 horse for the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the lone ranger. Men sat tensely on their horses concealed by the sage rice which frinsed them off and trailed. Between their low-pulled hat brems and the handkerchief which disguised their faces, their eyes glittered with anticipation as they watched a stagecoach racing toward them along the winding path. Then they slid their six guns from their hosters and primed them for sudden death. Won't be long now, Blackie. But the way Popcogge is driving them horses. I think the old coot would have more sense than to run a six and hand through the mountains at that speed. He'll have to break his neck. Yeah, I wish he would. Then it'll be a cinch to take the gold. But that hombre's traveled this trail too long. He knows every bend, rock and hump in it. Not this trip, Blackie. You're right, Colt. This time he's due for a surprise. If them boulders we blast on the trail, don't stop him, why, nothing will. He'll stop him. That ordinary old Maverick's given us a slip once too often. But with the road blocked, he can't get away. I don't know. There's still some space between the edge of the trail and that trail. Yeah, don't be a fool. That gap's too small for the stage. He tries to squeeze through that. He'll crash for sure. I will soon know. Here he comes. Come on. We'll cut in on him from behind. Get up there. Get up, boy. Get up. Hey, Colt. The stage ain't stopping. It's heading for that gap. The old fool, he'll never make it. Rain up. He's gonna crash. Oh, oh, oh there. I've seen some sights in my time, Blackie, but never wanted to beat that. Yeah. Oh, the old man sure had plenty of nerve. Suppose he's still alive. He is. He must be made of iron. Come on, let's get the gold. Get up, boy. Come on. Come on, come on. He's got more lives than a cat. He's barricaded behind the stage, Blackie. We haven't got a chance. Yeah, that dog got him. He ain't keeping the gold from us this time. Well, let's clear out of here. Get up, boy. Ray, district superintendent of the Overland Express Stage Line sat behind his office desk and shrewdly surveyed the two youths who stood before him. They were Paul and Tad Collier, the veteran driver's sons. So you think he can handle a six in hand, huh? Yes, sir. We know he can. Kind of young, ain't you? Takes plenty of muscle and a cool head to handle an Overland stage. Them horses have a mind of their own, you know. There's no telling who'll be waiting on the trail the way later. I can handle the horses, Mr. Mallory. Paul taught me how to drive. No highwayman better step in front of the stage I'm guarding, because Paul taught me how to shoot. Your pa was one of the best stage drivers the Overland never had. He was the best dad a man of the head, too. Pop Collier could be alive today if he wanted to. All he had to do when he saw the road was blocked was to stop and surrender the gold. Paul, we said he'd die sooner than surrender to outlaws and he afraid he was toting. Your pa was a man of his word, son. It was a crash that killed him. He tried to escape them by risking a run between the bowlers and a tree. When we got to him, he was still alive. Sitting guard over a case of gold with a six gun in his hand. He went down fighting. Didn't he, Mr. Mallory? He sure did, son. Told me he nicked one of the crooks in the hand and hurt the other one called Blackie. Well, someday we'll catch up with him, coyotes. And when we do... That's one reason why Paul and me want to share the driver seat of one of your stage coaches, Mr. Mallory. Maybe we'll meet up with Paul's killers. I see. You can depend on us and Paul always hoped we'd carry on where he left off. How does your ma feel about it? She's all for it. She was mighty proud of Paul. I don't wonder. Handling an Overland stage is a big responsibility, kids. You carry a lot of value, but cargo. Sometimes gold, sometimes silver. And along the worst stretch of wilderness had ever invited highwaymen. We'll be ready for them. In wet weather, the trail is slippery in most places and downright dangerous in some. In the streams you have to forward to flood it. We know all the risks. And whatever happens, you can't stop. You keep going. Day and night, rain or heat, outlaws are Indians. The stage must get through. Our stage will