 The speed of light, a twirl of dust, and the hearty high old silver! The lone ranger! Full Indian companion cuddle. The daring and resourceful mashed 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. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. Some out of the past come the thundering hoof beats of the great horse Silver! The lone ranger rides again! Hold still there! Hold still there! Wood was one of the most famous sportsmen of his time. Young as he was, he had hunted big game in many lands. He had climbed mountain peaks on which no other man had ever set foot. The stable of fast horses which he maintained at his eastern home was beyond compare. But young Collingwood's great ambition had not been satisfied. He wanted to capture a fleet white stallion which was reported to roll the planes outrunning all pursuers and evading all traps. It was of this so-called Fatum Steed that he talked as he rode across the vast crossover spread in Texas. Accompanied by Dave Hilton, the ranch owner, and Hilton's daughter Laura. Collingwood was saying, I'm sure there is or was such a horse. There's a basis of truth in all legends. Then maybe she'll clean. It is always fine with a smoke. I'll bit my bottom dolly and it will find she goes to horse. Dave, the wild horse hunters I've hired to look for him, say that he's wintering around Mesa Grandley. They're just stringing it. They want to keep the job. Dad, you can't be sure of that. Washington Irving and Herman Melville believe there was a Fatum Steed and wrote about him. Who are those finishers, Laura? Two great authors whose works I read in school about him. They always write in front of you like professional horse hunters. They'll tell anything for money. What about the Mexicans and Indians around here? They believe in the horse. The Carols call him the son of the wind. The Apache name for him is Thunderhoof. They're just plain superstitions. Just the same, I'm going to find out what's behind so many stories. Well, that's your right, Clint. I'll help you all a chance, even though you're going to be in the Senate, Laura, but if you hate to see you spending so much money and getting nothing back for the horse, then... You're a practical man, Dave. I suppose you think I've got too much imagination. Well, that's why I like you. So do I. No, I've got a dream, too. It's about starting a big horse ranch. The country needs better saddle start. And the days are coming when there'll be draft horses, even worse. Yes, I can say that. Now, why don't you put some of your money to work building up the way? You could be raising the place in blood horses. We need instead of chasing the ghosts of horses. We could be partners. The horse ranch of Hilton and Collingwood has now been found. Yes. Do you mean that, Dave? Of course I do. But I don't like to give up hunting thunderhoof just yet. Yes, I sure do, sir. The fellas' dreams die hard. Dave, you're a sympathetic man. He's a deer. Yes. Yeah, yeah. We're in coordination to find those wild horse hunters of yours. They had a camp in the cedar breaks along the Rio Rojo when I visited them before. Well, here's the river. Break your up, Steve. Get up. As Clint Collingwood and his companions turned their horses up river, a dozen hard-bitten men whom he had employed on their own word that they were professional wild horse hunters, rose from a scatty meal at a camp in the cedar seconds. Two of them climbed into a chuck wagon, which stood nearby ready to roll. Tex Harper, the leader of the outfit, called to them. Rusty, you and Hank had better cut straight across the range to the cross-o-headquarters. I want some chuck back here by supper time. Tell Collingwood we want plenty of bacon and coffee. We're working for all we can get. Get at that. Yes, Tex. That Collingwood fella must be local. Hiring as horse thieves, there's mustangers, and setting us to hunting a horse that don't exist. Well, of course you better not talk out of turn when he's around. We gotta keep him thinking we're honest horse hunters. And if there is such a critter as Thunderhoof, we need this job to hide behind him. That's so well-awarded. Wanted plenty bad for raiding that herd of army remount. Sure was the wrong play for it. But it looked so easy. The army hadn't put the U.S. brand on those horses yet. Only a few soldiers on guard. Yeah, but we had to plug some of them. Now the whole army's after us. Yeah, that's not all. In order to get away, we had to turn loose every horse except that white deli. Tex, we'd better get rid of him, too. Oh, there's a lot of white horses. He can't be traced. And how come you keep him hidden all the time? Don't want Collie Wood to see him