 horse with the speed of light, the cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the masked 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 hoof beats of the great horse, Silver. The lone ranger rides again. On the Oregon Trail, the pioneers met many hardships and often the worst of these was not Indians or hunger or thirst or loss of direction. Know the thing that the pioneers feared most was fire because water was so precious that fire was hard to fight. It was fire that struck suddenly at a caravan of prairie schooners drawn up to the night of the dry camp in the desert. The wagons were drawn in a circle, their white canvas tops reflecting the light of the campfire where the pioneers were resting after suffering. Suddenly a burst of flame charred the weathered canvas of one wagon. Quick, get it out of the circle. Everyone will burn up. Hastings, lorry, drummen, come and run it. We got no water to spare. Take up the horses. There's no time for horses. Spank it out by head. Come on, Captain. All right, come on. Help me. This way, come on the circle. First, swing it over the other side. Swing it the wrong way. Yes, we can pull it up. Fire's getting many hardships. Handle's flying every which way. All right, men. This is far enough where to go. Stand back. Stand back. There's nothing we can do to put it out. Good. Can't wait, water drummen. This was your step. Stand by and watch your burn. Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson. Mr. Davis. Look at where you're going. You'll get burned. No, no. I just kept a warrior. This was a king of blaster powder and a wagon that might blow up. What's that? Blaster powder. That's so a blaster powder. I keep forgetting back, everybody. You see that? Keep big flame right up at night. It looked like an explosion. Where'd it come from? Only place near here. Oregon Trail. No explosion from there. The sound of it reached us, Tutto. It was an explosion. Must have been about 15 miles away. Are you savvy, that? The time between seeing it and hearing it took about 15 seconds for the sound to get here. Oh, maybe so. How to never learn that. Are you all gone now? Almost straight north of us, Tutto. That's right. North star up in the sky that way. We travel fast. We can get there long before dawn. Maybe that'd be bad. Maybe we come and they shoot. It'll be dark, Tutto. Necessary. We can leave our horses and go the rest of the way Indian style. They won't be able to see that I'm masked. Isn't that true? Whatever caused it, someone may need help. We can't turn aside. We shared each something over. They can't understand it. I've led plenty of wagons to Oregon. Plenty. But I never had the things happen that seem to be happening to this one. We had three fires. Two people killed. This seems like there's an evil spirit dog in this wagon train. I declare it does. No reason for it. And yet it happens. How soon do you think we'll be able to hit the trail again, Mr. Johnson? The way I feel now, it'll be two days before we can move. After that, they'll be riding a wagon instead of a horse. Of course. You two get along now. Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Mighty strange about these happenings. Something mighty strange. I wish I could figure whether it's accident or whether somebody is doing with the whole deliberate. But if it's deliberate, what's the reason? I can't say why anyone would... Who's that? I heard the canvas scrape. Who's that? You don't need your gun. I still... Who are you? It's dark. I'm a friend. You were none of the wagon train I can tell you about. Who are you? We saw the explosion from the south. We rode here as fast as we could. We? Who else is with you? Tonto. He's my Indian partner. An engine? Well, I can understand how an engine can creep up without any noise, but you're not an engine. No, I'm not. I can't see your face. It's dark, but... There's something about your voice. You do sound like a friend. We listened outside before we came in. Johnson, in your heart, you know someone is doing all these things. You mean the fire and the explosion? Whatever they are. You do feel that way, don't you? You're a pretty smart hombre, mister. Nobody else guessed how I feel. I thought so. Matter of fact, I didn't dare let my feelings out. Folks might get panicky. They start seeing things in the shadows. They might even start mistrusting each other. But none that happened on the trail. Yes. That's what it was a feat of. Will you tell us about this wagon train? All about it. The people in