 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a clot of dust, and a hearty hyo silver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Toto, 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 beats of the great horse, Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Come on, Silver. Let's go, big fellow. Are you Silver? The Lone Ranger and his Indian companion, Toto, were camped on one of the small tributaries of the Arkansas River, a few miles from the Santa Fe Trail. They were awaiting the return of Dan Reed, young nephew of the masked man, who had written to the stagecoach station to get copies of the eastern newspapers. Presently they saw an Indian smoke signal rise from a distant ridge to the south. That message for me, Kimosabi. Me take blanket. Answer message. All right, here, Toto, take this one. Quickly, Toto pulled green grass and piled it over the campfire. Then with depth strokes, he swung a blanket to and fro, breaking the smoke column into irregular pups. For the next few moments, Toto and the Lone Ranger watched the answering pups of smoke in the distance. So what is it, Toto? A Tonto's good friend, chief little dog. Him wants to see me. Chief little dog? Ah. He's on the Washtaw Reservation now. Isn't that right? Him, Cheyenne. All Cheyenne on Reservation now. You know why he wants to see you? No. Message only say come fast. Very well, he must have a good reason. It's a two-day ride to the Washtaw. I'd suggest you get started as soon as you've eaten. And you not go? No, Toto, I'll wait here until Dan gets back. We'll follow tomorrow. Oh, where we meet after we see chief? Do you remember where we camped on the Washtaw River two years ago? Uh-huh. Big storm come up. We stay in big caves. Yes, that's the place. Dan and I'll meet you there. Oh, me? Now then go. Oh, when you get to the Reservation, report to the agent in charge. Uh, me do that. What agent's name? He's named Lucky, Jim Lucky. He was appointed agent there about a year ago. Now, me see him first, then see chief little dog. It was several hours later when Dan Reed rode into camp. Oh, oh, big dog. Oh, oh. Steady fellow. You were gone a long time, Dan. I had to wait, sir. Stage coach was late. Here are the eastern papers. Thanks. Where's Toto? He's on his way to the Washtaw Reservation. The Washtaw? Yes. He received a message to see his friend chief little dog. You and I are going to meet him at a camp we used two years ago. Calia, I hope he doesn't run into trouble. Trouble? What do you mean? Read what it says in the papers, sir. Where? I'll show you. There. It says that any Indian south of the Arkansas River who are found off the reservations are to be considered renegades. If they're caught there to be exiled to the Florida Everglades. I wish I'd known this before tunnel left. Couldn't we overtake him? I doubt it. We'll soon be getting dark. Let me read this article in detail. Yes, sir. I didn't get a chance to read it all. I was in a hurry to get back to camp. Seems that Indian renegades have refused to return to the reservations have been causing trouble. The terrorized settlers have been raiding supply trains bound for the agencies. Golly. But sending them to the Florida Everglade seems worse than sentencing them to death. The Everglades are bad, Dan. The huge swamp infested with the war. Indians who are not accustomed to the region don't live long there. I'm worried about Tano. Don't worry, Dan. He should be picked up by an army patrol. He'd identify himself. Yes, I guess so. Most army people know about Tano. They'd know he's down to renegade. We'll spend the night here and get an early start in the morning. Two days later, Jim Lackey, the agent of the Florida Everglade, stood in the doorway of his quarters and watched a man in the uniform of a sergeant of the United States Cavalry ride up and dismount. Hold it. Hold it. Silly boy. Hi, Bullen. Hello, Lackey. I was wondering when you'd show up. Come on in. Have a seat. Yeah. Any news on the mixed supply train that's bound for you? Yeah. Well, there's one on the way somewhere. Yeah. But I've got bad news for you. Oh, that's so. What is it? These raids you and your men have been staging have raised a squawk in Washington. You've got to lay off for a while until things cool down. How do you mean? Well, a messenger rode in from Dodge City yesterday. Because of the raids, the army's issued orders to arrest all Indians found off their reservations. They'll be considered renegades and sent to the Florida Everglades. But it's not Indians who've been doing the raid. Yeah, I know. But in my reports