fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty hayo silver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the masked rider of the plains fought crime and criminals throughout the early western United States. It was his strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness, which brought law and order to the lawless frontier and made possible the winning of the West. No greater champion of justice can be found in the pages of history. 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! We're on the trail of bullcomber! The idlers of Walnut Grove had gathered around young Hank Evans in front of the harness shop. The boy was standing beside a spirited Mustang. Every time the horse pawed the ground, Hank cringed with fear. The laughing crowd refused to let him leave. And before long, he was on the verge of tears. Go on, Hank! Let's see you ride the critter! The first horse from this side of the pay car! Right in front, boy! Come on, kid! Climb aboard! That was what you can do! Leave me be, can't you? I don't want to ride him! I'm scared to ride him! Leave me be! Please leave me be! But suddenly a buggy rounded the corner and headed down the main street toward the harness shop. Inside were a middle-aged woman and a much older man. When the driver saw what was going on, he cracked his whip, drove straight for the crowd, and yelled at the top of his lungs, out of their way, you yellow stunk! I'll land face the whole no-good bunch of you! Get up, fellas! Get up there! Run them loopers down! Get up! Watch out for the boogie! It's old Pete and Hank! Come on! They're gonna run us down! Come on, let's get it! Run, you poor cat! Run! Let me lay this whip to you and I'll show you what's what! John, did they hurt you? Did they harm you, son? Oh, Ma! I can make you ride that horse, I'll bet you! Here, give me your hand! Climb up here beside me! It's time I was getting you home! I can't help it if I'm a skewer to horses, can I, Pete? Is it my fault? Is it because I'm just a coward like they claim? Is it, Pete? Is it? If I'd had the sense to be skewer to horses when I was your age, I wouldn't be all crippled up like I am today! But, now, son, you forget all this. Of course you can't help it. We know that. Folks that make fun of you on account if it ain't worth paying no attention to. Oh, they make me so mad! Yeah, bums! They was teasing me for most an hour. They wouldn't let me go. Now, son, just don't think of it no more. Put it right out of your mind. Gee, Ma, I try to, but... Try hard. Uh-huh, but sometimes, sometimes I... Yes, son? Ma, sometimes I think I'd rather be dead. Oh, there, there, now. Oh, what a silly way to talk. Pete, you better go on, then. Yeah, bums! Get up there! Get up! Get up! Now, blast it! Why can't I be laying this whip for them? Get up! At almost the same moment, many miles distant from Walnut Grove, a gang of outlaws were spurring their mounts after an Indian mounted upon a powerful paint horse. Get up, man! Come on! Get up! Get up! Come on! Get up, man! Get up! Come on! Get up! Come on, man! Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up! It was a wild and desolate country, scarred by a jumble of ridges and rock-walled canyons. No trail had ever marked this wilderness, but the canyon seemed to know exactly where he was going. He headed for a canyon whose entrance was smaller than most, and as the outlaw leader guessed his purpose, he shouted to his men, Boys, we've got him! That's a fine canyon he's riding for! Now he can't get away from us! He'll try to hold us off there! We'll ride him down! Throw some more lead at the farmers! I think I'll wing him! He's still going! I know I hit him! I sent him grab his saddle! Come Come on, fellas. Get up there. Get up there. Come on. Get gaining on them, boys. Take part of the canyon now. Spur your ponies. Get up there. Come on. Get up there. Get up there. Get up there. Hey, bull. Get up. Look there. Pull up, fellas. Pull up. What the? Pull up, I tell you. Quick. Pull up. John, what's the matter? Look up above there. This is a trap, I tell you. Look at that masked man way up there. The Lone Ranger. Then that must have been tunnel we was chasing. I don't like the looks of this. Neither do I. Back, fellas. Swing your horses around. Head back. Hurry. Come on. Get up there. Come on. For all we know, he's got a posse waiting for us in there. Get up, boys. Get up. Get up there. Hey, fellas. Get up. Get along, boys. Come on. Set mask, fellas. Come on. Get up there. What the? Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Doggone. The canyon. He had blasting power to set me up to the canyon. It was a trap. Tonto lesser chase him a purpose. If we'd rode any farther, we'd been inside there with no way of getting out. They'd have had the whole bunch of us. The sun hadn't struck the mask, fella, just right so that I could see him. We'd have been sitting in jail instead of 24 hours. Boys, we're leaving this district, and we're leaving Prado. All right. Come on. Get up there. Get up. Get up there. When he saw the outlaws turn and ride away, the lone ranger descended to the floor of the canyon, where his great horse, Silver, was waiting. He mounted and rode for nearly a mile until he reached a brush-covered hillside that concealed the secret exit by which Tonto had planned to escape from the canyon. Then, a few minutes later... They saw me, Tonto. They got away. Oh, oh, Scott. Oh, Tonto. Oh, it was the one thing I feared. That ledge was the only place in which I could light the fuse, but it didn't offer good cover. Oh, Tonto, no. Once in there, it wouldn't have mattered if they had discovered this exit. One of us could easily have kept them prisoner. Oh. I think... Tonto, you're wounded. Oh, it's not bad. Here, get down. Let me have a look at that. We're right. Catch them, outlaw. Not bad. Get down. Not bad? Tonto, it's bad enough so that you won't ride again for a couple of days. Oh, me all right. Sorry, old friend, but you're not. You couldn't last a dozen miles in the saddle in this condition. But outlaw... You may camp right here. Outlaw, get away. Let them. I can always pick up the trail again sooner or later. But where would I find another friend as loyal as you, Kemosabe? We take no chances. We do no riding until you're well. Bull Kohler and his outlaw gang did not stay in the district. Each day found them farther from the scene of their narrow escape. Until at last, they arrived in the open cattle country and... Bull, what are we going to do now? This is bad country for us. Too doggone much law around. I say we ought to cut south and head for the border till we know for sure the Lone Rangers give up. So do I. That's where you're wrong. Huh? That mask fell into law. Rio don't mean nothing to him. He'd just as soon cross over to get us his nut. Mm-hmm. But on the other side of the border, he couldn't call on the law to help you. If that hombre can't get somebody to help him, he does without it. You mean you'd be scared of just him and the redskin? Sometimes it pays to be scared. It was just the two of them back there in the hills, weren't there? Yeah, but I... There were a dozen of us. But if you hadn't seen the mask fell in time, we'd have been caught just the same. And that's just one of his tricks. Besides which, the black cobaleros over south. And the mask man are pards. Ah, we'll do better here. There's no place to hide out. No? Well, is there, Bull? Look, boys. If you was the mask man, would you figure fellas like us would choose a district like this to hide out in? Well... Of course you wouldn't. You'd look for us to head for the border like Jug just suggested. I don't just savvy what you're getting at. You don't, eh? Well, I'll tell you. When you want to make a good hideout, head for the last place anybody'd expect outlaws to go. Like here? Just so. Huh. We're here. But if you figure I feel safe on account of it, you're loco. Ain't heard the rest of it yet. No? We ain't only stopping here in the cattle country, but we're going to put up all snug and comfortable in the ranch house I know of. You mean you got friends here? Uh-uh. Well, then how... This ranch house I'm thinking of is a place where there's just a kid. There's Ma and a kind of handyman that stays with them all year round. What is... Ball roundup's finished, so they ain't kept on a crew. Kid ain't but 15 or 16. That handyman is so old and crippled up, he couldn't make trouble for a stove-in cat. Hmm, that's where we're going? Right. And just take over? Right again. But I don't... Who'd look for us there, huh? Come on. Let's get there and make ourselves to home. Get up there. Come on. Get up. Come on. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up. Mrs. Evans stood in the open doorway of her kitchen and called to her son and old Pete. Pete? Hank? Yes, sir? What do you want, Ma? Stepper's ready. Come and get it. Hear that, Pete? Come on. You. Oh, betcha. Well, what were you two looking at? We saw some horsemen. Horsemen? A whole bunch of them. I don't reckon they're stopping here, though. Likely waddies that have been laid off from one of them outfits over north. Ma'am, what do you got cooking? It smells so good. Just a stew, Pete. You and Hank sit down. I'll fill your plate. Go ahead, son. Uh-huh. Gee, I'm so hungry I could... Say, them fellas are stopping. Look. Yeah. My, if they want this. Tell them to ride on. You can't be expected to feed all them, ma'am. They're coming to the back door. Hey, you keep it here, Hank. I'll see what they want. Howdy, boys. What can I do for you? Get back inside. What? Get back inside, mister, for I blow you to glory. Steve, what do you want? Ma'am, you just stay where you are. Ma, what's the matter? Is the kid you mentioned, Bull? Uh-huh. Eh, Jug, go on back and take the horses somewhere where they can't be seen. Close the door. Right. Hold up. Not exactly that, ma'am. You've just come to visit for a while. No, get out of here. You can't... Get out of here. Oh, you hit me. You hit me. You hit me, Lord. You hit me. You hit me. You hit me. I'll show you. Take your old loose gun, boys. Get back. Now, stay away, dog on you. Get back. Get out. Leave me alone now. Hey, give me back my hard way. Shut up. I said shut up. All of you. Now, then, we're here. We're staying here. And while we stay, you'll take our orders. Recollect that and maybe you won't get hurt. 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. Several days passed after the encounter with Bull Kohler's gang, before Tonto was able to ride again. And when the Lone Ranger and the Indian left their camp in the hills, they found the outlaw's trail hard to follow. When they reached the cattle country, they lost it completely. This district is too well-traveled, Tonto. Unless we have a stroke of luck, we won't pick up this sign until they're out of it again. Where do you think them go? To the border, perhaps. Oh. At least that's the logical place for them to head. With Bull leading them, however, it's difficult to tell. He's shrewd. That's why he's dodged the law all these years. He never does what anyone expects. Not right. For all we know, they may have doubled back and be riding for the hills we left. Uh-huh. They may have broken up and scattered, making their way across country posing as cowboys, meeting again somewhere we don't know about. Uh-huh. Oh, they may have done none of those things. They might have stayed right in this neighborhood. It's possible they had boldest friends among the ranchers who'd hide them out. Then, then, get way? No, they won't escape. Well, how will find them? By trying everything we can think of. If one thing fails, we'll eliminate that and go on to another. We'll catch up to them again if it takes us the next 12 months. Uh-huh. We decided to go after them, Tonto. As a result, we'd never stop until they were safely behind bars. And we won't. Uh-huh. What we do now? The only thing we can do. What's that? We couldn't distinguish the trail here, so there's no use looking for it. We can only hope they stayed together and that someone saw them. Uh-huh. Which means we'll have to make inquiries at each ranch as we come to it. Uh-huh. That's not hard. Not hard, Kimosabe, but it'll take time. Uh-huh. So, the faster we get about it, the better. There's a ranch ahead of us, Tonto. Come, we'll see what they have to tell us. Uh-huh. Get him up, Scout. Get him up. Come on, Silver. Come on, old fellow. Meanwhile, the outlaws were making themselves thoroughly at home in the Evans Ranch House. Neither Hank nor his mother nor Pete were permitted to leave the place alone. A member of the gang who was unknown to the law went to town when supplies were needed. And passerby's were turned away in a manner that did not arouse their suspicions. The outlaws enjoyed themselves. But then, on the other hand, young Hank was very desperate. Ma. Careful, son. Stand away from the