 A fiery horse with a speed of light, the cloud of dust in the heart of Hyoselver, 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. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, from out of the past come the thundering hoofbeat of the great horse, Silver, the lone ranger rides again. Come on, Silver! Let's go be close! Hyoselver! Countless sun-baked miles of travel lay behind the long train of white top wagons. More miles studded with unknown dangers lay ahead. The people in those wagons had left the life behind them and looked forward to a new life in the west. Jim Hatfield led the way, driving his horses from the seat of his prairie schooner. His wife rode at his side. Mary, why don't you crawl in back and take a little nap? I will when I get sleepy. Right now, I'm not a big tire, Jim. Are you sure about that? Sure about that. Hey, Jim! The guide's calling you, Jim. Who? All right, Martin, bring your horse up close. Oh, go that way. Easy, easy, that boy, easy. I've been wanting to speak to you, Jim. Figured there's no use putting it off any longer. Anything wrong? Well, I'll tell you. Ever since you took me on as guide, there's been a certain amount of resentment brought. How's that? Dave Walton has his own ideas about the right trail. His ideas are some different from mine. What's he been saying? He keeps talking about the Oregon Trail. He thinks you should follow that one instead of the Santa Fe. That's already been decided, Martin. We're going to Santa Fe. A lot of men have turned to Walton, Si. The majority? I don't know about that, Jim. There might be. Walton's been making a lot of secret talk. He's got a number of men thinking you're too old to know what's best. Too old, huh? Maybe it's none of my fare, Jim, but I thought you should know. Yeah. Thanks. I'll drop back and make sure everything's all right with the other wagons. Let's hold the courses you're going. Right. Come on then. Well, if Dave Walton isn't the most ungrateful pop I ever heard, Jim, why do we have to have one troublemaker like that? I must be a half-blind old fool. He thrashes me to think something like that's been going on right under my nose. Confound, Dave Walton. Maybe I should have a talk with him and give him a piece of my mind. Get a pair. Well, don't take it out on the horse. Mind if I climb to your seat for a minute? Come here, I'll slide over and make room. Easy to talk this way. Will your horse stay alongside? Sure thing. What's on your mind, Martin? Well, I'll tell you, Dave. There's a couple of things I thought you ought to know. Such as what? You've been saying some mighty fine things about Jim Hatfield. Sure I have. He's a mighty fine man. And he acts like a mighty good friend of yours, don't he? He is a good friend. Well, maybe I'd better not say anything. What do you mean? Well, Hatfield has been saying that you've told lies about it. What? He thinks you've been turning some of the people against him. That's not true. I haven't done anything of that kind. I know that, Walt. There's a number of men who prefer the Oregon Trail, but they're all like me. They're willing to go along with the majority. I know that. That's why I figure Hatfield's being ornery and accusing you of turning people against him. I reckon the trouble comes from Hatfield being sensitive about his age. Sensitive about his age? That's the first I've heard of anything like that. Oh, he is, Dave. I can see it. He resents you and the other younger men, figures you'll outdo him when you finally reach the place we aim to settle down. Love all the fool notions. Oh, he's likely right about that, Walton. But that don't give him no call to say ugly things about you. What kind of ugly things? I hate to talk all the time. What ugly things has Hatfield been saying? Well, you know how things have been disappearing from the different wagons. Last few nights? What about it? Of course, Hatfield don't come right out and accuse you of being the... He hinted I was a thief? Well, why that two-faced old toad? As I see it, he hopes to set the man against you. That is as many as he can. Oh, I see. I'm sure sorry that I had to be the one to tell you. That's all right, Martin. Thanks. You know, I better get back to my saddle. Yeah. I want to ride ahead and take a look beyond the crest of that rise. It's about time to watch for a camp in place for the night. Yeah, that's right. I'll let you know if I hear any more. All right, thanks. Get up. Riding far ahead, the guide was soon over a slight rise and out of view of the men in the wagon train. He cut sharply to one side, then rained up next to a large rock for me. Oh, go there, boy. In a moment, he heard the beat of hoops and an Indian wearing clothes that had apparently been taken from a pioneer came into view. Good for Charlie. He's right on the job. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Hi there, Charlie. I figured you'd see me right ahead and know I wanted to power. Me see you. Had any trouble keeping abreast of the wagon train? No trouble. Got a hander to you. You should do a slick job of keeping out of sight. Oh, that's not hard. Why you ride ahead? Why you want talk with Charlie? I just wanted to say that I've started the ball rolling. I put a few words in the right places. Took a little time for me to find out which one of the men would be most likely to split the train. I finally settled for a young high-spirited critter named Dave Walton. He and Jim Hatfield spend the rest of the day thinking over what I said. By the time we make camp for the night, they'll both be boiling mad. What me tell chief? You tell them that I'll have that train split up in less than two days. Maybe inside of the next 24 hours. Me tell chief. Tell them that when I'm done, you won't have to worry about tackling so many wagons at one time. I'll see that part of the outfit cuts off on the Oregon trail. That's good. If he'll watch the Santa Fe trail, he'll see not much more than half of the wagons will be on it. You can also tell them there's more firearms and hardware than I figured. And plenty of fire water. That's good. That's plenty good. You boys can have everything but the cash. Cash's all I want. That good bargain. Cash's no good to you Redskins anyhow. So everyone will be satisfied. Everyone but the pioneers. That's right. I better get back to wagons. I want to be sure to keep things stirred up so that Hatfield and Walton don't have a showdown as soon as we make camp. Hello there, kids. Fixing your wagon? Yeah, that's right, Hatfield. Figured to put a brace on her while we're in camp. Maybe save a breakdown on the trail. Well, if you need any help, let me know. Loomis? Hey, that's two smells mighty good. Well, you have some, Hatfield? Well, thanks, but I got to get this water over to my outfit. Mary's waiting for it. Baby sounds right husky. Yeah, Critter's hungry. Yep. The fire will be firmed out before I can get it boiled for the coffee. Well, there you are, Mary. You get supper going. I'll be back in a little while. Where are you going now, Jim? Over there. I want to have a few words with Dave Walton. Jim, do be careful what you say. Dave Walton better be careful what he says. Walton, I want to talk to you. Huh? No, it's you, huh? I've been hearing a few things. Well, you're not the only one. I just want you to know you're not needed in this outfit. Oh, so now you're inviting me to pool stakes, is that it? Seems to me you don't need an invitation. Well, I don't. I wondered how soon you'd get around to speaking your piece to my face instead of behind my back. I don't say things behind any man's back. Oh, you don't? No, I don't. Hey, yeah. I'm not sottin' any, Ralph. If this old goat don't want me in his outfit, he can go his way, and I'll go mine. I don't want couple makers. I said that at the start, and I say it now. Oh, Jim, maybe you're mistaken about the thievery. The thievery? What's the trouble, Jim? Martin, you keep out of this. Walton, is it true that you've caught about half the outfit ready to cut loose? What if it is? So that's what you were doing when you rode from one wagon to the other during the last couple of hours, lining up men to desert the train. Well, what if I was? There's plenty of men who'd rather take the Oregon Trail. Then they can take it. Hold on, Hatfield. You run up against Indians or something. You might need the younger men. We'll get along without them. You bet you will. Of course, I'm just a guide, but it seems to me that. You keep out of it, Martin. Maybe if you apologize to each other. Me apologize? For what? You may have said things without thinking. I said nothing I don't mean. That goes double for me. I'll be glad to be rid of you. So will the others who are going to Oregon with me. Please, Jim, don't have any trouble. I won't have any trouble. If Walt wants to leave us, he can do it. Talk to anyone else. We don't need them. You might regret that, Hatfield. I won't regret a thing. Neither will I. Hey, how many of you aim to go with Walton? Walton, this is none of your fare. Well, I got to know Hatfield. Jim, it won't do the splitting. We're already split up as to that field. You couldn't hire me to stay with this outfit. I'm going to Oregon. Me too. All right. We'll settle this right now. We'll split this outfit and head in two directions. All right. Let's go. Let's go. The camp was soon divided into two groups. The wagons that were to accompany Dave Walton were moved to the side and lined up. While those that were to continue on the Santa Fe Trail closed up the empty spaces. Two men, one an Indian. The other masked watched the movement from a hill nearby. They could hear enough to realize what was happening. Hello. They're dividing that wagon train. Ah, and that's not good. They're not doing it because they want to. They're doing it because of a disagreement. Sound like plenty big arguments. Yes. Probably has started over something very small. Ah. That Overland Trail does things to men. And they get this farther tired. And there's a raw and a temperature on edge. They quick to resent the wrong word, quick to fight. Indians, Western here. Yes. I know there are. Indians, not attack big wagon train, but Indian attack small wagon train. That outfit splits up. Both of you, this may be wiped out. I'm going to see if we can do something about it. Come on, Toto. Get a much smaller. 