get through. You better will. Just give us the chance. It's heart-breaking, back-breaking work, lads. But there's one feeling you'll never forget. That's when you make your first run and know the lonesomeness and the troubles of the trail. And then watch them sick, struggling, straining horses, pulling to Sutter's mill where you'll turn over your reins to the next man. Ah, you feel you've done something. And by heaven you will have. Then you will give Ted and me a chance. You'll get the chance, lads. Report to me Monday. We'll be here, won't we, Paul? You won't be sorry, Mr. Mallory. We're going to be the best driver and guard the Overland ever had in these parts. If you're half as good as your part, you'll be plenty good enough for me. That's the way to handle them, Paul. Can you control them hardest, clear in the town? I'm sure I can. Am I almost ready to drive the stage by myself, Pete? Most ready? Well, I should smile. You handle them clear as most as good as your Paul. How about me, Pete? Am I good enough now to be a guard? Well, you show me, Ted. All right. Wait a minute now. There. See that rattler over there? Yeah. Well, John, John, if you didn't drill him, clean as a whistle. Days after Paul and Ted Collier began a regular run with the Overland stage as full-fledged driver and guard, a boy astride an all-white cold, sought shelter from a hard-driving rain. He was Dan Reed, nephew of the Lone Ranger. There's the light in those woods up ahead, Victor. It must be coming from a cabin. Maybe we'll find shelter there until the storm blows over, huh? Kind of a funny place for anybody to live, though. Getting away in the trees like that, unless outlaws are hiding out there. Well, I guess there's only one way to find out. Come on, Victor, boy. Come on, get up there. Oh, Victor, rain up there, boy. Oh. Oh. Pretty close to the cabin. I reckon I'd better investigate on foot before we... First, down in the front of the cabin, completely settle. I don't want to be seen just yet. Oh, there's a window open. I'll see what sort they are. That's what you said the last time the way laid the stage. You didn't get the gold. This is different. Pop Collier ain't handling the run now, just as kids. They ought to make it a cinch for us to grab the freighter. Well, guess again. I heard one of them kids as a dead shy. He ain't heard my plan. I'm listening. Paul and Ted Collier will be making the run from Sutter's mill to Rocky Point this afternoon, with a cargo-consistent, wholly a gold. Gold? We can't tackle that stage. Why not? Because a full cargo of gold is too heavy for us, but need more men to carry it off. And I'm not trusting more than just the two of us. That's where my plan comes in, Blackie. What do you mean? I figured I'd make the kids freight that gold where we wanted to go. Just for the asking, huh? Or do you have figured out Gunham? Neither. I figured out Smartham. How? Kids' mile lives in Rocky Point. They're mighty fond of the old lady. I reckon they do most anything to prevent anything from happening to them. You mean kidnap the old lady? Why not? And we can make the kids drive us in the gold wherever we want to go. Maybe you got something after all. It's as tight as a drum, I tell you. We'll make a fortune out of that haul. Hey, wait a minute. What happens after when the kids and them all return to town? They'll set the law on us. Who said anything about their return into town? Yeah. That's the ticket. We've already got a news waiting for us for Pop Collier's death, so why not take care of the whole family? They can't hang us more than once. They'll have to catch us first, Blackie. Bend an ear. Oh, I've got to move out of here fast. Come on, Victor. We've got to get to the Lone Ranger. Come on, boys. Get out of here. Time later, the Lone Ranger and Tonto camped in an arroyo a few miles from Sutter's middle, listened to the staccato beat of approaching hoops. Someone's in a mighty big hurry, Tonto. Ah, maybe him have trouble. Need help? Perhaps. Whatever it is, it must be important, or he wouldn't race his horse in a slippery mud. Oh, rain, Lee, but plenty dangerous. Make miss two. Can't see. No, I wonder. What do you think? Dan's been gone a long time, Kimo Sabi. Might be. Come on, Victor. It is Dan. Ah, maybe him find trouble. Can't