around camp. You know as dumb as that easterner is, he's bound to start wondering pretty soon why it's always us who see the ghost horse and never him. So what? Well, if he shows signs of giving up the hunt and firing us, we'll let him have a look at the army horse from way off. Anything that's white or looks like Thunderhoof. There's somebody coming. Ah, the easterner. He's got the cross-o-balkaness got with him. Oh, there he is. Howdy, folks. How's that? Robert's helping his daughter along to see how things are going. I just sent Rusty and Hank to the ranch to see you. We're out of provisions. We didn't meet them, but they won't have any trouble getting supplies at the ranch commentary. Did anyone see Thunderhoof today? No, ma'am. We've been busy building a horse trap down the river. I'm going to take a look around so I'll be your guest. What's the hype, ladies and gentlemen? That's where Mustangs go to look for these. Tex, I've been wondering why Thunderhoof has never seen him a company of other Mustangs. Well, sir, I reckon he's kind of a lone wolf. But we'll get him. You'll give us time enough. How big do you think he is? No, he's a good 17-hand high. And he's still the white. Hey, Dan! What? I see a big white horse. What? Get out of your place! Where is he? I'm across the Big Mesa there across the river. Yeah, that's he. By the time that she does see a horse, but he's no Mustangs. He's got a saddle on. There's a man on the other side of him. Now he's stepping around in front. He's wearing a mask. No, who's this? Whoever he is, he has the finest horse I've ever seen. I wouldn't believe there was such a horse if I wasn't looking at him. Tex, take a look. I got my glasses on him. That must be Thunderhoof. He looks just like I always pictured him. Then why hasn't he been seen with a rider before? Well, that's easy to answer. A masked owl who'd like him would ride at night, mostly. Let a horse graze in the daytime. There's another rider up there now. An Indian. I see him. But it's that white Italian I'm interested in. I'd give $10,000 for it. $10,000? Well, there are enough boys to get him for you. Now, hold on. I'm not hiring you to steal him. What is the stealing that takes Uncle from an outlaw? That's your creed. There's no custom out here for a fellow who captures or kills an owl who to take his horse in here, providing nobody else who's got a bit of clean to it. Capture both the rider and horse, but don't harm either. But turns out that I can claim the horse. You and your men will get the money. That suits me. We'll wait until they pull it back from the edge of the mason and then go after him. I'm going along. Then so am I. On all or at maybe dangerous. Dangerous fun. Well, you listen to your dad, girl. You will stand right here in camp in that same way. Unaware that they were under observation, the lone ranger and tattle looked down from the mason top and discussed a letter which had been forwarded to them by a certain Padre several weeks before. In it, their old friend Colonel Grayling of the United States Cavalry had asked their help in apprehending the horse thieves responsible for a murderous raid on a government herd. The masked man was saying, Oh, that kind of a crime threatened the future of the whole West. The frontier must have the army. The army must have horses. That's right. Colonel Grayling has determined to make an example of the horse rustlers. He's moving his command into the Rojo Valley with the utmost secrecy. Now, when him say for us to meet him? Today. He wrote that he expected to reach the cross O'Rance this afternoon. He'll establish headquarters there. Uh, me not savvy why him come here. The horse thieves were headed in this direction when the first pursuit party lost a trail. This is Mustang country, so the Colonel suspects that the thieves have assumed the guise of wild horse hunters. Maybe plenty hunters around. How anybody know guilty fellas? He hopes to cast him in the possession of the one horse which wasn't recovered. The white horse the Colonel picked out for himself because he admires silver so much. Uh-huh. Him not buying horse like silver. No, he acknowledged as much. But then he would have been satisfied with it. In examining it, he naturally looked in his mouth. The horse had perfect teeth except for a slightly chipped front tooth. The chip was broken from the right corner of the upper-middle tooth. Oh, that's a good way to know him. He must get back into the saddle easy. He's just thinking about how to make it right. Where we going now? Well, we've had a view of the country. We go back down to the valley and head toward the ranch house. Scouting those cedar breaks on the