 A fiery horse with a speed of light, the cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, 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 hoof beat to the great horse, the silver, the lone ranger rides again. I'm silver, let's go be cool. I'm silver, I'm silver. Thunder Martin was after wild horses. The big X mule skinner and a companion called Shorty were aided in the hunt by the lone ranger's friends, Dan Reed and Tonto. They had built a rope corral at the foot of a hill, then separated to drive the unbroken animals into the v-shaped opening. Dan Reed, Tonto, Shorty and Thunder Martin himself rode hard, shouting at the top of their voices, cutting back and forth to keep the horses in a closed pack. They reached the corral and rained up sharply. Hey, Thunder. Well, we got him, Daniel. We got a lot of those British. Look at him in there, knocking the boss like a fly dog in a meat shop. Golly Thunder, that's the first horse hunt I've ever been on. Oh, you're not all right, Daniel. Me and Shorty sure appreciate what you and Tonto have done to help us. Hey, come over here, Shorty. Well, Thunder, it sure looks like we got us some horses. Who's going to break all those horses to the saddle, Thunder? Well, that's Shorty's job. You're going to break them off, Shorty? Breaking our hair through, Daniel. Thunder here so gosh awful big that when he breaks a horse, the poor critic gets him downright discouraged. He don't have pride enough left to lift his heels. Jay, how do you like my pound, Daniel? He sure can ride. Yeah. When nature built him, she threw it off on the job for looks, but alongside his Shorty gold is just plain dirt. Hey, what's Tonto doing over yonder? He seems to be looking at something. Well, I'll yell at him and fight. Now, hold on, Thunder. That yell of yours is enough to drive a wolf to sew us. Oh, I'll tone her down. Oh, yeah, Tonto. I'm over here with the rest of us. Maybe you've seen our mass friend coming, Daniel. Didn't you leave word that it would be up here? Yes. Now, what did you see, Tonto? Is the lone ranger coming? Two hunters come this way. Two? Uh, steady scuffle. It is one of the lone rangers. No. The hunters seem to come from Ranch and Valley. That would be the Tiger range. I've heard of Tiger. We see plenty Tiger cattle on range. Yeah, that was the T-brand stock we saw. Well, they come. Maybe they won't like us hunting the horses. Well, it's open range. They can like it or leave it. What's going on here? You better repeat that question, master. I don't think I heard you right. I said, what's going on here? Yeah. That's what I thought you said. But it didn't seem possible that a critter with an eye on each side of his nose could look at that corral and ask such an awful stupid question. If you think you're going to take those horses, you better think again. This here is open range. We aim to take what we corraled as soon as we got them broke. Now wash off your war pain. This is tagged range. Take nothing of the sort. Here's open range. Yeah? Well, we'll see you. Well, hold on, Red. Redhead, you're asking to have your horns clipped. Oh, just a minute. I'm Red's tagger. Well, you better tell your partner to get over his frothy spell. Mr. Tagged, these critters are just making believe you hunt horses. They're really looking over the next lot of cattle, as they disappear. Redhead, the last time a man talked that way about me, I nudged his talk box and he lost a few bridal teeth. Yeah? You talk big when you're outnumbered. Oh, shut up, Red. I'll do the talking. You've heard better clear out. Lost a lot of cattle in the last month. My men have been instructed to drive out all strangers. Tagged any time you feel like hunting yourself up replacements for your cowhands. You just send the boys up here to try and drive us out. No, I'm not going to argue with you. If you're not going by tomorrow, you'll be chased. I won't be responsible if all four of you get hurt. Say, Shorty, how hungry a figure it'll take to break these earhorses and parrots. Horse thunder? I don't know. Yeah, you can't do it by noon tomorrow, can you? Couldn't even break one by that time. Well, Tagged, you heard what Shorty said, so I reckon we'll be here some time after noon tomorrow. What I said still goes. Red, I'm giving you orders right now. These men are here tomorrow afternoon. Run them off the range. I sure will, boy. Yeah, come around, Red. I'll be sure you come ready for trouble because you're sure going to get it. We'll be ready. Come on, Red. You know, Thunder, I bet I could nip the ears of them, too, without knocking off their hands. And I'll leave that gun where it is, Shorty. You aren't recalling that? Do you suppose I'll come around tomorrow noon? Yeah, they'll be here all right. You and Tonto better clear out before they come. You know, that old ranger would never forgive me if I got you tangled up in a gunfight. But what if Red brings nine or ten men with him? Ten? I've handled 18 mules. But they'll probably come shooting. They'll know they've been in a fight before they get us. You can't possibly stand them all off. No, maybe not. On the other hand, we got our rights. And this is open range. And I'm hanged if I let Tagged bluff me off. He wasn't bluffing, was he, Tonto? No, he not bluffing. Oh, he knows