it. Where they came from. Where you're heading. What do you know about them? Well... How about it? Mister, I don't savvy why I'm agreeing, but Kino, I will. I'll tell you what. Oh, your side? Yes, but it's worse than I care to tell. I can't... I can't look at by now. Wait a second. It's all right, Johnson. Kano's very good at lecturing people. He knows all about Indian herbs and varieties. We know what to do for by him. We fix it plenty good when we get plants that grow near here. Can you get it now, Kano? Uh-huh. Me, go get it! That means you'll be as good as new very soon, Johnson. Now, suppose you tell me. Let's start with you. Where did you come from and where are you going? Oh, Sharon. That day was the finest breakfast I ever ate. I declare, when a body can eat such fine bitters, it makes him forget all these troubles. Of which we have plenty, Ralph. Yeah, poor Drummond. Oh, well, what's past is past. Let's set our minds to the future, Sharon, to Oregon. Oregon. Land of peace and plenty. Why do we ever get there? Yes, for your sunny disposition, if I ever saw one. I don't feel sunny. Nothing but rack and ruin following this wagon train. That's what it is, rack and ruin. Ain't that so, Berman? Yep, yep. Of course it's a silver lining to all this trouble we've been having. You mean getting to Oregon? Well, not getting there, Miss Davis, but how many get there? Looks like it's going to be less. In some ways, that's mighty good. Well, every time anybody died, why, they willed their parcel of land to the rest of us, didn't they? Well, are you whole, the honoring of... Well, you sound like a grave robber. Oh, here now, now. Sit down, Davis, sit down. Well, that's no way to talk. Oh, I agree with it, isn't it? But still, it's a fact, isn't it? Yes, sir. Well, no sense dodging facts. Let's face them, I say. Oh, all I wish is that we get there. Agreed, ma'am, agreed. Well, how we're going to get along when Johnson is flattening his back and on a mighty good deletion, I don't... Somebody miss my name? I declare Mr. Johnson. Why, you look as lively as a chipmunk. I feel lively. Well, it's not possible. You better get right back to bed and stay there. You got a bad burn. Which same is completely better? At least a few is better. And I never figured you were so handy a doctor. Oh, no more did I, Ralph. Are you certain you're feeling fit, Mr. Johnson? How don't you trouble your mind, Mr. Davis? I'm fit as a fiddle. Ready to lead this wagon train to Oregon and back. Well, what's the matter, Berman? Is something troubling you? No, no. You look like a bullfrog, getting ready to croak. That's the way you always look. You know, everybody, if you're finished with a morning meal, what are we waiting for? Oh, a thing, I guess. Sure is a bright morning. A beautiful morning. We're just right ahead for Oregon. So hitch up them horses, get those wagons ready. Hey, Johnson. What about the wagon that burned? We taking that along? Nope. Why not? It's still got good wheels and some parts. We don't want it. All it'll do will remind us of... Yeah, yeah. Sharon's right. Leave it right here. Sure, we'll leave it here. Come on, now. Let's get busy. We're heading for Oregon. It's good to be here to fail again, isn't it, Sharon? We are the last wagon. Oh, sure. Sharon, we're the last wagon. Always before this, I could look back and see Drummond's wagon. Sharon. He was a real fine man, Drummond. It was...it was comforting. Every time I'd look around, he'd wave his whip for grin or sing out some word. Oh, no, Sharon, honey, you mustn't. No. I'll be all right directly, Rat. It was just passing by what's left of his wagon that made me feel... Just keep looking ahead, Sharon. That way's Oregon. Do you think we'll ever get there? Of course we will. Lots of folks don't. But we will. We'll get there. We're bound to. And when we do it, Sharon, I told you not to keep looking back. Ralph! Ralph! Honey, what's wrong with you? Why are you turning white as cow's milk? I don't see him now. Huh? I don't see nothing back there but that burnt wagon. I don't either. Not now. But for a second, I thought I saw two riders over yonder besides that comfort tree. Sure. Two riders, Ralph. And I could have sworn that one of them one of them wore a mess. How are you, Kimosabe? The wagon train has gone. Hunter Watts from Hill. Wagon train gone to west. Oh, they see us. You look at wagon. Yes, what's left of it? Canvas burnt bad, huh? Yes, the frame has twisted from explosion. But do you smell something, Tutto? Huh? Oh, me