 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a ha-hey-hay-oh-silver! The Lone Ranger! Before this exciting adventure, a word from our sponsor. General Mills, makers of Cheerios, the ready-to-eat oat cereal that gives you go-power, and wheaties the breakfast of champions, present by special recording, The Lone Ranger! Cowboy Tom is a boy of six. He knows all kinds of cowboy tricks. He can rope a steer because he knows. He's got go-power from Cheerios. Yes, he's got go-power. There he goes! He's feeling his Cheerios. Cheerios. Cheerios. You bet, Cheerios, the oat cereal that needs no cooking! Every delicious spoonful of Cheerios and milk is real muscle-building food. Each spoonful contains vitamins, minerals, and proteins your body needs. Yes, the good things in a Cheerios breakfast do good things for your body. Help you have healthy nerves, good red blood, strong bones, and muscles. And besides giving you go-power, Cheerios is downright wonderful tasting. That toasted oat flavor is really something. And when you add milk and your favorite fruit, say some sliced bananas, you're in for a delicious breakfast treat. Get the whole family off to a good start every morning with Cheerios. Then you'll hear people say, He's feeling his Cheerios. With his faithful Indian companion, Toto, the daring and resourceful mask rider of the plains 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 hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Come on Silver, let's go big fella. I'm Silver, hi! The Lone Ranger and Toto have turned their horses into dry bone flats. A stretch of desert which lay east of the Black Mountains and Arizona territory. They were headed for the Apache Indian Reservations, where rumor had it that Chief Cochise was again making war medicine. Scanning the desolate landscape, the Masked Man observed. Toto, you'd be like Cochise to go on the warpath now. Oh, why you say that? Most of the soldiers who were on guard at the reservations have been so south to the border. We take the towns there against a gang of outlaws, known as the Apollonis or Vultures. It'd be plenty bad if Apaches and Outlaws both make raids. Pull up Toto, close the way. What you see? Look at the hoof trance up ahead of us. Ah, two riders go by here a couple of days ago. Head for Black Mountain Foothills. We got into several other trails like that this morning, all leading the same general direction. Maybe a gold rush going on. The men who are riding into the foothills should be warned of their danger. We'll follow the two who left these tracks. Come on, Hilly! Several hours later, the lone ranger and Toto reached a point where the hoof prince mingled with those of many other horses, headed in the same direction. A little farther on, all of the tracks vanished into a small basin, known as the Red Kettle, from the color of the surrounding rocks. Seeing in the circumstances an indication of a pre-arranged and secret meeting in the basin, the masked man and Indian became suspicious. They dismounted, crawled to the edge of the rim rock, and peered down. After a brief silence, Toto spoke. Kimosabe, big camp down there, big gang round. But maybe some fellas sleep. Better we count horses. I've already killed them. They're 32. Some fellas, Americans, some Mexicans. None got prospecting tools, but all got two, three guns. They may be the Zappalottis. Why'd them hide here? I doubt that they're hiding from pursuit. After doubling back into the United States from old Mexico, they probably met here for the purpose of making another raid. A what-them raid? All towns long way off. The wagon trains pass here. I'm not so sure about the wagon trains. I cut our trail across his dry bone flats. What we do about tunnels down there? They're the border outlaws. They'd be suicidal for us to ride in on them. Yards are more than 15 to one against us. Better we wait for night, then creep down, listen to what them say. We waited too long as it is. Look across the kettle. Ah, them guards. They ride round this way in rim rock. They see us back to the horses. Now they aim rifles. Better we shoot back. Now the beyond revolver range got out of city silver. Widing hard across the flats for the better part of an hour, the lone ranger and totlum made sure that they had outrun pursuit. Then through rain. Now they had a narrow escape. Now? Now you're sure they're outlaws? You can be no doubt of that now. But the question of whether we should center our attention on them or the Apaches, we think outlaws more dangerous. They're heavily armed and savages as they are. The bandits have the capacity to kill more innocent people than several hundred Indians. What we do? They ride to the Cut-Off Trail and watch for wagon trains. Soon be dark. Wagon's not move at night. That's true. We'll be