 The fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty Hio Silver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tuttle, a daring and resourceful mass 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 hoof beats of the great horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. The Apache drums have been echoing through the hills every night, and when Silver whinnied, the Lone Ranger and Tuttle immediately put out their small campfire. A moment later, they heard slow hoof beats heading through the woods toward their clearing. They led Silver and Scowd into the cover of the trees and then waited. Their guns ready. A single horseman rode into the clearing and dismounted beside the remains of their campfire. The Lone Ranger stepped forward. Up with your hands. Don't shoot. I'm only a tramp lose. Lost his way. I mean no harm. All right, Tuttle. But you are least your an Indian. I'm wearing a mask. Outlaws. No, you're wrong there. You're perfectly safe with us. Let's take a chance on the fire again, Tuttle. Silver will warn us if anyone else comes along. Ah, me fix it. A few minutes later, the campfire had been rebuilt, and Tuttle continued with his preparations for the evening meal. The Lone Ranger studied their visitor by the light of the flames. The old man's clear blue eyes and white beard gave his face a distinction in startling contrast to his travel worn buckskins. I've seen your face before. It may be that we've met. Oh, I've seen your picture. Isn't your name O'Connell? Aren't you a colonel with a Confederate army? In the south, I'm still a colonel. I have a great respect for your courage and your ability. Oh, no. There you force courtesy to the breaking point. If you recognized me, it'd be impossible to respect me. Courage? Ability? How can you apply those words to the man who led O'Connell's charge? It's been compared to the charge of the 600 in the Valley of Death. A good comparison. O'Connell's massacre. Why couldn't I have died with a man who died all around me? You almost achieved the impossible, sir. Impossible from the beginning? No one blames you for worrying the charge. That was your general's fault. It was one of the few mistakes your general ever made. No one blames me. Not even the wives and mothers of those young men who died. I've had the misfortune of looking into their eyes. You're wrong, sir. You had to obey orders. To take the Valley at any cost. To drive back the Union forces at the Far Ridge. Did I have to obey that order? Couldn't I have shown real courage or refused? They say that when the leader of your first troop asked you if the charge would have been made, you were unable to answer him. You could only nod your head. I did nod my head and I spurred my horse forward. And I never gave the order to retreat. But Colonel, your men had the stuff heroes are made of. They wouldn't have wanted you to... Please, I've fought that battle over a thousand times. I'd rather not talk about it. Oh, I'm sorry, sir. Food ready, Colonel? In a minute. Which way are you heading? To the fort, my son Tom is with the nine. He used to be captain of Colonel during the war. Now it's sergeant, but he'll make his way up. I came out here to see him once more before... I'm actually war drummed. You'd better stay with us tonight, Colonel. There's less chance of running into a raiding party during the day. And Todd and I can show you the best trails. You make me wonder, sir. About what? You're obviously a gentleman. Why do you wear a mask? That's a long story. Perhaps I can guess a part of it. Perhaps. Can it be that far from being an outlaw, you're on the side of the law? And concealing your true identity helps you in your work? That's practically the whole story. Sir, I'm honored by this meeting. The following morning, the lone ranger, Toto and the Colonel, worked their way down from the Tangled Hills. The sun was high in the sky when they heard the Apache war whoops in the distance. How far away are they, Toto? Over next ridge to west. The Loramers. Colonel Lafrenovours has arranged a valour beyond that next ridge. You may have heard of him, John Loramer. He raiders the best horses in the west. You believe he's been attacked? Either that or the Indians are trying to run off some of his thoroughbred. And you're going to his assistance? Yes. Now all you have to do to get to the fort is follow this trail. And when it hits the valley, keep on traveling due south. I'd like to go with you, if I may. I can still shoot you though. Now you're welcome, Colonel. One, two, three, four! As they topped the ridge, they could see a large cloud of dust to the west and another a smaller cloud a mile or two behind. Directly below, a smoke was pouring from the ranch house. And half a dozen men were fighting to control the blaze. When the lone ranger and his companions reached level ground, the masked man led the way to John Loramer, who was standing under a cottonwood near the house. It's been a long time, mister, but I'm sure glad to see you. We heard the war cries from the other side of the ridge. We got here as fast as we could. Mary, my daughter. Mary was riding down by the creek when they attacked. They took her prisoner. They were apaches. Yes, about 20 of them. They were after your horses. Look, they got them all. How did they set fire to the house? Fire arrows. It's only the roof, no damage to speak of. It's practically out. You were sure your daughter was taken prisoner? We heard her scream. That was our first warning. Ten minutes later, it was all over. We saw Mary. They forced her to ride away with them. And you sent some men after them? No. I mean they're all here. No horses. But the Indians are being followed. We saw two clouds of dust just when we were up on the ridge. Soldiers. Sergeant O'Connell and his scouting party rode up 20 minutes after the Apache high-tailed it. Tom, this is the sergeant's father, John. Oh, well, howdy. Howdy do, sir. Your son's trying to cut them off before they reach the pass at the end of the valley. The apaches have too much of a start. Then they'll keep after them. How many men does the sergeant have? There are eight of them all together. Your son can use a few more guns, Colonel. He doesn't know me. Would you vouch for me? I certainly will. All right, let's go. Easy, easy. I promise you, John, we won't come back without your daughter. Thank you. Come on. The Colonel was riding a big raw bone chestnut with plenty of stamina and speed. The lone ranger and tato only had to restrain silver and scout slightly to allow him to keep up. When they reached the opening of the pass, they heard shooting. And a mile farther on, they found the soldier's horse's ground hitched. Here they dismounted. They stayed close to the rocky walls of the pass and made their way cautiously around the bend in the canyon. Just ahead, Sergeant O'Connell was firing from the cover of a big boulder. The other troopers had taken cover on the other side of the canyon and were blazing away at the far opening. Come! Hey! What are you doing here? We've just come from the Loramus Ranch. May I smell in an engine? Who are these men? They're friends, son. You can be sure of that. We're here to lend a hand. What's the situation? Most of the apache are holed up just ahead. No sign of the horses are married. They must have sent them on with a small guard. I keep down! Yeah. Get them careless. They can stop you here for a long time. I know that. But there's nothing to do but blast them out. A common old trail over ridge. One mile to south. That right? Can we make it with our horses? No. It too steep for troopers' horse. Can Silver and Scout make it? They will go on. What do you mean? They'll cross the ridge and follow the horses and the girl. But there are only two of them. You said there could only be a small guard. We'll try to catch up with them. All right. Go to it. We'll be coming after you as soon as we can get through here. Give it to them now! The lone reindeer and tato ran back to their horses, mounted and followed their back trail through the pass. Then tato led the way south to the trail up and over the ridge. It was a trail better suited to mountain goats than horses. But Silver and Scout never hesitated. And in half an hour they were on the far side of the ridge. Tato dismounted near a patch of soft ground. Easy, Scout. Easy, Fuller. Then drying horses this way. Book prints not deep. Then not go fast. They think they're safe. Well, that gives us a chance. Easy, Scout. Easy, Fuller. Silver understand we're following a trail. I'm going to give him his head. That good idea. This rough country. Him follow a trail better than Tato. All right. Go to it, boy. Get him off Scout! Through the walkie-hills, Silver picked his way with skill and precision, and Scout raced easily at his side. Mile after mile, until suddenly, Silver threw up his head and slowed down. What is it, boy? Easy, easy. A moment later, Mary Lorimer rode into sight around a rocky outcropping. Her palomino was being urged to its greatest speed. But an Indian rode close behind her. His tomahawk raised above his head. There was no chance for the lone ranger to shoot. Mary was in his line of fire. But the sight of the masked man and Tato with their ready guns was enough to stop the Apache. He pulled up his Mustang, wheeled, and a moment later, he was gone. The girl was sobbing as she rode up to the lone ranger and his companion. Oh, my God! When Donald... We haven't seen you for nearly a year now. This moment when I thought... Oh, I can't tell you the relief. You're all right now, Mary. Where'd you come from? How'd you get here? You weren't with the soldiers. We caught up with them at the pass. Donald Ike him over the ridge. But where are the horses? Just around his shoulder. There's a creek. They stopped to drink, and the renegades were having a hard time getting started again. I made a break, and one of them came after me. I thought it was all over. How many Apaches are with the horses? Only three. Wait here for us. Oh, no, don't. Don't risk your lives. Don't let them have the horses. They're too good for Chief, little dog. Stay here, Mary. One silver. The Apaches were still trying to drive the thoroughbreds across the creek when the lone ranger and Tato round at the rocky shoulder. They opened fire. Their first shots missed. The lone ranger wounded one of them on the shoulder. The Indian immediately pulled his mount around, thinking only of escape. His companions followed him, and the lone ranger let them go. It was only the work of a few minutes to round up the thoroughbreds and drive them back to the point where Mary was waiting. What are you going to do with these horses? You can't drive them back through the pass. It's closer to the fort than it is to your father's ranch now. Oh, don't I know it. But what's the matter with the fort? Oh, you want to go there? You look. Father, your patches from the pass. Here they come. Quick, Mary, this mouth. Get behind those rocks. We'd better make a run for them. Easy, silly big fella. Your horse is too tired. Hurry. Go on, silver. Get the horses out of the way. Go on, boy. They've not seen us yet. They will soon. It looks to me as if the troopers are after them. They try to stop them until they catch up. Tato, open fire. The curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause just a few moments. Now to continue. Silver