way. Hold him there. Meanwhile, Dave Hilton and Laura had walked to the edge of the thicket which concealed the camp, hoping to get a better view of the hunt. As Clint and the killers he had innocently hired disappeared at the base of the mesa, the rancher lowered his steel glasses. Be lucky if they catch the mash, man. Why do you say that? The mash is a big place to get known toward mash. Look what the sun is. That must be the chuck wagon coming back. The horses are running. What the hell are you doing? Should we tell them where the men went? Don't wait. I want to know what scared them. The horses are all going except the wife when we run. Maybe they can't pull out less. They might have done better if they heard about the troopers being at the ranch. Troopers at the ranch? What do they mean? They're getting out of the wagon. As the two horse thieves descended from the chuck wagon and continued their discussion of the whereabouts of their companions in crime, the old ranger and Tahoe drew rain on the opposite side of the Rio Rojo. The masked man pointed to the hoof-torn bank. I know a big party of horses we crossed here a short time ago. Look at that trail. Ah, you see it. Where do you think them go? It appears that they headed for the west side of the mesa. That's a good thing we come down the east side. Yes, they want to avoid being seen before we contact the cavalry. Where do we go now? The back trail of those riders may tell us something about them. So we'll cross here and go on. At that moment, Laura's horse went in. As Hank and Rusty stared into the cedars and drew their guns, the girl clutched her father's arm. My horse has given us away. Look at this way. Let's find a better hiding place. No, no, no. We're in where they are and I guess that we haven't heard them. Well, howdy, fellas. Well, listen, the boss of the cross zone is gone. You can put away your guns. How come you're out here? Well, we're waiting for Tim Collingwood in the rest of the bunch. We're in town, ain't you got it? Oh, across the river chasing a man on a big white horse. Laura and I were down on the bank watching. Didn't you know we were here? Sure. We heard the truck wagging. You heard more than that. You weren't 50 feet away. Well, what was it here? Don't try to run a bluff. We called troopers so you're right to catch it. You're here to spy. Well, I didn't call any soldiers and I'm not a spy. I wouldn't have my daughter along if I was. You figured she'd keep us from suspicioning you. Well, you ordinary horse thief, you can't say that about me. No, you didn't hear it. Like I'm hanging, she's gone. Run, Laura, run. Dad! Dad! Dad! What do we do with the girls? Trust remember whether it's the boys aren't. Take her alone. Listen, I've heard horses splashing in the river. Yeah, I don't hear anything. That is some dead yet. Finish. Pull the girl away. No! No, don't do it. Come on. Get away from your old man. That's far enough, Rusty. Now I'll do a good job on it. The girl's going. Look there! The mess man! The curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scene, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. We had innocently hired a gang of murderous horse thieves who were a fabulous stallion called Thunderhoof. Mistaking silver for the legendary steed, Collingwood set out with most of the gang to capture the lone ranger and dismount. Meanwhile, the masked man and taco had reached the outlaw's camp just in time to keep two of them from killing a wounded rancher, Dave Hilfman. As the lone ranger commanded them to drop their guns, one outlaw yells, Gun for the wagon, Rusty! Hey, there's a ninja in back of it. I'm dropping my gun. There goes mine. All right, fellow, pick up their guns and tear them. Look how he's a wounded man. There he is. They were going to shoot my father again. I know. He's not badly hurt. The bullet didn't tell a tread his head. Here, I'll help you bandage him. You fellows, put hands up. Sure, engine, sure. Hank's right hand went up only as far as his shoulder. Then with a swift movement born of long practice, he smashed off a keen-ed throwing knife, which he had carried in a sheath between his shoulder blades. Puddle leaped in the grapple with him calling a warning. Look how cute he's coming. That's the engine, Rusty. I got hold of him. Get that knife, man. The knife flashed out of Hank's hand. He had aimed at the lone ranger's side, but the masked man's reaction to danger was quick. As he jumped up from the crouching position he had taken in examining the wounded rancher, the blade struck his cartridge-filled gun belt with a clang. Seeing the knife fall harmlessly to the ground, the desperate outlaw rushed the lone ranger. He was snarling. You'll never take me alive. We'll see about that. Look at this. I'll show you something. Hey, make it easy. Help me, Rusty. I can't. The engine's breaking my eye. Hold on, Tonto. I'll take care of this. Hey. Like that? No. No. I'm done. Don't hit me anymore. Don't lie there. You can be tied. You'll get down the same way. I'm on my knees. That's better. That's better. There's a rope hanging on that wagon, Tonto. I'll watch these men while you get it. Excuse me, sir. Hang the heart, please. Sir, sir, you've come too? My skull's too thick for bullets, sir. I've got an internal headache. And it'll cure me to see those bullets get their neck straight. Now, we're not taking the law into our own hands. I only want to make sure they don't escape. After the two outlaws have been tied and loaded into the wagon, Dave Hilton and Laura related what had happened in the camp and explained why Clint Collingwood had crossed the river with the other horse thieves. The lone ranger waved aside their apologies for Collingwood and turned to Tonto. Tonto researched the ticket for that stolen horse the thieves mentioned before they discovered Mr. Hilton's daughter. Bring in our horses. Uh-huh. He's happy. We'd better get started with a ranch with those two wool cats. Then we can tell the soldiers about the others. If the cavalry attempts to capture the other outlaws while Collingwood is with them, they'll use him as a shield and the soldiers will shoot. Certainly the commanding officer wouldn't let them kill an innocent man. Colonel Grayling is prepared to sacrifice his own life from the lives of his troopers in the line of duty. He won't reckon Collingwood's life is being more valuable than that of a private in his regiment. They reckon he'd be right. Maybe I can find the gang and get him away while there's still time. You've been in the lift, danger lad. I like Clint, but you're my daughter. It was a few minutes later when Tonto reappeared. He was riding Scout and leading Silver and another white horse almost as big as the mighty Stallion. What did you find him, Tonto? He stole his picket rope and I'll take a look at his mouth. And what you're playing? It's a stolen army of horses. There can be no doubt of it. You'll hang a lot of them if they can be captured. Mr. Hilton, I'd like to use your standard of riding on this horse. You can wear it. I can ride in the took ways. Getting dark, you'd better start back to the ranch at once. You go with them, Tonto. Take their horses along. And what you do? I have a plan that may cause the outlaws to expose themselves to Colonel Grayling. I'll keep Silver and the stolen horse here. That sounds plenty dangerous. The risk is worth taking. What can I tell Colonel? Tell him to do nothing tonight except keep a strong force of men posted around the ranch buildings and curl out. There, I've got the saddle grip tight. The stolen horse is ready to ride. Why do you think the thieves cast him? They didn't know he could be identified. Well, for another thing, he could have been used as a ringer for thunderhoof. He wasn't seen too close. Here, Dad. Let me help you into the way. No, no, I'm making it all right. How dry! Adios! Adios! You're best! After the chuck wagon rolled away, the lone ranger rode the stolen horse into the gully where it had been concealed. There he left Silver, the great stallion sensing that his master was about to ride away on a strange horse. We need to protest. The masked man responded with a reassuring pat. No, I'm not giving you up for another horse, big fella. You wait here. Come on, stranger. We have work to do. Come on, get up. Get up, boy. The moon was up when the outlaws who had been hunting the masked man and his horse approached their camp led by Tex and Clint Collingwood. Tex was thinking, I don't know how that owl who gave us this lift. We sure tried hard enough to get his horse. He could have crossed the river while we were on the other side of the mason. Now we're coming to the river. Camps up this way. I don't suppose the Hilton's wedded this long for me. Oh, likely not. I sure hope the chuck wagon's back. Better stay overnight with us, Mr. Collingwood. Maybe we can pick up the big stallion's trail in the morning. I don't know. Hey, look! Across the river! What? The Masked Man. Into the river, boys! Let's get him! Come on! Get up, you owl! You heard my oars! While the Hilton's and Toto had reached the cross-hole with the prisoners, finding Colonel Grayling quartered in the ranch house, and told him what the Masked Man had requested. He shook his gray head. No one man can bring in 10 or 12 desperadoes. Masked Man has a plan. Give him a chance. A chance to do what, Mr. Hilton? Let the gang escape? No, he's done his part and done it well. Now the army takes over. I'll use my whole regiment. To do what? Well, I'll have the river patrolled. I'll surround the sea to breaks and beat the brush till nothing that creeps, crawls or walks can get away. But your dead prince Collingwood killed. I know, Mr. Collingwood. He put himself in danger and you have to take his chance. But Colonel... Young lady! Those horse thieves defied the army. Stole government property and killed good soldiers. They must be wiped out at all costs. Wait just an hour before you do anything like that. An hour? It's nine now. Well, you hide men here, Colonel, like my friends say. If nothing happened by ten, me go out with you. Me show you where outlaws got camped. All right, Colonel. I'll post guards here and wait that long. But not a second longer. As the Colonel made his decision, the lone ranger began to circle back toward the outlaw's camp. Some of his pursuers were shooting to kill, but the stolen army horse was fresher than theirs, enabling him to keep out of bullet range. Tacks were shouting... He's cutting back, Sputz! I'll hit him on! Peter Frank, we're gaining a little. Their horses isn't as fast as I thought. Just don't forget the promise. You'll be paid. Looks like Sputz and his buns are getting heavy. Don't cover it. You can't get away. That's him. His horse is going up. He's falling. There he goes. I told you not to shoot him. Sputz, what's an accident? Get a rope, ready? I'm making a loop. There's where the matchman fails. I don't see him. Forget about him. Watch me take that horse. How's that for a throw? You put the loop right over his head. Don't break his neck. Never mind. Let's copy him. Boys, I see you got the horse. But where's the matchman? Somewhere behind him. Stop some lead. Let's go back and look for him. What for? We can't let him crawl away and die out here. He isn't already dead. I'll go back alone. Suit yourself. What do we do with the horse? Take him to the crossroad corral. I'll see you later. Right. Get him. Come on. All right, boys. Let's go. Now flaws were in high spirit as they rolled through a cotton withdraw with a captured white horse. And saw the length of the cross-hole wrench just ahead. Which was being $10,000 for today's work. And no law to worry about. Sure, these horse drops are low. The same I wish college would have come along with us. The matchman might have had enough life left to kill a dude. There would be all our money here. I quit stewing. With that, I'm brave. Well, he didn't go far. Or live long. There's the corral. Let's pull up the line. Oh, oh, oh. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. There he is. What do you think? You're fair and the man. All right. Start to bring the ladders to the burglars. When you work, he'll see a matchman tonight. A matchman. What are you talking about? A dog lie. Only he could have sent you here. My friend come now, Colonel. Here's five. There he is. Hey, look. The matchman. And look, why is he possible? He's still riding his great horse. Oh, oh, oh. There's Colin Woodward. I see you've caught the game, Colonel. Thanks to you. But how did you manage to send them in? Are we going to prove them guilty? They brought the evidence with them. with him. The evidence? There's the white horse that was stolen. You can identify him by his chipped tooth. Why? Why, he let us catch that critter. And he pretended that fall. We're just the same as hung ourselves. I don't understand this at all. Mr. Collingwood can explain later. I met him on the way here and told him what happened. Please. Please, thanks for having me with you. I'm the better for what happened to you. I've had my fellow hunting horses, especially ghost horses. The masked man has told me that the legend of thunder who started right after the Mexican war. So the horse died long ago if he ever actually existed. So there is no thunder? No. But there is a silver and he lives on. The masked man in Indian is gone. Gone? There was so much I wanted to ask. They were hurt in the leg. Well, we didn't even get a chance to thank them. And we sure owe them a lot. So does the army. But they want no thanks. They've dedicated themselves to the betterment of life in the West. And the achievement at that end, they find their reward. Colonel, who is the masked man? He's almost a legendary figure himself. He's the Lone Ranger. This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated. Created by George W. Trenville. Produced by Trenville Campbell Enterprises. Directed by Charles D. Livingston. And edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger.