir. Get him up. Come on. David, I can't understand it. Peter, can I, Ruth? They risked their lives to save us. An Indian and a masked man who knows the scriptures. Surely this is an omen of divine guidance. Two years passed. David Russell built his mission house on a low hill overlooking the winter camp of the Cheyennes. His sincerity and medical aid had won him the friendship of Black Horse, the Cheyenne chief. And his sympathy and understanding had gained the loyalty and help of an orphan boy called Little Bear. David worked hard, and he had no way of knowing the exact day that two men on a small, covered wagon stopped on the other side of the Cheyenne camp. Oh, oh, oh, you've got a cold state. Well, Pete, this is where we bet down for a few weeks. That's a Cheyenne camp right over there. Why can't these Red Skins pick out a decent spot to pitch their teepees? Nothing here but sand, mesquite, and... Now stop beefing. We're here on business. In two years, since I've seen my old friend Black Horse, he'll be glad I showed up. Hey, Todd. Yeah. Let's talk around town before we left Fort Smith. There's some kind of a missionary ombre up here now. Missionary? Oh, you mean the Bible, Toddy? I know all about him. Break open one of them cases of whiskey. I'm going over to see Black Horse. I'll take a bottle of water. I bring message... message on paper. Who's it from, Little Bear? Let me see. So... I might have known. What is it, David? Listen to this. By end of hockey and medicine dance, missionary must go away. Cheyenne's no longer want white man who leads from book. If he's not going by end of hockey and Chinese, signed by Black Horse. How can that be a note from Black Horse when he... Can't read or write a word of English? Of course it isn't from him. Who gave you this message, Little Bear? It come from hand of chief Black Horse. He not write it, though. White man who sell fire water write message. I thought so. I'm going to see Black Horse. Talk to him. They're great danger. You go to campground now. Plenty braves wear war paint. They drink plenty whiskey. That's all the more reason why I should go. David, not if it's dangerous. Please don't. I've got to talk to Black Horse. The medicine dance itself is bad enough. And if several hundred Indians mix it with liquor, no telling what will happen. If Mr. Russell go to Cheyenne camp, Little Bear go with him. Please be careful, David. Don't worry, dear. I won't be going long. Let's keep you, Black Horse. Black Horse. Why, teacher, Mr. Russell won't make talk. May bring him. I got your note, Black Horse. I've come to ask why the great chief Black Horse has written these words to the white man who is his friend. Black Horse make talk on paper. I know, but I can't... Tell us clearly, this guy pilot. Oh, you must be Todd Billings. I didn't expect to find you so soon. Why don't you take your hymn book and clear out of this country? Nobody wants to listen to your mealy-mouthed gab. I came here to talk to Black Horse alone. Then you're talking to me because the chief wants it that way. And he wants you to pack all your junk and clear out. You understand? I'll never leave the territory as long as you and your whiskey are here to bedevil the Indians. Yeah. Look here, preacher. Black Horse and the Cheyennes have a different idea. They figured that one bottle of good drinking whiskey is worth a dozen psalms singing critters like you. Well, you filthy... No little finger Bible tuner's gonna punch me and get away with it. No. No use, gun. Black Horse, no like it. What do you mean, chief? You saw him punch me? Black Horse, think best. White man, leave now. There's T.P. Big Chief. We do what he say. Yes, little bear, I know him. There's nothing more we can do now anyway. Come on. Returning from a long trip to the far west, the lone ranger in Tonto made camp not far from Cheyenne village. Oh, it's good to get back to the plains again, Tonto. Uh, me like it. Me think horses coming up the trail below us. Mother that fired hello. Did you see that, Tonto? Uh, me see. Plenty Cheyenne brave, then wear war paint. We near Cheyenne camp, and this full moon, time they dance hockey a.m. Yes, I know, but here's silver, scuff. What wrong, Kimosabi? We're two white men riding at the head of those Cheyennes. That generally means trouble. Oh, that's right. We'll follow them. Come on, silver. Get him up, scuff. Ed, what makes you think that the Indians will cause trouble? There are friends in for two years now. There are friends when they're Silver Ruth. Whiskey changes over men, Indians, most of all. Now, if we could... Little bear. We'll be right fast from camp. Is everything wrong? That sundown met us men, and braves start hockey a.m. And Billings and other white men, as 10, maybe 12 braves ride with them. They come this way. Good, Billings. Oh, oh, oh. David, listen. That must be them now. Open the door, little bear. Oh, no, David, don't. Dave Carson, come on out here. What do you want? You'll find out. If you're laying enough, you'd better come out, shoot. No, David, no. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes, please, let us to pause for just a few moments. Now, to continue our story. When David Russo walked out on the porch of his mission house, he was confronted by a half-circle of mounted Cheyenne braves. He noticed that some of them held blazing pine-nut torches high above their heads. They were grouped around two white men on pintle ponies. You'd better come out, shoot. I have no gun, Billings. You know that. Good thing for you, you have. How about that book you're always packing around? Well, that's a drop of 45 slug. What do you want, Billings? Some of the chief's boys and me just dropped by to remind you that you'd better be out of here before the war dances over. Pull out of here, Pronto. You understand? I suppose we don't pull out. Then this would give you an idea what to expect. All right, boys, throw some of those things out. For David, those torches, they'll set the house on fire. Look, the roof of our hospital is already... Oh, I'm going to... No, Bruce. There's a gun train door. There's no move. Now, you're talking sense, Pronto. Just burn one of them this time. If you don't pack your junk and clear our house... Oh, the hospital and everything in it will be... I need that water from well. Throw it on fire. I'll burn, Ted. You'll make a move toward that well-up drill, yeah? Little Bear, no afraid of you. Me, go! Little devil-ass! Oh, you won't! Oh! Hey, look, Todd, it's an old hoot. A man stopped blowing an inch. Hey, shut my gun away! Hey, that kind of let's slinging ain't healthy. Come on, boys, let's about move. Why you let him get away? Gun fire might have hit some of those braves. We don't want to start a war if we can help it. Come on, let's help put out the fire. Me, help. I don't know who you are, stranger, but... A man is not Indian. Why, you're the same too. Yeah, I'll help you. Ruth, all Ruth! I've been frightened, Mr. Russell. Been quite a while since that day by the Canadian River. Over two years ago. But I... Oh, Ruth, look who chased Billings away. What's the man? What's the man? Seems I always find you folks with middle of some excitement. Well, thank heaven you find us. Fire well out now. Not burnt. Oh, that's good. You were a brave boy, Little Bear. Oh, me glad to help. Who was the white man who tried to shoot this boy? Todd Billings. He and his partner came here to sell whiskey to the Indians. I see. And I'm afraid he sold most of it. You saw the braves of with him. Now, why was he here threatening you folks? Well, isn't it natural for a liquor peddler to reset the machinery? If you've been here for some time, you must know the chief of the Cheyennes. Can't you go to him? The chief is named Black Horse. We were very friendly into Billings came a few days ago. Now they say we'll be killed unless we leave the territory before the end of the hockey aim. Go on. It's a ceremonial dance that begins tonight and lasts for three days. Listen, you can hear the drums now. Oh. In fact, that Black Horse is in Billings' power makes the situation bad. I know it. Maybe Todd will and I can help if you'll give me some more information. Oh, if only you could. If there was just some way to be... Come to the house. I'll tell you everything I can. Parsons house started last night. How do I know who the sky pilots outlaw friends are? Got in a lucky shot, that's all. Well, what are we going to do? I ain't taking any chances with either one of them. I'm going to break open a few more cases of firewater for Black Horse and his braves. Now, you double back to that Parsons house and see what you can find out. See? What can I... Keep out of sight and keep your eyes and ears open. All right, get going. All right, but I... Get up and come. All right, you Cheyenne buckaroos. Let's have a drink. That's everything that's happened right up to this minute. It's a hard problem. This territory belongs to the Indians. If Black Horse orders you to leave him... It isn't Black Horse. If he wasn't influenced by Todd Billings... You can't afford to antagonize almost a thousand Cheyenne braves. I don't know. I've never felt this way before. But right now, I wish I wasn't a missionary. But I wasn't bound by a code that says, Return Good for Evil. Why, David... If I were just an ordinary man, a man with a gun who could hunt down Todd Billings... David, we possess something stronger than guns. It's faith. Remember the words of the Bible. Faith overcometh the world. I... I want to believe it. What good is faith against a gun in a pack of whiskey-soaked Cheyenne Indians? If I could only... Your wife is right, Mr. Russell. You have something greater than guns. Todd, I'll see what we can do. Maybe we can talk to Black Horse. Not in the middle of their ceremonial dance. We can try. Come on, Todd. We'll be close by. For the next two days, it might be a good idea for you to stay indoors as much as possible. We will. Adios. Nothing. Saw the preacher and his wife talking to that and maxed gently in the engine inside their house. That's all. They're still there? Oh, the owl, the hoot, and the red skin pulled out. Couldn't fail him with horses like they're, right? Now, we waited the last night at the dance when all the whiskey's inside the braze instead of the bottles. And all you have to do is put on a black mask like that fancy lead slinger and ride over the missionary's house. Put on a black? Now, listen, Todd, I don't think... Of