led the Lorimer thoroughbreds toward a clump of trees near the cliff wall, but they were still in plain sight when the Apaches thundered up the trail. The Indians evidently had no intention of stopping for anything, and as the lone ranger and Tato opened fire, the reason became clear. The troopers were nearly on top of them, and the Indians were not returning their fire. Obviously, they were out of ammunition. When the lone ranger and Tato blocked the trail ahead, they raised their hands and shot at their commander. When the Apaches had been disarmed and their hands tied behind their backs, the sergeant conferred with the lone ranger. I should be getting back to the fortress as fast as I can. Well, that's where Mary wants to go. That's the safest place for the horses. Tato, it's called trail. You've got yourself a job. Let's go, man! The sky clouded over as they rode, and when darkness fell, it was inky black. There was nothing to do but let the horses pick their own trail. As they topped a wooded hill just below the long descent into Buffalo Basin, they pulled up. Then Tato went down the slope on foot. No campfires down there. That doesn't mean there aren't Indians. Lloyd, pass the word to those renegades. Not a sign. Right. You heard the sergeant. I'll put a bullet to the first one of you to let's out of here. You savvy? It seemed to be hours that they waited for Tato. It was actually less than one. He reappeared as silently as he had left. Well, Tato... They're plenty Indian in Bally. Don't think all the patchy down there with Chief Little Dog hit not safe go on. We've got to cross the valley. You can circle it. It'll take hours. Better to lose a little time and not get to the fort at all. And sergeant, have you asked yourself why Little Dog is here? He's got plenty of nerves. So close to the fort? You mean he's going to attack it? Could be. Think how easily the tables could be turned if the troops were to ride through that lower pass at first light, just as the Indians were getting ready to move. Smash the hole? Yes. All right. We'll circle the valley. Colonel! What's the matter, Mary? It's the Colonel. He's lying down on the ground. His eyes are closed. What? Dad, what's the matter? Sergeant, there's a spot on his jacket. It's damned. Let me see. The chest wound. That must have happened back at the pass. Not to put bandage on. Plenty quick. There's only a flesh wound. He's lost a lot of blood. This changes things. He can't ride anymore. I can't leave him? You have to. But Mary, you're men and the prisoners. I don't know. I'll stay here with your father. The horses? Leave them here, too. Just get the troops back here by dawn. Dad. He's unconscious. We'll take good care of him, sergeant. I'm sure of that. All right. We'll get started. The sergeant waited until Toto had bandaged his father's chest. Then he rode off into the darkness with Mary, his men and the prisoners. The lone ranger and Toto began their lonely vigil by the side of the wounded colonel. A bitter cold wind sprang up, and although the colonel had been covered with blankets, Toto was worried. The blanket's not enough, Kimusabi. Him need fire. Can we move him somewhere where we can build one without being seen? Toto, pray to do that. Maybe two, three hour. It'd be all right. Not now. Well, we can't light one fire. The Indians would be up here in a second. But we could light a lot of them. Many fire? What would little dog think if he suddenly saw a dozen campfires up here on the ridge? Him think trooper soldiers camp here for night. Yes. And what would he do about it? He'd not do anything till dawn. Would he attack then? No. No. That not way little dog fight. Him let soldiers see few Indian in valley. Small camp. All other Indian hide behind butte, behind rock. There are plenty places in valley. Little dog wait for soldiers to come after few Indian. Then all Indians surround troop. That's the way I figure it too, Toto. Well, we'll build the fires. Let him think there's a full troop up here. We'll let him make his plan. But when morning come, can him see only us? The Colonel can be moved before then, Kenny. By morning we'll be gone. In the meantime, the Colonel will have the fire he needs. The lone ranger and Toto set a dozen campfires along the top of the ridge. They didn't light them one after another in a series, but first one, then another some distance away, then one next to the first, until all the fires were blazing high. It was only a few minutes later that the Colonel stirred for the first time. Then he sat pulled upright and stared around him. Easy, Colonel. Major. Easy. There's no need to cuddle me, Major. I'm not as tired as you think. I've just returned from the general. Yes, sir. We have our orders. We're to attack at dawn. Yes, sir. In that case, we'd better get some sleep. Eh? Sleep? Ah, blessed sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care. If only I didn't know what tomorrow would bring. You'll wake me shortly before dawn, Major. Of course, Colonel. Good night. Good night. You have fever. Yes, it's delirious. I suppose this ridge and these fires reminded him of the night before he led his famous charge. Ah, him to sleep now. To sleep. A chance to dream. Aye, there's the rub. There was no sleep with a lone ranger and tato that night. The hour before dawn came and they prepared to evacuate their patient. They saddled Silver, Scout, and the Colonel's horse. The chestnut was left standing beside his sleeping master as they rode away from the campfire to round up the thoroughbreds. This took nearly half an hour because they had to work in complete silence. There was a glimmer of light in the east as they rode back to the campfire. Both the Colonel and the chestnut were gone. They heard a ringing cry far down the slope. Tato, he thinks he's leading a charge. Indians hear him. They'll see him soon. Silver and Scout plunged down the slope in the band of thoroughbreds who had accepted Silver as their leader followed close behind. The floor of the valley was reached. Now Silver and Scout! It was getting lighter by the second now but a ground missed rows and swirled about them. The lone ranger and Tato flashed by a clump of boulders. The first shot rang out. Now the lone ranger and Tato had almost caught the hard-riding Colonel. Take the right side, Tato. Keep to his left. There was no need for more words between the masked man and his companion. To turn back now that the Indians had been alerted would be suicide. The only chance for survival was to reach the pass at the southern end of the basin. Tato knew every inch of the basin. The fitful breeze swept aside the mist every now and then and allowed him to pick out familiar landmarks and avoid the great clumps of rock where the Indians had taken cover. The lone ranger and Tato rode close to the Colonel now one on either side. The masked man studied the old soldier. His body was tense. His eyes were fixed straight ahead. The pistol in his right hand was raised above his shoulder as if he were carrying a sword. The Colonel was living his famous charge once more. His whole being was intent on redeeming his great defeat. He must reach his goal of the distant great Old Man called to victory. But his allies were slipping away not the lone ranger and Tato who rode close enough to hold him in his saddle at the first sign of weakening but the darkness and the mist it grew lighter and lighter and the mist was rising. A great beaut loomed ahead and the Indian behind you to the west of it they slanted away from the shear walls of the beaut and were nearly half a mile to the west when they passed it. Over a hundred Indians this was no cavalry charge but only three men followed by a band of horses. They leaped on their ponies and in spite of the range opened fire as they rode. Wait for the pass, Tato. We're going to cut us off. Get him up. Come on. The Indians had the shorter distance to ride to reach the opening of the pass but their ponies could not match the speed of silver scout the chestnut and the free running thoroughbreds. It was clear the masked man and his companions would reach the pass first operating them the Indians were firing steadily the Lone Ranger held his fire until they were in range he studied the leaders hoping to recognize little dog and at last he picked him out he took deliberate aim and fired but he never saw the result of his shot because at that moment the Colonel cried out I can't make it man no one will help me he swayed in the saddle quickly the Lone Ranger grasped him around the waist and lifted him from the chest not for silver's back but even the great stallion could not maintain his speed carrying such a burden right for the ridge they take cover on the slope they changed their direction away from the pass straight toward the ridge they started up the slope 50, 100 feet the holding Indians were after them eager for the kills the Lone Ranger dismounted lifted the Colonel from the saddle and placed him on the ground behind a rock go on silver up the ridge go on scout Tahoe took cover beside the masked man as the crew prepared to fight to the inevitable finish then the climb ridge here and climb ridge to west got a bridge and get above us and all came a sudden they can't leave the Colonel they just have to hold out as long as we can only take a patchy few minutes to climb ridge but the renegades were never allowed those few minutes just as the sun rose above the eastern rim of the basin a bugle sounded in the distance a tide of blue poured out of the pass and into the basin the cavalry told us the Indians rode hard for the cover of the big beaut but soon realized they must fight in the open the battle was joined and as the Lone Ranger and Tahoe watched it the Colonel stirred Major Yes Colonel Did we make the ridge? Yes we did How many men did we lose? Not one sir you can rest easy Great victory That's right Colonel Great victory and it was a great victory the Lone Ranger single shot and wounded little dog without their leader the hatchies had no taste for a pitched battle with the odds even by noon every one of the renegades had surrendered the Colonel opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by the activity of a busy camp Tom and the regimental surgeon were kneeling beside him That's better Colonel you'll do now Tom you got back here in time Yes Dan I'll see that he gets some broth make him keep quiet until the ambulance arrives I will sir Tom I had the same old dream I was leading the charge again but this time everything turned out alright we reached our objective without a single casualty the reinforcements arrived on time I can't tell you how good it made me feel just to dream something like that It wasn't a dream Dan you did lead a charge all the way across the valley you brought the Indians out into the open and that made it easy for us when we got here but a dream no I'll tell you all about it when you get stronger but believe me this charge will wipe out every memory of the other one you see this time you had a great aid riding beside you Mary told me all about him the mask man this time dad this time you were riding with the lone ranger this is a feature of the lone ranger incorporated created by George W. Trendle produced by Trendle Campbell Enterprises directed by Charles D. Livingston and edited by Fran Stryker the part of the lone ranger is played