to Washington, I've blamed it on renegades. I want them to keep thinking it's Indians. Yeah, I can see why you would. So do I. I sure wish we could have nabbed this next supply train before their mortars were issued. You'd better leave well enough alone for the time being. That's not all. No? Department of Indian Affairs. I don't want anybody snooping around here. We lay low for a while and let the supply trains come through. Washington will soon forget all about it. Well, it's the Indian Bureau getting excited about it. They're afraid some of their red skins will starve unless the supplies get through. Anyway, I don't want some investigator coming in here and talking to Chief Little Dog as he begins to squawk. Lanny. He's been writing letters to the great white father and the average of one or two of his men. I don't want any of that. I don't want any of that. He's been writing letters to the great white father and the average of one a week for the past two months. Letters? Can he write? As good as you can. He speaks perfect English as well. Of course his letters don't get to the great white father. No? Why not? He brings them in here for me to send. I tear them up. Yeah, I only hope he don't sneak a letter out sometime. Okay. Someone's riding up. Let's change the subject. There's an Indian. Here he comes now. How? Come on in, Indian. Me want see man named Lackey. I'm Lackey. What do you want? Me come to see good friend, Chief Little Dog. You got your own rations? Me got plenty rations. Good thing you have. Grub shy around here right now. Can't be feeding any stray Indians. You have plenty rations soon. How do you mean? Well, on way here me see supply train. Six wagons. Oh, is that so? All far from the reservation, are they? Maybe get here tomorrow. Well, that's good news. Where me find Chief Little Dog? Right west about four miles till you come to the creek. Then turn right. Little Dog and his folks are camped upstream away. Me go find him. Just a minute, Indian. Where are you from? Me come from North. Me not Cheyenne. What's your name? Me Tonto. All right, go on. Adios. Adios. Why'd you ask his name, Bowen? I've either seen him or heard about him before, but I just can't place where it went. You're thinking of them Tonto Indians down in Arizona. There's a tribe of them called Tottos. No, no, I don't think so. At any rate, you'd better shove on. Some of your men might spot that supply train and decide to jump it without waiting for you. Yeah, that's right. Well, I'll get going. Drop in now, and then I'll keep your post on any new developments. I'll do that. Adios. Adios. Adios. Meanwhile, Tonto located the lodges of Chief Little Dog and his people, and the chief who prided himself on his ability to write and speak fluent English, told of the hunger and poverty of his tribe, and how his many letters to the great white father in Washington had been ignored. You are a friend of the one called the Lone Ranger. Perhaps he could persuade the great white father to send food and clothing to my people. That's right. But me think great white father get letter from Chief Little Dog, send plenty supplies right now. Me see supply train, six wagons on way to agency. Maybe arrive tomorrow. I fear that this supply train like the others may not get here. It may be attacked and destroyed. Who attacks supply train? The agent Lacky says it is renegades among our own people, Tonto. Perhaps it is true. Well, there are some Indians who refuse to go to reservations. Ah, Indian renegades make plenty trouble. This supply train must get to the reservation for my people starve. Little Dog shall make certain that it does arrive safely. And what you do? I will take 20 of my bravest men. We will go at once and guard the wagons from attack. Oh, that not good, Chief Little Dog. Agent Lacky maybe make plenty trouble for you. He will not know what we have done until the wagons have arrived safely at the agency. Come, Tonto, you must show us the way. Well, maybe men on supply wagon think we right to attack. Maybe them shoot at it. I have thought of that, Tonto. We will watch the supply train from the hills. We will show ourselves only if an attack is made up. Ah, that good. Me go. Meanwhile, the Lone Ranger and Dan Reed have been riding toward the Wachita River where they plan to rejoin Tonto. As they topped a ridge overlooking the winding and rugged valley of the river, the Lone Ranger drew up his horse. Oh, oh, oh, easy big horse. Why are we stopping, sir? Looks like the army's beaten us to our camping ground, Dan. Look down there. Golly, soldiers. That's where I