in a position to head off any we see tomorrow. That night, a combined train of freight and immigrant wagons stood in a circle at a point where the Cut-Off Trail entered dry-bone flats. As campfires were being kindled, Cap Keller, the hired guide and captain of the train, rode away from the corral of heavy vehicles. Keller had said that he intended to scout around for signs of Indians. But he headed his horse straight into a cottonwood grove. From the shadows, a low voice hailed him. You're a captain. Oh, oh, there for whole. That you pay to? See, senior, he's good to meet you here. For many nights I have waited. I couldn't tell you the exact day that the wagons had reached dry-bone flats. Tell me, is the gang ready for the job? They is ready. We cap now in red cattle. Look, are you sure that you and the other fellow's savvy what you're to do? Oh, see, see, we ought to roll the boulders into the far end of broken wheel pass. Then attack the wagons from the sides in the rear. One thing more, Pedro. I'll arrange to have my second in command lead the train into the pass. Kill him first. I myself will kill him. When will the wagons be there? May after tomorrow. Hey, hey, somebody come. That may be Clay Rogers, my second in command. And the girl Ellen Sayer. What shall I do? Hide. Then slip back to the gang as soon as you can. See, I go. Adios. Easy, boy. I heard your voice, Cap. Who was here with you? Nobody, Clay. Just praying out loud for the folks in the wagon train. I do it every night. Ah. Captain, I believe you even if Clay doesn't. I think it's wonderful how you've managed to lead us so far without having a bit of trouble. Come on, Ellen. Let's go back to the wagons. I'll ride with the captain. Hey, get up there. Get up. Get up. At sunrise the next morning, the wagon train rumbled into dry-bone flats. On the western skyline, toward which the long column of oxthrawn and canvas-covered conestogues was headed, loomed the forbidding black mountains. Behind it, a vast cloud of desert dust hung in the still air. Widing abreast, Cap Keller, Clay Rogers and Ellen Sear led the train by half a mile. Captain, how far is it to the mountains? Maybe Clay can tell you from his book learning. I know that beyond them lies California, the end of your job. Oh, look ahead. Two riders. That's more than an inch. They're headed this way. Pull up. We're friends so far. They're making the peace sign. I've read them. Give your hands where they are. Very well. Who's the captain of the wagon train? I am, Cap Keller. Now, you explain yourself. Why are you wearing that mask? That has nothing to do with my presence here. Do you know that you're far off the main route to California? Yes, but we'll soon be back on it. Why did you lead the wagons into this cut-off? It's none of your business. Well, it's the business of the people on the train to know. What are you hiding, Cap? Not a confounder thing. The few fellas on this cut-off trail because it saves a lot of miles. Then you'd better turn back and save a lot of lives. What do you mean, mister? The wagon train's in serious danger from two quarters. Two quarters? How's that? A large band of outlaws is now camped in red kettle. It isn't likely the bandits would be there unless they plan to attack a wagon train. I don't believe it. And I'll loot yourself. You're trying to work some kind of trick on us. Why, of course he is. What's the other danger, mister? The Apaches may attack you before you can be ambushed by the outlaws. You're local. The Indians have been right peaceable of late. The Apaches never are at peace as you must know if you're an experienced wagon master. They may be off their reservations at this moment. So take my advice and turn back. Cap, we'd better do as the masked man says. Not on your tin type. Tonight we'll camp at Sweetwater Springs. Tomorrow we'll go on through Broken Wheel Pass. Captain Keller, a party of immigrants was massacred at those springs when the Apaches took the warpath last year. Broken Wheel Pass is an equally dangerous place. Cap, listen to the masked man. Don't take us into a trap. Clay, you're a coward. I am if it's cowardly to think of you and the other women and the children. You can go back if you want to, Rogers. Nobody's keeping you here. Don't worry, mister. We'll be turning back as soon as the other men hear what you told us. I hope so. Let's go, Tutto. I won't do it. Get him up to Scout. As the masked man and Indian turned their horses and headed back up the trail, Cap Keller suddenly lifted the Winchester 73, which had been resting on the pommel of his saddle. The brass-bound barrel swung into line with the Lone Ranger's back. We'll continue our Lone Ranger adventure in just a moment. All over the country in every direction. How you do it means a question. And here's