smell oil. I noticed that too. But where it come from? Right here from the wagon, Tutto. From wagon? Oh, that's right. But taunter not savvy. If wagon on fire, then why this part not burned? The explosion, the blasting powder blew the flames out. Oh, that's right. That Kimosabe. That's pretty strange. What's that? Oil on outside wagon. Outside. Not inside. Yes, I know. But that mean oil not come from fire or from inside wagon. It means... It means that oil came from outside the wagon. Huh? It means someone deliberately spilled oil on that wagon and then set it on fire. That's right. I knew you'd notice it. But who do it? Well, you were with me last night when I talked to Johnson, Tutto. You told us all he knew the people on this wagon train. Ah, him do that. Can you single any one of them out? No. No taunter not able to tell from that. Neither can I. There's one point he made. Huh? I mean what Johnson said about where this wagon train is heading and what they plan to do. Ah, they head for Valley of Waterfalls. Yes. What else? Ah, you mean talk about community? That's it, Tutto. Community settlement. They were all planning to settle the valley together and to own the land together. No single plots for each family, but all the families own all the lands. You see? Ah, that like Indian custom. Yes. But tell me this, Tutto. In your tribe, suppose a family dies. What happens to its teepee? Its horses and its furs. They go to rest a village. Suppose all the families died off and one family was left. But that family owned all the wealth of the entire tribe? Ah, that's right. But... King of Savi. Don't a Savi now. That's what you mean. I'm certain of it, Tutto. Someone in that wagon train is deliberately planning murder in order to get his clutches on the whole valley to take everything for himself. It looked that way. Everything points to it. And yet there's no way of knowing who the fiend is. Him not stopping anything, huh? We've got to make him stop. That's right. But it's the same as looking for spring in big desert. Not as bad as that, Tutto. There are only 20 people in that wagon train. If we watch some day and night from now on and we're sure to get some idea... Now, what we do? We go after wagon train? Yes, from now until it reaches Oregon until we uncover the murderer. Steady, Silver, here's the key. We're heading west, Tutto, after the wagon train. Come on, Silver! 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. Westward, mile after mile, moved the ill-fated wagon train. As each day brought its new problems, the pioneers forgot about the tragedies they'd left behind and thought more and more about Oregon. One night around the campfire... Well, I reckon we've lifted our troubles back with the old campfires. Everything's been Jim Dandy lately. Even the weather's been nice. The country's easier to travel in, too. More trees and more hills. It rests the eyes, kind of. More trees and hills. More space for engines to hide behind. That's right. There's trouble ahead. You never know when lightning's going to strike never. Julie! Don't you two ever think about anything cheerful? Such a thing is being too cheerful. I heard tales about what happens in this country. Engines that come out of the night without warning. They lift your scalp before you know it. You old gentleman. Don't joke on me. Why, only yesterday dawn I saw one of them. You saw one of what? An engine. Why don't you come here? I am not. I got eyes. I know what I saw. It was just around dawn. There was no shadows. Everything was gray. And strange looking. Sure, you know how it is around dawn. It gives you the creeps. Something woke me up. I don't know what. I was sleeping under my wagon. I looked out between the spokes. And then I seen him. An engine a little ways off. He was sitting on a paint horse. He had eagle feathers in his hair. And he was looking down on our camp. Not saying a word. Or moving a muscle. I tell you, it gave me the gym, James. I didn't just shoot him. Well, I tried to. I reached for my gun, but I... Well, the second I put my hand out, he was gone. His horse gulped away into the mist. Right out of sight. And you can believe this or not. But that horse didn't make a sound. Oh, Berman, that's fine talk for the women and children to hear. Well, that's enough. I wish likely he was dreaming. Let's forget all about it. The day after tomorrow, we come to the Snake River. There's going to be a job to cross it. You've got to be thinking about that instead of about the engine. Hey, what in the