stove. Ma, listen. Yes? I've made up my mind to something, Ma. When it comes dark, I'm going to make a break for it. I want to get to town somehow. Oh, son, you mustn't. Oh, but why if I don't... Why are you two whispering about it? Why... Ain't you been told enough not to try scheming things without our knowing it? Yeah. Don't. You come with me. And, ma'am, you tend to your cooking and don't get fool notions. Try any tricks and it'll be the worst for you. Please, let me go. You're hurting me. You skunks will pay for this, mister. Dirk. Yeah, boy? Take this old fool outside and make him chop some kindling. Sick of hearing him hollering all the time. And the kindling's been chopped. He done it a full break. Yeah. Then bust him one if he opens that yappy of his again. Sure. And, ma'am, you hustle up with that grub, Savvy. You stall around any longer and your kid will get another lamb basting like he got yesterday. Bull. Hi, Bull. Come quick. Eh? Bull. Look up the trail there. The masked man. The masked man of Tonto. Well, I'll beat you. Hey, come in here. That'd be easy to know where we are. They're coming after us. Yeah. If they are... Now, now, hold it, fellas. Wait. By thunder, they don't know we're here. They can't. But what are you... But they're heading here, ain't they? Hey, Idgits, would they be riding up in plain sight like that if they suspicion we was anywheres around? No, they wouldn't. Hey, look at them. Not even trying to hide themselves. By golly, Bull, you're right. I bet I'm right. But, Joe, at all of you, get your irons ready. Get back from the windows. This is just a chance we've been waiting for. All right, Bull. Come on. You, kid, come here. You ain't gonna shoot them fellas, are you? You ain't, are you? What's it to you? They won't have a chance. You're a bright kid. They're gone right. They won't have a chance. And less than you do, like I tell you, you won't either. Well, what do you do? You're answering the door. Whatever they want, you ask them to step in. And keep this in mind. Huh? One peep out of here, I'll warn them, and you'll be the first to get blasted. Now, get over by the door and wait for them to knock. All right, boys, stand ready. Oh, oh, there's a little bit. Oh, it's got one, fella. Oh, no, fella. Well, Tonto, we'll see what we can learn here. We haven't had much luck so far. I haven't seen a sign of them. Maybe then come this way. Perhaps. Wait. What matter? I thought I saw someone watching us from the window and draw back quickly. Oh. I... Tonto, don't you feel something strange about this place? Mean old savvy. Maybe we'd be wiser to have a look around first before we announce ourselves. Uh-huh. I... Nonsense. It's most likely just my imagination. Anyway, we're here, and whoever's inside knows it. Come. Watch out! They're going to shoot! Watch out! Boom! Down, Tonto, down! Tonto, we can't stay here. They're killers. Here, this way. Drop over to the side of the force, but keep firing. We'll give them a chance to make a break for it. Come. There. Tonto, get to the other side of the house. I'll watch this side. They're in there, and we have to keep them there. Amigo. Ma! Where are you, Ma? Mr. Pete and Ma never got out. What's that? I thought they was right behind me, but they wasn't. Look! They're still in the house! When it was seen that the Lone Ranger and Tonto had found shelter, the outlaw stopped firing and took stock of the situation. Chuck, why didn't you get that kid when he yelled out? I... I never figured he'd dare. I didn't either. They got away from us. Where's Pete and his Ma? There they are. Huh? They're in the kitchen behind the stove. I seen him trying to follow the kid, and I headed them off. Good thing you used your head that much, anyhow. We'll have to use them to get out of here. Use them for hostages. Derek, go bring them in here. Sure. What the... That was the masked man. He seen you when he started past the door. You almost got them. Go ahead. Get them, too. Huh? And get winged? Oh, no. You get it. You scared? Bull, any of us try to reach the kitchen, we have to pass by that door. We can't close it on account that it opens the wrong way. It opens outwards. We can't reach it. If we don't get Pete and the kid's mom, we're trapped. Yeah, well, then, we're trapped. No, we ain't. Hmm? Just