what the half-happie people have to say. Wee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee. Wee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee. Wee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee. Sure, take champion Bob Coosie, who can really make a basketball do tricks. Bob was born in New York, plays with the famous Boston Celtics, leads them all in fast-break play, and Coosie knows the champion way, starts his day the Wheedies' way. Take Neil Johnston, another great champ from the East. the east. Say Neil has been eating wheaties since he was three feet tall instead of six foot eight. Grew up a long ways on them, didn't he? Mighty appetizing eaten, and there's a whole kernel of wheat in every wheatie's flake. Keep on eating your wheaties, and you'll be new, new, new, and okay, okay. Now to continue. The wagon master had failed to consider the possibility that the morning sun might reveal his intention. As the rifle came to his shoulder, the shadow which had cast well out in front of him caught the Lone Ranger's eye. Instantly the masked man drew a gun and pulled silver into a half turn, which the rearing stallion made on his hind legs. The sudden maneuver threw Keller off his aim just as he fired. The bullet missed the Lone Ranger by inches, then the masked man's cold spot had smoken lead. Thomas Winchester flew from his hands, its wooded forearm shattered. As it fell, the mask man and Indian charge your hand up there up there up don't feel me put over a whole lot of you try to murder me isn't murder to shoot a man stowel hold an engine we were criminals we'd kill you but we're honest men who want to protect the wagon train Mr. I believe you kept killers a treacherous scoundrel Ellen you saw what he did I saw it all clay I'm sorry I said what I did to you it's Captain Keller who's a coward Ellen I don't speak to me I'm going back to the wagon killer killer you should be dismissed from command of the train but that's up to the people who engage you they'll hear all about him Mr. I admit I was mistaken about you in the red skin of mighty sorry I doubt it I don't think of his winchester what we do with it bring it along and drop it at the next turn the trail several hours later the lone ring Geraint Otto who had halted their horses after making a vain search for signs of Indians watched a plume of dust move westward along the cut-off and knew that their warning had been futile there was no hope in Tonto's voice as he said him a story maybe a patch he's not know about wagons I'd like to believe that the dust they've raised is visible for many miles even though we haven't seen them Indian scouts probably are following the train how we save it now seems to be an possibility at the moment but we may have a few hours left to wish to find a way meanwhile to continue to look for apaches as another night closed in on dry bone flats and the moon came up broad and bright the whole ranger and total turned their horses towards sweetwater Springs where Keller had said that the emigrants and freighters would camp a few miles from the Springs they cited a curious rock some 20 feet high it had the appearance of a huge barrel for erosion had left hoops of harder stratum protruding from its rounded surface Tonto pointed to it must have a very good place to look over plants yes the rock has a flat top the outcroppings on the sides make a natural ladder over several minutes later the lone ranger reached the top of the rock narrow lying on the center of the rock that signal error it got rag and bunch of hair tight to shaft what's the meaning of the rag and hair rag mean plenty loot hair tell number of white people to be killed and it looked like bunch got more than 100 hairs in it in this count must have seen the wagon train him did there are points straight to sweetwater Springs that where the him want war party to attack I see better we take her away no Tonto we leave it here me not savvy this is my plan listen a short time later the lone ranger and taught who were ready to ride again he must have been here plenty horses coming and the war party is getting close I'll have to ride a harder we'll be soon when we go to the wagon train as the masked man and his friend neared sweetwater Springs cap Keller held another conference with a courier from the outlaws camp Pedro was saying the oil can be done the past is blocked good go back and tell the gang to be in the past at daybreak I'll hurry the wagons along perhaps the mask one has gone for help to fight us no he may have gone but there's no place where you can find help within a day's ride so we get him look there's in your get your hands up both of you clear out just like my words and don't shoot oh for yours no no this is how you pray is it killer baby Pedro see why Pedro Lord his arms as those of grapple clay turned his gun toward him the diversion gave Keller his chance and they leave forward late the inexperienced Easterner saw his mistake his revolver plays but the bullet plowed into the sand as the outlaw leader knocked down the gun with one arm and seized him around the body with the other get that gun I have a health man I showed him to them now I have the gun against his head up that gun hold on the mask one I'm getting out of here that gun I said shot my shoulder look Mr. Keller's on his horse killer Tommy hello look out to the Mexican you fix them up I'll go after killer I am dying till you hang yes Ellen the masked man in Indian save me from being killed by cap killer in that Mexican but what brought you out I heard your shout in the shot none of the men would leave the corral so I came alone alone you must care a little about me not a little a lot here he got wound bandaged bring the long Indian we'll all go to the corral it was a half hour later when the lone ranger appeared inside the circle of wagons where every man stood ready for battle noting that he had returned alone clay asked where did killer go Mr. he headed straight for the Red Kettle Basin I took a shortcut through a dry wash when I wrote out on level ground again I found the war party the patchy between us I could do nothing else than return and the killers escaped I doubt it listen from far out across the flats came the sound of gun fire mingled with the unmistakable war whoops of Indians that sounds as though Indians are making an attack yes they are they'll be occupied with that fight for a while so you'd better start the wagon train back to the main trail men I'm taking tell us place it's up and head east the next morning when the wagon train had put many miles behind it a halt was called while the auction rested a detachment of United States cavalry spurred out of the flats from the west and through rain behind the wagons clay and others did duty as a rear guard the young captain in command of the troopers studied the mask man intently for a moment then smiled mr. I'm not going to ask who you are why you wear a mask I think I know perhaps you do captain but there's one thing I don't know that's why the apaches attacked a gang of outlaws instead of these wagons I'll explain what happened but if you don't mind I'd like to hear first how the fight went it couldn't have had a better outcome the Indians wiped out the bandits but lost so heavily in the battle that they fled back to the reservation with their dead wounded they're not likely to make any more trouble for a while did you find among the dead outlaws the body of a man dressed in a buckskin jacket and hand tool boots I did sir I identified him as the leader an notorious criminal known by such aliases as cap killer and ill capitan are you certain of that I'm positive I learned much about him on the border where my detachment was on duty until recently now mr. let's hear your story a lone ranger quickly related how he and taught who had found the signal arrow then the officer interrupted him with a question did I understand you to say that the arrow pointed to the place where the wagon train had stopped for the night that's right well what did you do first we removed from the arrow shaft the rag which indicated loot then we reduced the number of hairs to about 30 which approximated the number of the outlaws I'm beginning to understand please go on after that we pointed the arrow away from the wagon train and straight toward the red kettle basin where the outlaws waited now I get it when Cochise and his warriors came along following the scout they knew nothing about the wagon train they interpreted the chain signal to mean that the scout had located a party of about 30 white men yes captain as the arrow pointed so they rode when they found the bandits in red kettle basin they attacked mr. let me thank you for saving the wagon train and I want to thank you on behalf of the army my friend and I deserve no thanks we're grateful for an opportunity to serve the people of the west captain we have the one surviving bandit tied up in a wagon he's called Pedro do you want him want him next to killer he was the most dangerous man in the gang we'll take charge of him I know our mission here has been completed adios miss Ellen adios clay captain where do you suppose the mask man will go now who knows I believe that the arrow of destiny points the way for the Lone Ranger a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger incorporated is produced by Kendall Campbell Muir incorporated a part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace beamer your announcer Fred Foy listen to the Lone Ranger brought to you by special recording Mondays through Fridays at this same time