front there? Casper, what was that? I don't know. Something hit the log I'm setting on. It is an awful wallet, but... Look! Look at that! It's an arrow. An Indian arrow. Without the fire. Men, get your guns. We'll keep watch all night. Hey, I told you I saw an engine. Come on, get your guns. He was happy. We keep watch on wagon train for six days now. Not see anything. Quiet, someone's coming. That's right. Come on, follow me. Just stand where you are. Oh, it's you, Johnson. Well, I swear, she would give me a start. I came out looking for you on your part, but I didn't know exactly where to go. Now, we hear you. Anything unusual will happen with the wagon train, Johnson? Well, yes and no. There's a little something about the engine. Engine? No engine around here. Women swear they saw one this morning at dawn. Engine ought to paint horse. Of course, that was Tuddo. And when the horse left, his hoofs made no sound. Not right. Scout team have hoofs wrapped with cloth so as not to make noise. Well, yes, I thought it might be you, Tuddo, but something else happened just a couple of hours ago. Tuddo, you didn't shoot an arrow, did you? Huh? An arrow? I only hit a log, not more than a foot from Jasper. He pulled it out and gave it to me. The whole cab's on tenor hooks about it. Tuddo shot no arrow, Johnson? He didn't. And that means there are engines around. Hostile engines are getting ready to raid. Wait. You bring arrow with you? Yes, here it is. It's dark. Tuddo's not able to see. You like match, huh? I still get a few matches. Here you are. Oh, you look Kimusabi. Yes, I see it, Tuddo. Johnson, that's not an Indian arrow. What's that? It looks like one, but it isn't. Every Indian arrow bears certain markings. The Apache make their arrows a certain way. The Crow another way. It's the same with the Sioux and the Blackfeet and the Navajo. There's no markings of any tribe. Isn't that right, Tuddo? No, it's not Indian arrow. Well, you gents, you know all about things, don't you? We've been ranging the west for years, Johnson. They don't serve me. If it wasn't engines, who did shoot this arrow? Perhaps it wasn't shot at all. Did you hear it hiss through the air? No, but we heard it hit the log besides we was talking and it was dark. Yes, it was dark and you were talking. Sort of been easy for someone among you to take advantage of that. To conceal the arrow where it wouldn't be seen and to drive it into the log by hand. Well, I'll be sure that's it. Yes, this is all part of the scheme to keep the wagon train nervous and wrought up. They've got no idea who did it. They're clever, Johnson. Whoever they are, they're very clever. Hey, hope nothing happens for a while. We got the Snake River to cross. It's a muddy tough job. Your men will need all the rest they can get to cross the Snake. Go back to Camp Johnson, see if you can calm your camp down. I'll tell them what you said about the arrow. No, don't do that. Why not? Because we don't know who the killers are, Johnson. If you explain about the arrow, it will make them more wary. We'll never learn their identity. We just have to watch and wait. And Tutto and I will be near every minute. Key no mash, man. Adios. Adios. The Snake River. Huh? Tutto, I didn't mention it to Johnson, but I have a feeling there's going to be trouble at Snake River. What's more, I think there was someone listening to us talking just now. I'm sorry. And Johnson, at the match, I saw two eyes glowing in the reflection and they disappeared. Maybe an animal. I don't think so. They were just the right height for a man's eyes, Tutto. Why are you not following? Because they went back to the wagon camp. It would have been impossible to know who it was. But he saw us and he heard us, Tutto. There's going to be trouble. Look, Johnson, when he left camp, we aren't going to get into the wagon besides you. We've got to work fast, Jasper. Johnson knows there's something brewing. You're local. I'm not local. I followed him, I tell you. He walked out behind the hills and he met a masked man and an engine. The same engine I saw this morning. He showed him the arrow you made. Go on. You didn't do such a good job with that arrow, Jasper. The engine and the masked man knew right off that it was a fake. It might have fooled him, but not those armors. Masked man, huh? I don't like it, Berman. No more do I. At least there's one thing in our favor. They haven't got any idea that it's us who set fire to Drummond's wagon and killed him. That it was us who stampeted the horses