be big hurry. Oh, Victor, oh boy, oh. What is it, Dan? What's happened? Nothing yet. But something will unless we get the rocky point before the outlaws do. What outlaws? The men who laid the boulder trap where the stage driver was killed. Pop Collier? Yeah, that's the one. I heard them talking about him, the cabin in the woods. They're gonna kidnap Miss Collier. Are you sure? Yes, sir. Then they'll be able to hold up the stagecoach driven by her sons, and make them surrender the gold in order to save her life. Ah, Crooks got plenty smart skiing. Battle of horses, Toto. We'll have to ride fast to overtake the outlaws before they reach Rocky Point. Uh-huh. We ride like wind. Crooks between us and town. Them got plenty big stars. It helped me break camp, Dan. You bet. Collier, I hope we can save Mrs. Collier. The outlaws plan to kill her later. And her sons too. Lucky she lives on the edge of town. We can sneak her back to the cabin without being seen. Yeah. Nobody'd think you're looking for her under the hay in that wagon we stole. Button up. Here's the door. I'll lock. Hey, wait a minute. Where's the glove you wear on that hand? Oh, I guess I must have forgotten to put it in my pocket. Someday you'll forget once too often, Colt, and find a noose around your neck. Yeah, it ain't that dangerous. No. Everybody knows Pop Collier nicked a hand at one of the men who trapped him. And if they ever get a gander, that hand of yours with two fingers missing. Nobody can tell when I wear this glove. Missing fingers are stuffed with cotton. Then why don't you wear it? I'm wearing it now, ain't I? Cut that gab. We've got a job to do. What can I do for you? We'd like to speak with you a minute, ma'am. Well, Glory B, go ahead. We're intonation stopping you. You don't say, but we've got to say as best said inside. Yeah, you see, we got a message for you from your sons. Paul and Dad? Why, they're in Sutter's Mill getting ready for the run to Rocky Point. Well, we know it. We left Sutter's Mill ourselves this morning so we could deliver the message before the stage arrives. Well, what is it, land-sake speaker? Cat got your tongues? We could just step inside. All right, all right, come on in. Glory B, never saw so much fuss made over a message in all my born days. Close the door, Blankey. Blankey? That's the name of one of the men who murdered my husband. You don't say. There were two of them, just like there are two of you. Maybe we're the same two, ma'am. Then you are the killers. I can see it in your eyes. Let me go. No, you don't! A little quieter till we're ready to silence her for keeps. 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. To continue our story. It was some time later when the Lone Ranger, Tonto and Dan reigned in their mounts and raced up the path to Mrs. Collier's house. I hope we got here before the outlaws. No one's answering. Yeah, we'll try the door. It's unlocked, come on. Mrs. Collier? Mrs. Collier, are you home? Gosh, she doesn't answer. Disposed maybe when... Oh, you look here. Signed of a struggle. Collie, will you look at this? What is it, Dan? A man's glove. Hey, two of the fingers are stuffed with cotton. That's plenty strange. Up Collier told the sheriff he shot one of the outlaws in the hand. It looks as if you were right about the two you overheard being the killers, Dan. Ah, that explains missing fingers. Can you find your way back to that cabin? I'm sure I can. Good, come on. What me do? You're going with Dan, Kimo Sabi. Unless I'm greatly mistaken, you'll find Mrs. Collier and the outlaws hide out. Aren't you coming with us? Any big fella? No, no, Dan. I'll ride ahead and intercept the stage. That way we're bound to meet up with the killers. That's right. We'll join forces later. Adios. Come on, silver. Get him out of this camp. Come on, Victor. I'll sue that boy! The men crouched on the bar of a tree which overhung the mountain pass. Through the leafy branches which conceal them, they watched the approach to the overland stage. Ready, Blankey? Yeah. We'll jump when it passes directly underneath us. You take care of Ted. I'll handle Paul. Here it comes. Outlaws. I'll get them all. Whoa, there. Whoa, pull it, boy. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Reach her, Andrea. He'll blow down drugs. He knocked the gun out of my hand called Travis. I got it, Blankey. I've got him covered, Paul. Did you hear what this one is called? Blankey. That's the name of one of the outlaws who killed Paul. That's not all. Take a look at the other one's hand. Remember, Paul said he nicked one of them there. We've met up with him already. The men who killed him. The yellow-libered skunks? I don't mind to drill them right now. Yeah, not so fast, kid. First you'd better listen to what we've got to say. Anything you have to say, you can say to the sheriff. We're taking you to a hang-noose. Yeah, do that, and you'll never say your ma again. What do you mean? Tell him, Colt. Ma's a prisoner, kid. Titan gagged where you'll never find her. Why, you dirty... She ain't been harmed. She won't be providing you do what we say. Don't. She'll die of starvation and thirst. What do you want us to do? Drive the stage where we tell you to. And no tricks. They mean to take the gold from his tad? That's right, smart of you. They'll pick up them reins and start moving. Branch off the trail at the slope. We're heading south. Me and Black Eyre signing on his passengers. Play along with this kid and you'll be able to take your ma home with you. Live and well. Might even give you some of the gold to boot. You snakes. You won't get away with this. We'll be the judge of that. You two just follow orders. The order is, shut up and drive. Get up there. Get up there. That's all that's got to the stage before we did, big fella. Come on, Silver. We're heading south. Tricks and kid, then we'll turn. Is that where you're holding, ma? Yeah, you'll find out a bunch of more after you've taken us where we want to go. Just keep driving. Risk keep business driving the stage through this country? It's nothing but wilderness. Tangles, sagebrush, and poisonous water. Another county heard from us. That's right. It's dangerous for the horses. One of them falls and breaks their leg. We'll be marooned without food or anything. Keep driving and shut up. Use that whip a little. Get these horses moving. I reckon you two don't know this country very well. If you did, you wouldn't risk overtaxing the horses. We'll overtax them. Give me that whip. Get some speed out of these car uses. I've got kills. I'm sorry if you don't stop whippin' those horses. Shut up, kid. You're forgetting what might happen to your ma. You fool. If anything happens to those horses, we'll be trapped in this wilderness. Won't that be too bad? Lay on the whip, Blackie. Hey, who's that coming? All right. He's beating you two with your own game. Don't be so flippant, kid. If we don't get this gold back to camp, you and your brother will be the ones who suffer. Give him the reins, Blackie. We'll drill the masked man while the stage keeps going. Fasten me. Shot my gun away. Pull up those horses. Whoa, whoa, horses. Whoa, pull up there. Whoa. Keep your hands up, all of you. I'll see you here, stranger. This is a stick up. Collier, why have you left the trail? Pull a leg. He's a holed up man. Get him. Not so fast. I'll see you here. Want some more gunplay? Ah, hold on. Put your gun. I will. Don't shoot again. Oh, my arm's busted. I'll put that stage back on the trail. For a masked man? You're a long way to save the life of your mother, wouldn't you, Collier? What? You know? Yes. Is Mom all right? Where is she? Yeah, if you want to see her again, you better turn on this mask, Amber, and listen to us. Maybe you don't savvy the situation, stranger. How much do you know? I know these men kidnapped your mother, and they'll hope you'd take the gold on this stage where they wanted you to. Oh, yeah. It happens that their hideout is known. Then Mom's safe? My friends have gone to get her. Yeah. The peon is yours is smart. Maybe you can guess where the old woman's been hit. Your friends will tell you that she ain't, uh, where you think she is. Well, you'll see about that when you two are landed in jail. I'll drive ahead. I'll ride alongside. Mr. If something happens to Mom because of this... Get going. Me and Tatl get you. Get along there. Come on, get up. Get up there. As the stage, with the masked man riding alongside, drew near the town, Dan Reed approached, riding hard. Rain up, Collier! I don't need to meet you. What is it, Dan? We went to the