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 Lone Ranger knew that the wagon train was preparing to divide. He also knew that this might have disastrous consequences. With this knowledge, the masked man and Toto rode west through the long hours of the night. The daybreak found them raining up at a fork in the Orville and Trail. Who's in the horse car over there? Here you go. Here's where the trails divide, Toto. The Oregon Trail branches off to the northwest toward the Platte River, then goes toward Fort Laramie. That's right. Santa Fe Trail goes that way. And plenty bad Indian over that way. Are you sure of that? Me know of Indian camp, not far from Kansas River. I see. And then followed bad Indian. They attack the wagon? Attack the wagon, not too many. I wonder how many Indians are in the village. Me not know of that. Maybe find out. Can you? Me try. And then all you can. See if the Indians know that wagons are approaching. I'll wait for you over there near that waterhole. Near that scout. Martin, the scheming guide, had also ridden through the night. He had gone directly to the Indians camp. And there found Charlie Red Eagle. I had to tell you, Charlie. Things have worked out fast in our thought, huh? What happened? Wagons are already divided. They plan to set out this morning in two different columns. He's reached a point where all the men have taken sides. Me tell chief. Me go. What's matter? Stranger come in camp. Another Indian. Oh, scout, popular, popular. What do you want? Me? Me trouble. What do you want? Pule, matu, ontede. What's he say? Him hungry, want food. Who might be there? What's that? Him here alone. Hold on, I've seen that critter. I'd never forget that horse. Let me talk to him. Hey, you. Remember me? Me come here, want food. Yeah? Well, you just wait a minute. Charlie, give me a hand. We were looking at saddlebags. No. No, you're not looking. Hold it. Stand right where you are. I'll blow the living daylights through you. Sounds a mighty curious about you. I can't remember what it is. Get the saddlebag on that side. I'm clasped, Charlie. Me get it. Don't you drive fast. Move, Tondo. Where have I heard that name? Me got this bag open. See what's inside it? I'm still working on this one. Here, food. Yeah? Here, food, two, three days. Well, Tondo, how about that? You come here saying you're hungry, and all the time you got food in the saddlebag. I don't mean to tell truth. Maybe you're hungry. But by the time you don't have to be, you've got the makings, Emils. You've got that bag open? Yeah, Charlie. Now we'll see what's here. Yeah, some tins of food. I wasn't so stupid, that, Tondo. Stay there. I still got a gun on you. Hey, here. What that? Mask. Now what? Hold on, Charlie. I'll begin to remember a couple of things. There's a masked rider, a white horse. The lone ranger, that's it. This Redskins is his partner. The rangers? Yeah. I met up with him once, some time ago. You remember that, Tondo? Ah, me remember. Well, why are you here? What did you come here for? Answer me. Where's that mask, man? Did he send you here? Me not talk. Charlie, listen to me. If that mask man's around here, he suspects something. He'll tell the chief that he can't lose no time. Lose no time. The wagon outfit split up already. By the time you can get to the Santa Fe line, the rest will be too far north to hear the gun play. Don't wait any longer. Tell the chief that, Savi. Me, Savi. Hold on. Get their rope off, Tondo Settle. We'll hog-tie this critter, and then I'll persuade him to answer a few questions. No, that's not good. No? Well, you'll see. Before you go far, man on hill open fire. What's that? Man on the hill? You turn, man. Charlie, Charlie. You turn up. Me hit him. You take him. Let me up. Get out of the way. Him go, him get away. Where's my gun? Where's that gun I had? Get over, Charlie. Get out of the way. Here it is. I'll show him. You mess'em. Dog on red skin. Him too far here. You fool. You saw what he did? He got me off guard. Hit me. Pick me up and throw at him. Him say, look at him. You look. You plenty fool. Never mind that. Tell your chief that he'd better get set to attack right now, or he'll be the fool. As soon as that Indian reports of the Lone Ranger, there'll be a masked man heading for Bent's Fort. Soldier there. Yeah. If you don't want an army to fight with, you critters are going to move right now. Moscow, hold on. Hold on. Hello, our gunfire. Plenty trouble. We talk fast. Can't reach Bent's Fort in time. Me nor that. There's only one other place to go. We'll go there. Come on, tell them to set a big fire. Come on, soldier. Get him on, Moscow. Oh, God, it's Mary. It sure seems lonesome without Dave and all the younger men. I know, James. I feel as badly about the split as you do. But I feel even worse when I think that Dave would say such things about you. Too moved. You're not too