plan to meet Tonto. It's an excellent camping place. We stopped there two years ago. Must be all of 20 soldiers there, sir. Yes, probably a detachment from Fort Mason looking for renegades. Gosh, I hope Tonto doesn't ride in there. What do we do now? Better ride on and find another camp for the night. Then we'll go into the agency in the morning and meet Tonto there. It'll be dark soon. I know a suitable place a few miles from here. Let's go. Come on, sir. Come on, Victor. Hold on. Hold on. Steady, boy. It's me, Sergeant Bollum. Open up, Lacky. Right in here at this town at night, Fort Bollum. You remember that Indian who rode in here today? He did. Yeah, I remember. What about him? I got cleaned back to camp and it kept pestering me. I knew I'd seen that Indian somewhere. Yeah, I've seen lots of Indians. I saw that Indian about a year ago, just before me and my gang deserted the cavalry. Well, that's a good idea. I'm sure we'll see him again. I'm sure we'll see him again. I'm sure he'll see me and my gang deserted the cavalry. What are you driving at? Lacky? That Indian's the one who rides with a lone ranger. Are you sure that's... Positive. I even remember that paint horse he is now. That means he's here for no good. Chief Little Dog tells him about those letters he wrote to the great white father. We're going to be in a peck of trouble. That's why I rode here to tell you who he is. Bollum. While I get dressed, you go settle my horse. We've got to get that Indian before he gets back to the lone ranger. Now get moving. I'll have your horse settled and waiting by the time you're ready. 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 to continue our story. When the crooked Indian agent Jim Lacky and the deserter Bollum arrived at the camp of Chief Little Dog and his people, he found the chief, Toto, and a number of braves missing. By threats, the two men forced Little Dog's squaw to tell where they had gone, and with this information, they rode out of camp for some distance before Lacky called a halt. Oh, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Well, Lacky, what do you make of it? It's the best break we ever got, Bollum. How do you mean it's a break? I've been telling the brass in Washington that there's Indians who've been raiding the supply wagons. Yeah, yeah, I know. Now we can prove it is. But they haven't gone to attack them wagons. The squaw said that they were going to guard them. Sure, but I've got orders that say all Indians found off their reservations are to be considered renegades and sent to Florida. They're off the reservation right now. I never thought of that. Your men are still in uniform. That's how they've been able to close in on the supply wagons. And we'll ride and get them. And we'll round up the Indians as renegades. And we're going to get there by daybreak. I'll tell you the rest while we travel. Let's go. As day broke over the Wachita Valley, the lone ranger and Dan Reed climbed into the saddle and headed toward the agency. They had ridden but a short distance when they sighted the six supply wagons moving slowly over the trail. And then the masked man drew in the Great Horse Silver. Hold it over, hold it over. What's the matter, sir? Dan, look to that ridge of hills in the west. See those riders? Golly, they're Indians. Yes, they are. It looks to me as if they're getting ready to attack that supply train. It sure does. The riding in a group. Dan, we've got to act fast. You must help. What can we do? Remember the soldiers we saw last night? Yes, sir. Ride there and get them as quickly as you can. What about you, sir? I'm joining the wagon train. And Dan? Yes, sir. If anything should happen here before you return to the soldiers, go to Tonto. And Dan never leave him. You mean, if you're killed? It's possible, Dan. Adios. Victor, we've got to get the soldiers quickly. Come on, boy. Including the drivers and guards, there were 18 men in the supply train. They also had seen the Indians riding in the distance and, believing they were to be attacked, welcomed the arrival of the lone ranger. Pete Baskham, the wagon boss, expressed his sentiments in no uncertain terms. As far as I'm concerned, you may be in our hood wearing that mask. Right now, I'm not particular. You brought in to help as you're welcome. Sure. I'm no bandit. Them Indians have been covering us since daybreak. We're getting mighty close to the reservation now. They're going to attack. They'll do it mighty soon. Yes, you're right about that. I sent for troops, but it may be too late when they get here. Hey, what's that? That's a