cabin. Yes? There was no one there. Wait, not so loud. Yeah, you hear that? They didn't find you, Mom. Get your hands up. Cover him, Tat. I got him. Now you with a mask? You've done enough. We're going back where we came from. Ma's worth more than all the gold a dozen stages could tote. We're doing what these two told us to do. Oh, Tat, you won't find your mother that way. Can't you understand that when these crooks have what they want, they'll kill her? They won't let her live just without a warrant for them. Oh, sure, we will, Collier. We'll clear out of these parts. They won't risk their necks. Make them prove your mother's alive right now. Perhaps they've already killed her. If that's the case... We know she won't live if we don't play along. Well, that's right. You start riding, Mr. and take that kid along with you. We're playing this our own way. Get up there. We're leaving. Given your coming, Mr. Make a move to follow us and it'll be your last. Let them go then. Golly, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did. Where's Tatto? He said he'd try to find a trail. Try to find where they took the lady. He started from the outlaws place? No. He headed for the Collier House. He said he'd start from there. I see. All right. Come on. Follow me, Dan. Come on, Silver. Oh, Silver, hold on. Whoa, whoa. Easy. Tatto, are you having any success? No, it's slow work. Rain, wash out tracks. Maybe take long time to follow trail. Where Dan? He's coming. I wrote ahead. We can't risk the life of that woman. They've got to find her as soon as possible. The longer it takes, the harder it'll be to get those crooks. I'm gonna take woman in wagon. Wagon got four horses. Plenty heavy. Four horses? Hideout all cleaned out. Everything gone. They mean to leave this part of the country. They loaded all their supplies in the wagon. They'll have that wagon waiting to carry the gold they planned to steal. That means that... Tatto, never mind following that trail. Huh? We not go after woman? I think I know of a shortcut. Come on, we need Dan. Come on, Silver, get up this couch. Father, do you want us to go? Yes, keep going. We'll tell you when you're there. Locky, if you and Colter figure on a double... Don't dry up. I ain't in the mood to listen. You needn't complain, Col. I'm the critter with a bullet in my arm. What's that shack ahead of us? That's where we're headed. Network Moyers? Yeah. There's one more job for you. You'll switch your car, go to our wagon, then we'll leave you. Drive her out of the rear. Our wagon's waiting there. Oh, no, no, there's holes steady in here. Where is she? Move the gold over. We don't do a thing. Will you show us that Ma is all right? Yeah, pull down there. Let me get out of the state. Ma's tied up. She's under the strong that wagon of ours. You left her there? Why, you do? Let me get there. She's been hurt. We'll have a showdown right now. That's a fast kid. Remember, we still got guns on you. I'll help you, Paul. Yeah. Ma. Here, get that gag out of her mouth. I'll cut the ropes. Ma, are you all right? Oh, son, ten good things to do. Ten good things you came. I'm all right. Now, then move that gold. Hurry it up. Son, don't do it. Don't touch it. The crooks, they won't let us live anyway. We can tell too much about them. They said they'd let us go. They said we'd return your Ma. All right, we'd done so. That squares it. Why are you... Oh. Oh, coyote. Oh, you hurt bad. That's just a start. Now, how fast will we do some practice? You... Watch out. Oh! Blanky. Who fired that shot? Over there. Look. It's a mass man, the White Horse. And an Indian. Where'd he come from? How'd he find out? That guncoat? How many of you get the same as Blanky? Don't shoot. I'll take him. Good work, Paul. I'll get Blanky. No, wait. Wait. I'm helpless. And stand still, you snake. Hold still. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Easy. Is she all right? Yes, but she wouldn't have been if you hadn't shown up. Can you take charge of them? You bet we can. And I guess with the evidence we have now, the both of them will hang. And Paul will be avenged after all. You bet he will, Ted. Stay with him, Tato. I'll go back and meet Dan. Power will be avenged. And so will the Overland Express. Always, big fella. Come on, Silver! I am Silver!