he's cold-deckin' me and Shorty. But by darn, we got our legal rights. And if we got a cash in our chips to back him up, eh, we'll do it. But can't you get a lawman? Oh, then, near as laws, 50 miles away. Besides, I got more confidence in the law I carry on my gun belt. Well, we got till tomorrow to talk things over. Right now, I'm hungry. Let's eat. You know, that's a good idea, Shorty. Go get the chuck wagon. And maybe by the time we're done eatin', the low ranger will be here. And I'll attend to one. He'll have a few ideas for a deal with Tagged. That night, soon after darkness had gathered, the foreman rode from the Tagged ranch on a pretence of going to town. But Red Gilpin went nowhere near the town that night. Instead, he headed through a ravine, then turned into a branching canyon that widened to form a sizable expanse of pasture hemmed in by sheer walls. A number of head of cattle moved contentedly in the moonlight, while Red talked to a group of hard-faced men who huddled close to a small campfire. I just got the idea this afternoon, boys. We could do big things. We're doing all right, Red. As long as you stay on this foreman of the Tagged ranch, so you can let us know when to make off with a few head of cattle, we'll do all right. Oh, that's tin-horn stuff, Levy. Besides, old Tagged's beginning to miss the cattle. Can't you convince him that the critters just stray off and disappear? Not for very long. Your scheme sounds risky to me. You're wrong, butch. There's no risk at all. He already suspects those horse owners are being cattle thieves, and he's ordered them out of this part of the country. You think they'll leave? Not on your life. They know it's open range, and they know they're within their rights. They'll fight to a showdown. Won't be easy to pin the murder of Tagged on them. Why won't it? The law is 50 miles away, and the sheriff will have to take my word for what happens. You think he'll take your word if he knows that you inherit the Tagged ranch? Leave that to me, Levy. He won't know it right away. We'll let a couple of weeks go by before we find the Tagged left to will, leaving the bar T-Range to me. Do you think that will be questioned? Why should it be? Tagged's got no one else to leave the outfit to, and I've been his foreman for a long time. Who's got a better eye to it? I still think it sounds like an awful lot of risk. We've got to do it, Lefty. We'll never get rich sneaking a few head of beef into this box canyon and running new brands over the old. It takes too long. Besides, we've got to split the profits too many ways. I want all of the bar T. Sure applies worth going after. Yeah, you bet it is, Putsch. I'm for it, Lefty. Now you leave all the arrangements to me, Lefty. Now work it out. Red, you don't aim to take over my gang, do you? What? Why, of course not, Lefty. Sometimes a man gets a little too ambitious for his own good. See that that don't happen to you, Red. Oh, now, Lefty... I just remember, if we help you inherit the bar T, you'll be owner in name and nothing else. All I want is the same cut I'm getting now. I wanted to be sure of that. All right, Lefty, shut up a minute. Let me listen. What's the trouble, Lefty? You thought I heard something. Of course you did. There's 50 head of cattle moving about in this pocket. Yeah, maybe that was it. Now what do you say, Lefty? How about my scheme? I'll decide after I hear the details. Let's start talking, Red. Let's hear more about it. Red and the cattle thieves talked for some time. Long before they finished their discussion, a shadowy figure crept away from the campfire and made his way to the narrow opening. He stepped over the fence that kept the cattle confined, and then proceeded down the canyon on foot until he reached a powerful white stallion that stood waiting at ground hitch. It was the masked mystery rider known as the Lone Ranger. He guided the Great Horse Silver through the canyon in the valley near the target ranch house, and he turned abruptly and rode uphill toward a second campfire. A few moments later, he rained up in Thunder Mottin's camp. Thunder, his pal Shorty, Dan Reed, and Tonto listened carefully while the masked man told what he had overheard. They're planning to blame you for the murder. And you know the minute I looked at that ornery, Red, had I known he was no good. I've been just sitting here and looking forward to the time when he comes here tomorrow afternoon to try and chase me. I have him marked for special personal attention. Tomorrow afternoon will be too late, Thunder. They've got to take action tonight. Are you sure them critters you're seeing had been stolen from Taggart? Yes. I examined the brand on a few of them. It had originally been a tea brand, but a running iron had changed it to a box-eye. They're pull-catch. That's in his gang. Keep the cattle penned up in that basin until the new brand heals. Oh, what we do, Kim of Fovey? Let's go get Taggart and show him what you found. That's what I plan to do, Thunder. I'll, uh, take Tonto with me. The rest of you stay here. Oh, Nye, you mean we've got to stay here out of action when there's a chance for a fight with that North Conrad hit foreman? Yes. There were only five men and left his gang. Taggart had eight or nine cowhands. That'll be more than enough to take care of them. Oh, Nye! I want you and Shorty and Dan to wait here for a number of reasons. Come on, Tonto. Uh, scout over this way. Good. Where's he, lady? Why you leave others there? The first place, Tonto. I don't want to take Dan into a gunfight. Oh, Nye, sadly. The second place, when Thunder Martin goes into a fight, he goes all the way. There's any shooting to be done. I want Taggart's own men to do it. How do they sort of do it? Easy. Wait. Wait, go now? Yes, Tonto. He's a big fella. More silly than a scout. I want to see you. Max. We'll step in if you don't... Now hold on if you think. Take it easy, Taggart. Tonto and I are here to help you. 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. How to continue our story. The Lone Ranger and Tonto had ridden to the Taggart ranch house. Taggart was surprised when he opened the door and protested as the masked men and Tonto stepped in. Now hold on if you think. Take it easy, Taggart. I don't know. I'm here to help you. Indian. I remember you. Me with horse hunters. Close the door, Tonto. Red said you were cattle thieves. We're not cattle thieves. But we know where you can find some. What's that? We can also get back some stolen cattle. What kind of a trick is this? It's no trick, Taggart. I was on my way through the canyon. There was a narrow break in the canyon wall and it had a fence thrown across it. I heard cattle behind that fence and I... You're talking about the wide cut in the south wall? About four miles from here. That's the one. You say there were cattle in there. Cattle wearing a box-eye brand. Recently made with a running iron. There's no box-eye around here. I didn't think so. That's my cattle. I thought it might be. Your foreman was in that basin with it. Red? That's what the cattle thieves called him. Cattle thieves? Five, counting Red. What kind of a game are you playing? I'm not playing any game, Taggart. I came here so my friends, the horse hunters, wouldn't be blamed for your murder. My murder? Yes. Red's not satisfied with his share of what can be stolen from you. He and the others are planning to come here and kill you. Well, now just a minute. I'll show you why I know you're mistaken. Got proof right here. You can't possibly have proof. You're right, but I have got this gun. Taggart, freeze! I'm going to hold you until Red gets back from town. We'll see what he has to say about this. I seem to have been careless, not Taggart. No, you weren't careless. I'm just a little bit too smart for you. I say that every crook makes a mistake once in his life, and that's the mistake that sends him to the hangman. Yes, that's quite true. You made your mistake when you thought I was going to produce proof that my foreman's not working with rustlers. You couldn't produce that proof, Taggart. I trust Red Gilpin. It's going to take a lot of proof to convince you that he's not to be trusted. It certainly is. Now turn around and face that wall, both of you. Put your hands behind your backs. Taggart, I don't like to have guns pointed at me. Oh, you don't, eh? Well, you did shoot. My hand! It hurts like blazes to have your gun shot away. How infunded! Sorry I had to do it, but I couldn't prove my point while you had the drop on me. All right, you've got the drop on me now. What are you going to do about it? I'm going to try to persuade you to call out your men and let me lead them to your stolen cattle. My men are all... We'll have to move fast. How many men have you here? None. You... you've got no cowhands? You don't run this outfit without help. Red sent some of them into town. The rest are out guarding cattle. Oh, Kim, it's obvious. We hear horses. Yes, so do I. Then come this way fast. Keep an eye on Taggart. Taggart, you wouldn't believe me. Maybe you'll believe your eyes. I got there. Horseman. Can you see the man on the lead? Oh, it's my foreman. It's Red. You say there are only five men? That's what I thought. Five my eye. There's four times that many. That man next to Red is called Lefty. They're fired. Get inside. Why, it was Red who fired at me. I saw him. Oh, did I? Why are they firing on me? What did they want? I tried to tell you, Taggart. I want to kill you. We'll find out. Taggart, I want to kill you. There's four times as many as I expected. Well, you let me get my rifle out, so... Go ahead. Get some fire on them. Uh-huh. Can't I do it? Now, let me at them. There's rocks around here. Get behind them. Red, you come with me. You too, Joe. I'll ride with you, Lefty. Keep up that gunfire. Moose, you and Steve go to the side of the house. Come on, Red. Get behind this rock. I want to talk to you. Yeah, sure thing, Lefty. Now, what's the idea? What idea? You told us Taggart would be in that house alone. Yeah, I thought he would be. My fun you did. He's got at least two others in there with him. You said you sent most of the men into town and the others out on the range. I did. If you let us into some sort of a trap... Oh, no, I didn't. Who's in there with Taggart? I don't know. You sure the cowhands went into town? Yeah. Yeah, I told them they could go to town and I saw them settle up and on their way. They're all in town except two or three that are out in the range. What did you sew on all that? Keep up that gunfire. What are we going to do, Lefty? Shoot it out until some lucky shots get them inside the house? Shoot it out until some of us can get close enough to set fire to the place. Hey, look, someone's running from the house. Get that man. He's heading for that horse. Don't talk about it. Shoot him. He's heading for town. He got away. He made it. He's out of range. He's heading for town like Gries Lightman. He's out of T-brand cowboys. He's out of two hours, sure that red? Yes, how would I know? He's still can't make it in two hours. And if we can't get rid of Taggart in two hours we don't deserve the win. Keep up the gunfire boys and sneak your way in closer. If we don't get Taggart but bullets we're getting them by fire. The Lone Ranger started in the direction of town. When he was out of sight and out of gun range he rained up abruptly. He turned to the east and once more his ringing cries sent the mighty stallion Silver racing ahead at top speed. The Lone Ranger knew that Taggart would be dead long before he could return from town with help. He had another plan. A plan that called Rexpert horsemanship endearing and the help of Thundermottin, Shorty and Dan Reed. There was another window. It turned out we can't hold out for long. But we may crook know it's plenty dangerous to come close to the house. But they're getting closer, closing in all the time. There goes one now running for the shell of the water trough. You get him? Dead reddit, I gotta stop to reload. There's another. Two, three of them run for the barn. Bring the gun here Taggart. I'll come in on this side. Did you get him? Well, may not know. Maybe hit him in the leg and stumble and get the shell to run. There's three of them right over there in back of the barn now. They get any closer, it'll be hand to hand. You know your way around this barn, Red. Get the coal oil. I'll show you what we'll do. Grab hold of this book board and push your part way out of the barn. And you'll see I'll give a horse. That'll do it. You got that coal oil, Red? There's a downgrade from here to the house. We'll set her a fire and start a roll. Great idea, Lefty. Hey, something's going on outside. Lefty, did you hear that? Someone's coming. Let's go take a look. Read that oil for a minute, Red. Lefty, look up behind it, coming down the hill. But all I can see is a cloud of dust. Well, look again. Horses, there must be 40, 50 of them. There's two men out in front of the others. So it was a trap after all. No, no, Lefty, don't lie to me. You double crossed them. This whole thing was a trap. We can't fight that bunch. I'll deal with you, Red. I'll get you with the last thing I do. No, no, Lefty. Shoot! Get them down! I surrender. Thunder Martin and his pal, Shorty, closed in with a gun in each hand and a pack of charging horses coming fast behind them. Tiger Tonto came from the house. We'll help you. I'll cover them. Anyone who wants to die faster, reach for a gun. Then to their amazement, the settlers learned there were no men on the backs of these horses. But the realization came too late. They had already thrown down their guns and raised their hands. They stood wide-eyed as wild horses raced on past the house and barned. Keep out of the way, Lefty! Wild horses! How'd you get them to follow behind you like they were carrying a sheriff's posse? Well, you animal hippie collude. They were being chased by them too. They were sitting on the white horses over yonder. That's the best man in this young partner. Don't hog-tie these critters. And don't overlook that one eye-wing to keep them shooting your foreman. My ex-former. Now, Mr. Tiger, listen to me. You shut up, Red. Well, let me explain. There's nothing you can explain. You've shown your colors. This red-headed double-twisted worm was aiming to get you, Tiger. Yes, I know. No, no, no. Try to be a poor cat, I'm talking. You figured that after Tiger was dead, you could make out of fake whales. So the law would think you inherited the T-brand range. Red, I'm gonna see you spend the rest of your life in jail for the last thing I do. While you're there, hear something you can think about. I have a will. Made it out some time ago when I thought you were a deserving kind of a man. Under that will, you would have inherited everything I own. You mean that, Tiger? That's the truth. But I'm tearing up that will, Pronto. How does that make you feel, pole cat? I never suspected such a thing. No, Thunder. As for you... Hey, hey, you know my name. Yes, the mask man told me about you before he left here. Sorry, I suspected you of being the cattle thief. Oh, that's all right. I've been accused of lots of things in my days. Well, sir, you came here to get wild horses. Yeah. But now it looks like we'll have to corral them all over again. I'll have my men help you get all the wild horses you can handle. What? Oh, God, you hear that shorty? Course I sure do, Thunder. It looks like both of us are gonna have plenty of wrong busting to do. Say, Tiger, you was gonna get some rope to hog-tie these varvents. Yes, but just one thing more. Yeah? That mask man over there. He told me about you. He could tell a plenty if he was a mind. Well, tell me about him. Who is he? Tiger, that there ombre is the Lone Ranger. You have just heard, it's a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.