wait till dark. Then we can grab them without being seen. But the Lone Ranger had also thought of that possibility. Hank. Yeah, mister? Come here, but keep out of sight. What is it? Hank, you know your mother and Pete are still inside. You know that we can keep Bull from reaching them as long as it stays light enough to see. But in just a couple of hours... It'll be getting dark. Yes. Then you'll have to ride to town and find the sheriff. You'll just have time. I can't. But why? Neither can Tonto. So, be it the one of us leaves, it'll give those fellows a chance to escape. Tonto has to watch that side of the house while I watch this. Hank, you'll have to go. Take Tonto's horse... No. No, I... I can't do that. Don't ask me. I just can't. Hank, what's the matter? Why can't you? I... I just can't, that's all. Don't ask me to. Please don't. I don't understand. I'm... I'm just a yellow coward. What's this? I'm... I'm scared of horses, that's what. Oh, I've tried and tried, and I just can't do it. But why, Hank? A boy like you, brought up on a ranch where there are horses all... Once I... I seen a wild horse kill my brother. Oh. And... And after that, one threw me, and I was almost killed. And that explains it. When I... When I try to ride him, I... I just get all twisted up inside. I just can't. But this time you must. No. No, no, I... I just... Here, come along. We'll get back out of sight. This'll do. Yes, now? No. No, I just can't. Look here, man. Please, no. Listen to me. I could go, I would. But you know that I can't. And more depends upon this than the capture of those outlaws. Your mother's freedom depends upon it. Those fellas escape, take her with them. It'll be days before she's freed again. Please. Please, no. I want to, but I can't. Here. I can't do it. All right, Scout. I'm scared. I'm going. I can't. Dusk approached and slowly deepened. And all the while, the outlaws have been waiting the first opportunity to slip past the open door to the kitchen where Pete and Mrs. Evans cowered behind the protection of the iron stove. Several attempts have been made, but it abruptly ended when the Lone Ranger's bullets sent the outlaws scurrying for cover. But finally... Hold it, fellas. Listen. If we can't get past that door now, we never can. It's as dark as it's ever going to get. We've got to make it. Yeah. I did like I tell you. How's that? This time, I'm going to try it. But as soon as I start, you fellas get to whooping and firing and making all the noise you can. Try to keep that mask hombre's attention. Once I'm past there, we're as good as out of here. All right. All right. Here goes. Go on. Make some noise. Come on, sir. Bring your men and follow me. Hey, the sheriff. They're rushing us. Bull, where are you? Bull. They're on the pack, too. Place to surround it. Hold on your conjure violence, or we'll kill the Lone Ranger. You're covered. Try to make a fight of it, and you'll end on Boot Hill. We're 10 to your one. Pull up with your hands. You won't. I give up. I give up. Don't shoot. My hands smashed out. It isn't, but it ought to be. Hank, where's my boy? Hank, where are you? Here I am, Ma. Here I am. Sheriff, get these fellas out of here. Right. All right, boys. Round them up and make a march. Last the first to run for it. All right. Gosh, I never expected to get out of this alive. Stranger, how'd the sheriff get here? Which one of you rode for him? You and the Redskin? Neither. Huh? Then how'd he get here? Tell him, Hank. Well, I rode to town. What's that? Hank, you say you did. He did, Pete. Hank, it wasn't so bad after all, was it? Gosh. At first, I was scared stiff. But Scott was traveling so fast, I didn't dare drop off. And? Well, then all at once, I wasn't the least bit scared no more. Honest, I wasn't. It was just like I'd never been scared. And that's something for you to remember in the future, son. Yeah? Before you're much older, you'll learn that a man meets many things that frighten him. Ain't it the truth? But place them down, and you'll find they're never half so bad as they seem. I could have told you that, Hank, if I'd thought of it. Gee, Ma, I just think. Nobody'll ever be able to make fun of me again. Oh, it's wonderful, son. Gosh. Wait till I show him in town. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.