at Kelso. I don't like it. There's 20 people still left. We're getting closer to Oregon every day. And every day Johnson, those two armors will get closer to discovering it's us. We've got to work fast, Berman. What are we going to do? There's 18 people to get rid of. That's a big job, and once across the Snake River, it's only two days. Berman, that's it. The Snake River. Huh? Why didn't I think of it before? Sure, that's the place. There's mighty fast rapids down below the crossing. The water gets so fast and rough, it'll drown 18 people as easy as flies. And those that don't drown, we can shoot from the bank. You're the one, this local, Jasper. You make it sound as simple as... It is. It is, Berman. Teddy Silvers, Teddy, easy boy, easy. Latching logs to the sides of the wagon's tunnel. They'll be crossing the Snake River very soon, huh? Uh, you say trouble come at Snake River. I still think so. There go first wagon into water now. You see who it is? Two men ride wagon. Father Holden reigns. One called Jasper. Another man, him Berman. Jasper and... Otto. Jasper. Isn't he the one who found that arrow? That's right. And Berman is the man who's been telling all the gruesome stories around the campfire, stories about Indian Redding parties and prairie fires. That's right, too. Yes, Burned Berman. And they're the first ones to cross the river. Otto, ride down to the bank. Ride at once and tell Johnson you're crossing with him. He crossed with pioneers? Tell him that. Go ahead. I'm leaving you here. Where you go, Kimasabi? You'll see me later. Just be ready for whatever happens. Come on, Silvers. All right, roll wind up. I wagon goes into the water next. Maybe you follow mine, so on. Just be sure you keep holding that rope otherwise the curtain will carry you downstream. Mr. Johnson, Mr. Johnson, just a second. Yes, David. I don't want to seem curious, but that engine. Is he riding with you? Yes, he is. Do you think it's wise, after all, an engine none of us has ever seen before? I haven't seen him, Davis. His name is Tonto. And I'll tell you something there is. He's partnered to the Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger? Yep. Got any more objections? No, sir, not now. Lead the way, Mr. Johnson. I'll be right behind you and so will the rest. Kino shall. We're ready to go. Come on now. All ready? All ready, Tonto. What about your horse? Scout him, swim beside wagon. Him all right. We better be ready for anything, eh? That's what the Lone Ranger say. I wish I knew what. Kino, Jasper, here we go. Make sure that rope doesn't slip. Get up there. Get up, horses. Let's look into the water. Get up there. Get up there. Come on. One by one the wagons were driven into the wide water. The horses pushed into the current, floundering for a moment from the river deepen and swimming strongly as the wagons floated behind. The men in the wagons held on the stout rope that stretched from one shore to another. Slowly, the caravan moved toward the center of the stream and on the western shore, their eyes gleaming and their lips thin and cruel waited the two murderers. They're all in the water now, Jasper. Keep your hands off your guns, you fool. Yeah. We're getting close to the middle, Jasper. Let them come about 50 yards more. That's where the current is fastest. Where's the axe? Right against the tree where the rope's tied. Kino. Now. Now's the time. Come on, German. Get that axe and cut the rope. Theos, Johnson! Howdy-oast to all of you. We're going to cut the rope. You're all drowned in the river. The valley of the waterfall will be mine. Cut the rope, Berman. Yeah. No, you don't. Cut that axe. Oh, what happened? Knock the axe out of my hands. Jasper, get your guns. Shoot him in the head. Raise your hands in the air and stay away from that rope. Those wagons are getting to shore and you won't stop them. It's good to be across that river, Mr. Johnson. The logs are all off the way and it's ready to roll again. What about Jasper and Berman? They'll head for Jave instead of working on Miss Divis. A lone ranger in the Indian are taking them back for trial. The masked man saved our lives. When I think we might have drowned in that terrible river, I... did you say he's the lone ranger? Yes, ma'am. Look. Look, there they go. Look at them ride. Oh, that white stallion gleams in the sunlight. He sure does. What are we waiting for? Come on, let's hit the trail. We're heading for Oregon. What you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the lone ranger incorporated.