old, James. If Dave hadn't been so hot-headed, we might have talked things out. I wish we had. I wonder if that guide went with Dave's mark. I don't know, Mary. Don't matter much. We're here on the trail's mark. James, I've been thinking all day. About what? About that guide. He just took his word for a lot of things about Dave. Yeah, he'd have no reason to lie about him. No. All the same, you didn't give Dave a chance to deny them. I wish you had. What's that? Jimmy, it sounded like an Indian. Give me some more of them. Jim, India's ahead. Warped. How far ahead? He'll be here in just a few minutes. Come this way. Here's some riding hogs. That's the way to pull the wagons into a circle. Get up there. Get up there. In here. Farmer's circle. Get a set to fight. Jim, there they come. Get around there. Come on, bitch. Get up. Get the rest of the shots. Yes, Jim. Yeah, perfect. Pioneers knew what they were up against. As quickly as possible, they drew the wagons into a tight circle, unhitched the horses, and then turned the wagons on their sides. Now, tip this one. Tip her right over. Never mind what she's trying to do. Time. This next wagon over. Give me a hand. The lone ranger and toddler raced almost due north toward the wagons that had left the original train to follow the Oregon trail. Dave Alton and one of his friends were in the leading wagon. When they heard a cry ring out from the hill on their left, they turned and saw two horsemen. Hey, Loomis, look at those horses coming down the hill. Great guns. You ever see anything travel faster? No, sir, never in all my foreign days. Hey, hey, take a look at the first rider. What about him? I don't see any of these masks. Yeah, that's what I thought. The other one's an engine. They're coming at us like they mean business. Yeah, what kind of business? Better get your gun where you can reach it fast. A true man wouldn't attack a whole wagon train. I don't know about that. A man that can ride like that might tackle anything. They're riding right up to us. Hold on, hold on, hold on, wait up there. Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Pass the word right up. Hold on, boy. Go tell them they wanted to be rid of us. The guide is working with the Indians. What guide? Martin, he's led your friend into a massacre. And who are you? What's the difference? For all you know, I might be an outlaw. That doesn't change things. Hatfield, Conway, Hurley. All the others are in danger. That you will never see sunset. What did you say about Martin? Martin's working with Indians. They're attacking your friend. What? Hey, Dave, Martin's the one that got me down on Hatfield. Well, me too. He wanted to split your train. Great day. Come to think of it, Martin's the one that turned me against Hatfield. If he talked to Hatfield like he talked to me, then, yeah, Loomis, you bring the wagon. I'm riding a saddle horse. Hey, boy. We're cutting south. Indians are taking our friends. Let's bring those horses south and give them the whip. Follow me. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Come on. We're at number two, Henry. That's why they dare to tackle dirty redskins. They wouldn't have tackled us if we hadn't split up. I got one of them. Well, at least we're down-fighting. Hey, Jim, look over there. There's our guy. It's Martin. Well, that horn would double-cross and skunk. Sold us out to the redskins. Yes, let me get a beat on him, lad. He got it. Well, the others got him ahead of me. No. They got you. Not bad. I managed to keep going. Jim, you load your own rifle from now on. I'm doing some shooting on my own. There's one. We can't hold out much longer. They'll know they've been fighting. Jim, Jim, look over there. Horsemen coming over the hill. Finally they come. Mary, they're finally on the Indians. Oh, thank goodness. Hang on, boys. That's coming. Look, wagons are following the horsemen. Wagons, sure enough. Look at them come. Jim, Jim is our boy. There's Dave and Kate and Sam and Loomis. Look at them riding behind that man on the white horse. A reinforcement stash straight at the hard-riding Indians with guns blazing. Many Indians fell before the attack. The others lost no time in racing for the safety of the distant hills. They've been taking care of your wounded friends. I don't know what to say. Dave told me how you sent him and the boys here and led the way for them. Well, the last of the wagons is back in shape and ready to travel. Dave, I haven't had a chance to speak to you. I've been so busy since the fight. Jim, I had all of our wagons put back in your line. I hope you don't mind. Fine. Oh, good, Dave. How could I mind after hearing what the mask man had to say about that scheming poke at the poses I guide. And you know? Sure I do. This man told me, hey, where'd he go? Pete, where is that mask man that was here a minute ago? Over there, Jim, with the Indians. Hey, mister. We'll look for you in Santa Fe until the last time. Jim, if the West has many men like him, I'm going to be proud of our new home. You have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.