course you don't think. I'll take care of that. You just do what you're told. The next two days and nights, the frenzied ceremonial dance of the Cheyennes gained in spirit and momentum. Hundreds of half-naked Indian braves danced in relays to the throb of tom-toms and the wild yells of their medicine men. Poser and Tonto had tried in vain to seat chief black horse. Failing in this, they kept close watch on the mission house. There'd been no sign of Todd Billings. But on the last night of the hockey aim... Somebody come. Me open the door. Wait a minute, little bear. Look through the window first. That's all, man. Who wears masks? That's all right, little bear. I'll open it. We've been expecting you... Reach, Parson, and get him high. I thought you were... I've got much time, Parson, so a gun weapon will be as good as a bullet. Oh, David! Stop squawking, he ain't hurt. I'm just gonna borrow your old man for a couple of hours. Now drag him outside. I'm warning you. Keep your distance. Just gonna take the sky pilot over to see his friend, black horse. Oh, you're not true. Little bear, say no. Listen, red skin. I'm... Little armored escort. I'll get out of my way. Oh, David! David! Oh, David! Those are expecting us, Tato. There's no sign of... Ah, what matter? I'd like a woman crying. Come on. Mrs. Russell. Oh, you. Who is you? Oh, where's your husband? A masked man with a gun. We thought it was you. We opened the door and... Little bear, Indian boy. In shot. Just a minute. It's just a scalp wound. He'll be all right. Who did this, Mrs. Russell? Where's your husband? The man said he was taking David to see black horse. Todd Billings? No, it wasn't Billings. But I think it was the man who was with him the other night. That means a shy and camped Tato. Matt Wright. Tato now right over there. We'll find Mr. Russell. Oh, will you? I'm sorry. Oh, never mind. You wait here. Come on, Tato. There's no time to lose. Come on, Silver. Come on, Scout. Come on, Tato. Let's get to him before they stop us. Great chief black horse. My friend and I come to you in peace. Feneche! Oh, white man. You're a mask. Him, plenty good friend, a red man in all missions. Him, friend of chief thunder cloud in far north. Speak. You know the missionary who came in peace to your land? He brought good teachings to your braves, your squaws and your children. He brought white man's medicine to cure sickness. But another man who sells firewater hates the missionary. Hates him because he teaches peace, not war. Don't pay any attention to that owl who scared black horse. I expected to find you, Billings. Where's your partner? The one who shot an Indian boy at the mission house? He's here, and so's a Bible toad. Tied up in one of the teepees. There's nothing you can do about it. Maybe. Chief black horse. The missionary brought the best teachings of the white man. He brought the truth. Now don't listen to him, chief. He's trying to trick you and your people. Come on! Come on on! Speak. Now this man who sells firewater has captured the missionary. He's a prisoner here in your camp. I ask you to release him, because he has brought only good to you and to your people. Now it's a trick, chief. Black horse. There's no trick to the hockey aim, the sacred dance of your people. You have faith in that, don't you? So it is in this dance that I will ask you now for the life of my friend the missionary. Let the hockey aim be the judge. Hey, what do you mean? How can you know which of these white men to trust? Unless the hockey aim tells you which is bad and which is good. Then put Todd Billings and me to the test. Hang around our necks with fine strands of horse hair, the heavy buffalo skulls, the way a hundred pounds apiece. Put us in the center of the ring and let us wrestle in shy and fashion to prove our faith. No, no, no, chief. Don't listen to him. That's good. Within a few minutes the protesting Todd Billings was stripped to the waist as was the Lone Ranger. Then heavily weighted buffalo skulls were suspended from their necks by a fine hauler of horse hair. They faced each other in a ring with the toes of the right feet touching. This was the severest test of strength and endurance known to the shy and Indians. It was the finale of the hockey aim. A black horse's signal, they grasped hands and began the silent struggle of sheer strength. Each man trying to push the other off his feet, they didn't last, for suddenly Todd Billings cried out, No, I can't stand it. Now let me go. Let me go. Indian guards will take you and your murdering partner to the nearest United States Marshal. You'll both stand trial. All right, all right. Anything you say. Just let me go. Please. You heard what he said, black horse? Be here. Man with a mask, plenty brave. Missionary must teach truth. Black horse and shy and believe. Thank you, black horse. Come on, Todd-o. That's fine, Mr. Russell, and take him home. It was a miracle, David. Truly a miracle. I don't think our friend would call it that, Ruth. We've won back the trust of the Cheyenne. Yes, we've regained that in our lives, all because of an object lessening faith. The faith of a mask man, whose name we don't even know. What you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.