out of dust and a hearty, hi-oh, Silver, the Lone Ranger. His faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the mask rider of the plains, led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. The stories of his strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness have come down to us through the generations. And 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 and the thundering hoop beats of the great horse, Silver, the Lone Ranger rides again. Come on, Silver! Faster, boy, faster! I'm still there! A man walked briskly up the steps of a little house in the frontier town of Pierre in the Dakota Territory and rapped on the door. Good evening, Lola. Good evening. Earl? May I come in? What? Yes, yes, come in. Jeff's boat just arrived. He isn't home yet. Yes, I know. I was on Jeff's boat all the way from St. Louis. He wasn't sure whether you'd see me, Lola. Well, I... Lola, won't you believe even Jeff? I... I know it doesn't sound reasonable. Losing my father... Well, he was all I had. But Skinner Fleet and Pete Marvin put those renegades and half-breeds up to wiping out the expedition. Father put everything he had into that expedition. He did it because Jeff asked him to on your assurance. Jeff said you knew fur trading and you knew the Indians. But those Indians were renegades. Fleet's and Marvin's cutthroats. They killed your father. And they'd have killed me and Jeff, too, if we hadn't been lucky. There wouldn't have been any expedition if it hadn't been for you, Earl. Your father was Jeff's friend. And Jeff is my friend. We hunted and trapped together for years. How can... How can you for one second believe I betrayed Sam Douglas? Jeff at least has tried to pay his debt. He said he'd promised Father to take care of me in case anything happened to him. Jeff got a job on the Haskins Riverboat line. He's been captain of the steamer Lady Jane six months now. He's been almost a father to me. You went away. Well, there was nothing here for me. I know you won't believe me, but if I'd stayed here in the fur trading business, Fleet and Marvin would have had me killed. Now I... And now you've come back. Why? Well, I'm not alone in wanting Fleet and Marvin brought to justice. And who are the others? Some people who think it means life itself to the entire Upper Missouri Territory. The Haskins Fur Company is St. Louis for one. Same outfit that owns the boat line. They've sent quite a few of their men up here to get the evidence against Fleet and Marvin so that the government could act. And did those men succeed? They were never heard from again. But the Haskins people think maybe I can do it. I see. Lola, if I could prove to you that you were wrong about your father's death, completely wrong, would that change your feeling toward me? Of course, Earl. I... I must tell you something. I... I'm leaving town. Leaving town? Yes, I've decided... But what about Jeff? He's been a father to you. I know, and I'm grateful, but I... Where are you going? To St. Louis. I've saved some money, and Jeff has given me some. I... I want to get away from where it all happened. I want to start a new life. When do you plan to leave? I'll be ready about the time Jeff leaves on his next trip. Four weeks. Four weeks. I might be able to do it. Earl. Yes? Be careful. Take a good look around before you step on board that steamer, Lola. You may have company. A little cabin hidden in the mountains some miles from Pierre was the rendezvous at which Skinner Fleet and Pete Marvin met their agents. Renegade Indians and half-breeds who not only served the crooked fur traders by circuinating false reports among the tribes, but by obtaining information. Well, what's the jabbering about? Him say Medberry meet Oponumo, chief all Dakota tribe. What? Him say Medberry get chief send son Omaha. Son duration. What for? Prince Todawiku meet he pale-faced fur trader. The Haskins people. When's the prince going? Chief's son leave Pierre on Riverboat next trip. That's Jeff Streeter's tub, the Lady Jane. Ask him if he knows where the Medberry's going on that boat too. Well, Medberry Kimo seo no hao. Bah hockey. Hunga moho guha. Him say Medberry tell chief he go same boat and he must have got what he came after. Yeah, he's smart that Medberry. Working quiet like figuring we'd not get on to what he was up to. Too bad we didn't get him and Streeter same time we got old man Douglas. Well, we run Medberry out and Streeter took to riverboating. And Medberry's in our way now. If he gets to Omaha with what I think he's got. Well, what are we waiting for? Are we taking care of all their mothers the Haskins people sent up here? Yeah, but Medberry's different. He's the sharpest hombre they sent up here and he probably told them plenty before he left. We gotta handle him special. Well, I guess you're right, Skinner. But what about the chief's son? You know, Pete, I think we'd better let the prince get on board that tub. Huh? If something happened to that boat while the prince was on it, wouldn't the chief be mad? Mad? Say, no other white fur traders would ever try to do business up here. Some nights before Jeff Streeter's vessel was to leave on its next trip, Earl Medberry again went to the steamboat skipper's home. I'm sorry Lola wouldn't see you, Earl, but the mind is made up, I guess. Well, that's all right, Jeff. I can't tell her yet I've succeeded and I'll not have succeeded until that evidence reaches the Haskins people in St. Louis. When you come aboard the Lady Jane, she'll have good reason to believe you got the proof. And just in case I don't come aboard, you have copies in that package and you'll see it gets to the Haskins people? You bet I will, son. That evidence means about as much to me as it does to you. Well, I'm taking this case with the originals in it back to my hotel room now. And I'm staying there until the day your boat leaves. Well, it's next Thursday noon, five days from now. But I reckon it'll seem a lot longer. It will, but it's safer that way. Good night, Jeff. Good night, Earl. Medberry, come now. Pull it out. Indians! We take him to cabin. Come. Well, if it ain't our old friend Medberry. Anybody see anything? Nobody see. It's perfect. He's coming around now. Here, maybe this will help wake you up, Medberry. Medberry. Where am I? We're here among friends, Medberry. Old friends. Skinner Fleet. And Pete Marvin. Now he remembers. Bring Medberry case. Got paper. You'll look. See, this may be the stuff here. Let's see. Here's something. Let me see. 200 furs, 20,000 dollars. Yeah. A Cheyenne River deal. Yeah, and here's the dope on old man Douglas. Let me see. This stuff could hang us both. It will hang you both. Yeah, shut up. That won't do you any good, Skinner. This ain't gonna do you any good either. Ain't nobody gonna read anything from them ashes. They're not the only copies they are. Oh, yeah, yeah. It's mighty clever you getting Chief Openumo to send his son to meet the Haskins people at Omaha. Chief seems to have a lot of confidence in him, Medberry. He'll have a lot more when his son reports back to him. He's gonna report back. You wouldn't dare harm the Chief's son. The Dakota tribes would massacre every man, woman, and child in this territory if anything happened to him. He wouldn't massacre me and Pete. What are you gonna do? No harm in telling him now, Skinner. No, I reckon not. Well, the Chief's son is gonna leave Pierre on that tub of Jeff Streeter's, ain't he? And the tub burns firewood, don't it? What are you talking about? Well, now, just suppose the night before the boat sails, we bore holes in some of them logs. Bored holes in the logs. And filled them with gunpowder. No. And the tub has got to get up plenty of steam before it pulls out. And after everybody gets aboard, including the Chief's son, of course, boom. There'll be women and children on that boat. And Lola and Jeff. Lola. Oh, yeah, old man Douglas' daughter. I remember, yeah. I remember. You were sweet on her. And Jeff Streeter's a captain of that tub. Well, Pete, it looks like we'll make a clean sweep. You'd kill all those people just so you could gain your... What's your worry about? You won't be there. It was the morning of the fifth day after Earl Medbury had been kidnapped that the Lone Ranger and Tonto were riding a rocky trail beside one of the tributaries of the up in Missouri River. At that point, the stream raged through a deep gorge and the trail led toward the top of a cliff overlooking the gorge. Good country, Kimo Sabe. Ah. We'll get to top soon. Ah. Look. Smoke. Oh, Silver. Easy boy. Easy. Whoa now. Where? Oh. Now I see it. Slow puffs. Fairly visible. Ah. Smoke come from top cliff. No one there we can see. Now it's stopped. There it is again. Seems to come right out of the ground. Kimo Sabe. That's smoke talk. Yes. It looks like it. Somebody call help. Let's get going, Tonto. Come on, Silver. Get him out. Let's come. The Lone Ranger and Tonto discovered that the smoke signals were coming from a circular cavern extending from the top of the cliff straight down some 60 or 70 feet. The signals were being sent up by a man at the bottom of the cavern, a man held captive by its depth and its sheer size. The bottom opened onto the stream but the waters were so turbulent that no man could survive on them more than a few seconds. Hello down there. Hello. We saw your smoke signals. How did you ever get down there? Two men brought me here. They wanted you to die there? Yes. Who are you? Yes. Try to go on. We want to help you if we can. Oh. Poor fellow apparently has collapsed. Must have been down there for days. Him plenty weak. I'm hungry and exhaustion. Unless we get him out of there soon he'll surely die. Somebody shot at us. Come close. Somebody who doesn't want us to save that fellow down there. Take cover. Shot come from Cross Canyon. Yes, but I can't see anyone. They're apparently hidden among those boulders across the gorge using rifles. Toto, we can't compete against rifles from here. They have too much range. Pistol nuts shoot fine up. Them laugh at us. There they go. Two men. Them run away from boulders. Duck behind some more boulders. They had their horses hidden there. Them ride off fast. Them get way. Leaving that fellow Metbury at the bottom of the cavern to die. 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. When the Lone Ranger and Tonto realized Earl Metbury now lay in a state of collapse at the bottom of the cavern they rode downstream some distance crossed over and returned up the other side. They saw no sign of the man who had been shooting at them so they hauled at a point just opposite the cavern's opening. Get through those rapids alive. No. No. Brown's strong as man. Man yes. But a horse might get through. Kimotabe you mean Silver. Him strong but maybe not strong enough. Maybe Silver drowned. You drowned too. Silver and I have been through many battles together. We must go down we'll go down together. Kimotabe Stay close to shore Tonto. We need a hand with Metbury if we get him this far. Come on Silver. Easy now. The white stallion responding to the urgings of his master with every ounce of his great strength waged a mighty battle with the raging waters. Waters that beat and tore and sliced at him with relentless fury. Waters that whirled and spun with a powerful suction seeking to draw down with the fatal depths the magnificent animal and his rider who dared defy them. Then in midstream where the strength of the current was greatest the white horse sank beneath the surging waters carrying his rider with him until only the lone ranger's head and shoulders were visible. But Silver still fought on in a few seconds struggled to the surface. In a supreme effort the great horse carried his rider directly to the cavern's mouth. At that point the water was shallow enough so that Silver could keep his feet. The lone ranger stepped from his saddle and quickly made his way to the prostrate form of Earl Metbury. Metbury. Last man. One of Skinner Fleets men. I want to help you. It was my Indian friend and I who saw your smoke signals. And those shots I heard they must have come from men who didn't want us to save you. I guess they they said they'd come back now and then until they found I was I was dead. Why did they choose this way of killing you? Well they thought no chance of my being rescued before before I died. Little chance my body ever be found. Nobody could ever prove I see. We'll talk about that later. Silver and I came to get you. Here. Let me help you up. A masked man. An Indian friend. But you must be the lone ranger. It doesn't matter who I am. Here. Put your arm around my shoulder. There. Can you walk? I think so. Good. We'll make it. Here Silver. Steady big fella. Silver braced himself against the rocky bottom. The lone ranger lifted Metbury astride the horse lashed into the saddle then set out again to conquer the wrath of the waters. This time despite the added weight he carried the white stallion had the confidence and skill that came from having won the struggle before. Come on Silver. Silver. We're not far to go now. What a magnificent animal. Silver. Under his master's urgings Silver swam straight for the opposite shore without faltering. Tonto was waiting. I'm sorry. You. Silver win. Win big fight. Silver won it Tonto. There big fella. There let's help Metbury down now. Those lashings. Help me. I never thought that we'd... What day's today? Today? Today is Thursday. Thursday? What time is it? Not yet noon. In the sun I'd say it was about 11 o'clock. Only an hour. Only an hour? What do you mean? A river steamer the Lady Jane is sailing from Pierre at noon. Her captain Jeff Streeter has copies of my evidence against Skinner Fleet and Pete Marvin. They were the men who put me in that cavalry. And the son of Chief Officer Newmo the Dakotas will be aboard. Women and children too. What is the danger? Terrible danger. Fleet and Marvin said they were going to load some of the vessel's firewood with gunpowder. Gunpowder? Yes, blow the boat to pieces. Kill everybody on board. May already be too late. No, Fleet and Marvin would be clever enough to put the wood containing the gunpowder where it wouldn't be used immediately. Not until after the vessel began getting up steam. They want the explosion to occur at the docks after everyone's aboard. Now, me here of Fleet and Marvin them big crook prayer traitors. Dakota tribes be plenty mad if Keith's son be killed. Yes. There may be barely time. Pierre, 20, 30 miles from here. What we do, Kimo Sabe? We haven't time to ride all the way to Pierre, Toto. You ride toward there 15 miles perhaps, fast. There are some ridges. Huh? Me no. Build a fire on one of those ridges quickly. Send a smoke signal to the Indian prince. Tell him to warn the boat captain not to use the firewood. Great danger. Wait. Not use firewood? Danger? Wait. Me no signal. But maybe Indian prince not see smoke. We'll have to risk it, Toto. It's our only chance. Hurry, Toto. Hurry! Well, I think our earlier visitors are paying us another call. Wheaton Marvin. I was afraid they'd come back. They'll not get away this time. Get what cover you can. There, Medbury. Yes, I see them now. They ducked behind those boulders up ahead a few hundred yards. We get them this time. No. Toto, you must send that smoke signal. I'll take care of these fellows. That'd be two to one, Kimo Sabe. Hurry, Toto, and be careful. Your scouts. Silver. Back here, big fella. Now, quickly. Yes, and I must go, too. What? I've got to get Silver out of range of their fire. You're their number one objective, Medbury. Of course, but... They see me leave, they'll not follow. Not at once, anyway. They'll try to get you first. I have no gun. Here, take one of mine. There. And here's ammunition. There. Now, keep covered. Watch them. Don't let them move up on you. Keep them busy. I just hope they do make a break. What are you gonna do? Leave you for a while. Here, Silver. Hurry, big fella. Steady now. The Lone Ranger's plan was simple. He rode off in the direction opposite from Fleet and Marvin and soon disappeared. The fur traders, anchored by the discovery that Medbury now was armed, concentrated their attention on him. Riding in a wide circle, unseen by Fleet and Marvin, the Lone Ranger soon was in a position to approach them from the rear. Once he sighted them, he bore down them with all the speed Silver could muster. That fellow's coming at us from behind. I told you we should have beat it. Let him have it. I figured he'd had enough. We'll get him. He's getting too close. Shoot the horse. I'll get him. He got me in the arms. I've got a beat on him. I'll take him. Oh, my shoulder. Hey, that hombre's wearing a mask. Come on, get to your horse. We're getting out of here. A few minutes before noon, passengers were on board the river steamer Lady Jane as she prepared to leave the dock of Friere. Guess he couldn't make it, Lone. Maybe, maybe something's wrong. Oh, not necessarily, Lone. Earl said he was going to keep to his hotel room until time to leave. I figured it best not to look him up. Oh, that Indian's trying to get your attention. Oh, Prince Totowayku. Captain Streeter, me get message. Message? Who from? Medbury? Not know who from. Medbury, not come. But everything's been arranged for you, Prince. Me get smoke message. Smoke message? What do you mean? Come from Ridge, yonder. Where? Yonder. Yeah, I see smoke, all right, but what does it mean? Message for Captain. Message say, boat not burn firewood. Danger. Wait. Boat not burn firewood. Danger. Wait. Who would be sending me a message? Maybe Indian. Maybe Medbury. Medbury. There's Earl no smoke talk. Yeah. And Fleet and Marvin sure would like to see something happen to this boat. Hey, you fellas. Started loading that firewood on yet? Starting now, Captain. Well, stop it. Get off any logs you've chucked on board. Ain't got none on yet, Captain. But you'll be leaving in a few minutes. We ain't going nowhere. Not till the sheriff and me get a good look at them logs. Sheriff? What he's got to do with them? You go get them. Bring them here. Maybe you'll see. Well, whatever you say, Captain. Hope this ain't no hoax, Jeff. I was just sitting down to dinner. Hey, looky here. Let me see, Sheriff. Yep. Looks like the end of that log's been plugged up. It's coming fast. Five men on them. Two riding double. Say them two riding double has got their hands tied behind their backs. That's Skinner, Fleet, and Pete Marvin. Hey, another's an engine and one's wearing a mask. Now, Loot's coming to the boat docks. Hey, now, Loot, Sheriff. At least three of them ain't because that other fellow is Earl Medbury. There's Jeff Streeter. Dr. Streeter, I see you got the message about the firewood. Just send it. We found gunpowder stuffed in four of them logs. My Indian friend Tato sent the message, but Earl Medbury here gave us the reasons for sending it. And we brought the reasons along with us. Skinner, Fleet, and Pete Marvin. Earl, son, what happened? You'll look at it later, Jeff. Tonto? Sheriff, this is the Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger? Well, I... Sheriff, I'm turning these men over to you. Earl Medbury has all the evidence you need. Tonto? Uh-uh. You come, Kimmer Floppy. Wait, wait, don't leave. Yeah, hold on there, Masked Man. We want to thank you. Well, if that don't beat everything. Earl, boy, it's good to see you. Yes. How are you? Fine, Jeff. Ah, Lola. Well, she was right disappointed when you... when you didn't show up. You mean she... You mean she's on board then? Uh, well, uh... She was. She... She was? Earl! I'm still there! You have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated. lone Ranger Incorporated. lone Ranger Incorporated. Quote, lone Ranger Incorporated. Lone Ranger Incorporated. All right. Sure.