bugle. Yes, and I see them. They're near the Indians now. They must have heard that bugle, too. But they're not running. Perhaps they're going to put up a fight. I'll use my field glasses. With glasses, you can see what's happening up there. Oh, sir. For the next few minutes, I saw the distant hills through the binoculars, and he was mystified by what he saw. Pete Baskham and the other wagoners pressed him for information. What do you make of this? There's something strange going on up there. What do you mean? Those Indians never resisted at all. The soldiers disarmed them without any difficulty. Now they're riding toward the agency as prisoners. That is funny. Well, maybe the rich kids figured they'd get a better deal by not putting up a fight. I doubt that. Well, we all must certainly know about the recent order from Washington. What's that? All Indians found off their reservations south of the Arkansas River are to be considered renegades and exiled to the Florida Everglades. That's worse than being shot. Yes, it is. Well, it looks as if the danger to your caravan is over. Thanks to them soldiers who showed up. Oh, if a boy of 15 rides in with more troops, tell them I've gone on ahead and you'll find me at the agency. All yours. All yours. The lone ranger rode away from the wagons at a fast gate and headed toward the Indian agency, thinking that a serious fight had been averted. He didn't suspect that the men who had captured the Indians were outlaws, outcasts and deserters with no right to wear the uniform of the army. Meanwhile, Bowlin, Lackey and the others headed toward the same destination, the Indian agency. But, Lackey, I still don't understand why you didn't let me and my men gun them down. That dead Indian tells no tears. I know what I'm doing, Bowlin. I wish I did. We've got to make it look on the level. The wagon cruise is watching every move and you can bet on it. Yeah, no doubt of that. We'll take the Indians into the agency and store all our guns and take their horses and saddles. They're worth plenty. Yeah, we can pedal them easy enough. But what do we do with the Indians now that we got them? You and your men can start them out on foot as if you're taking them to Galveston to be sent to the Everglades. Oh, sure not. Get them a few miles off the reservation. All of a sudden, they make a break. You shoot them down, is that heavy? Yeah, I get it, Lackey. But there's still one question you haven't answered. What's that? How are you going to explain this to Washington? You know, good and well, me and my men are deserters. When the army starts to check... Now, listen, I'm listening. When you've shot the Redskins right on back to the place where you've been holed up the past few weeks, I'll meet you there. All the stuff we've stored up from the raids on supply trains. You mean you're quitting your job as Indian agent? You bet I am. When the Lone Ranger starts looking for his Indian friend, Tano, I want to be long gone from this reservation. Well, here we are, coming into the agent. I tell you, man, to hurry and get the saddles off the Indians' ponies. Tell them to store the guns and saddles in the agency commissary for the time being. You can pick them up later. All right, Lackey. Won't take but a few minutes. And then get them Redskins, hofin' it down the south trail as fast as you can prod them along. I don't want them around when the wagons get here. Chief little dog might decide to do some squawking. And Tano will wear them. All right, come on, get up there. Come on, get up. At the Indian agency, Tonto knew that the outlook was grim. He realized that neither he nor any of the other Indians had any hope for fair treatment. Bullen was everywhere, shouting orders and barking commands. His men worked feverishly to get things in order for the arrival of the wagons. The saddles and guns were stored in the commissary. And preparations were made to move the captured Indians along the south trail. But then the agent named Lackey came up on the run. Bullen! Oh, Bullen! I told you to hurry. Get the Indians moving out of here. Hey, what's the matter with you? You're as white as a sheep. Look, look back there. It's him. Get that Indian Tano on the side quick. It's too late for that now. But he'll see him, and Tano will see him. Can't help it now. Here he comes riding in. The lone ranger himself. Shut up out there! New men! Keep them Indians together! They'll keep on flying. What, Bullen? What do we do? What do we say? Shut up, Lackey. You're blubbering like a baby. Don't you realize there's more than 20 of us in just one of him? Yeah, but just the same. Now, man, listen, keep your mouth shut, Lackey. All right, I will. Just what are you on, mister? I'll identify myself. You don't have to. I know who you are. You do? You're the lone ranger. Or maybe I'd better say you was the lone ranger. What do you mean by that? When the great white father and wash them, here's what your Indian friend's been up to. You're not going to look so good in that mask. Are you speaking of Tato? Yeah, I am. Hey, Cork. Bring that Indian named Tano up here. Hem and up. Tato, him and the other renegades were all set to raid that wagon train you see coming up the trail yonder. I don't believe it. I saw what happened. Yes, moment. Soldiers say we go to Everglades. Never come back. You'll never go to the Everglades as long as I'm alive, Tato. Too bad, Indian. We caught you red-handed. Off the reservation and stalking the supply train. It's the Everglades for you. You tell lie. We guard supply train, not attack. You better get a move on, Poland. No sense standing here wasting talk. You're not taking this Indian anywhere till I've heard his story. Hey, let go of me. I'm holding you as a shield. Don't think twice before trying to gun me down. Hey, men! Cover that Indian. Now, if this army don't let me go by the count of three, shoot the Indian. Right. One, two. All right. You win, Sergeant. I have no desire to see Tano killed, even though I could have killed you. Yeah, I thought you'd see it that way. Keep him covered, men. Drop him if you make some move for them guns. Yeah, he won't try any more tricks. Here come them wagon ears. When we tell them what happened, they'll string them up. Hey, who's the kid riding in with him? I didn't see him before. The wagon ears must have seen this critter grab you, Bolen. They've got their rifles ready. They're tough families. They'll make sure we're getting his mask, man. All right, you little skitters. We got here just in time for a lynching party. How much rope do you think you'll need to string them up? Don't make a move, mask man. They got your cover. Yeah, that's where you're wrong. I mean you and your men. Cover them, fellas. The first skunk that lifts the carbine, get him down. Hey, what's the idea? Take them guns off us. Take them off while I order my men to shoot you down. That's right. See what happens, Bolen? Drop them carbine, you skunks. Drop my safe. Yeah, that's better. You'll hang for this? A lot of you will, interfering with the army. Yeah, you dirty deserter. Boy, you're not fit to wear the uniform of the United States Army. Deserter, is that what you said? Tell them, Dan. You see, sir, when you sent me to get the troops we saw last night... Yes, Dan? When I got there, I couldn't find them. I thought surely they'd leave a sentry in camp, so I started looking around. I found the cave Hugh and Tano told me about, and it was filled with loot from the caravans. Are you sure of that? Yes, sir. The crates were plainly marked. It was food and clothing for the Indians here on the reservation. Then I found a poster wadded up and tossed near the fire. A poster? Yes, sir. They were criminals. It showed that they were deserters and the armies looking for them. When Dan rode in and told us mule skinners what he'd found out, we put two and two together and figured there was something fishy about to capture the Indians. They had no intention of riding your wagons. They were guarding them. Isn't that right? Then Dan told us who you are. Well, sir, we started laying leather on the rumps of our mules to get here pronto. We were afraid you'd get into trouble before we could get here. You're right about that, Dan. I really was in trouble. Tell me where your buddy is. Tell Chief Little Dog his men in here free. They can take over these wagons and get food to the tribe. Me too. Pete, I'm going to ask you and your men to help us get these deserters back to Fort Mason. You bet we will with pleasure. And Dan, I want to thank you for what you did. Well, I only did what anyone else would have done. You know, nice man, I reckon nobody will ever be able to take you a place if anything ever happens to you. But when Dan and I but when Dan Reid grows up I'm betting he'll come as near to filling your shoes as anybody. I'm sure he could. He's proved it today. We'll see you later, Pete. Let's go, Dan. We'll meet Tunnel down on the trail. Come on, Silver! Come on, Victor! Silver! This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated, created and produced by George W. Trendle, directed by Charles D. Livingston and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer.