Austin Hardy, Howe Silver, the Lone Ranger. His faithful Indian companion, Tonto, 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. On the broad top of Medicine Butte, high above the volcanic wilderness of Arizona Territory, a resplendent yet terrifying tableau was taking place. Hundreds of Apache Braves crouched in a circle around a huge blazing fire. Their voices droned monotonously in a ceremonial chant as they watched two figures standing beside the fire. Chief Red Fox gazed sternly at Pyroma, the Medicine Man, then raised his hand and shouted for silence. Pyroma! Pyroma! From any moon you make medicine for Apache. You gave solemn promise that white men never come to highlands of Apache. I made that promise. Today, our Braves find white devil on mountain trail. Your medicine, not good. Have the Braves and their mighty chief, Red Fox, lost faith in Pyroma? And I will again offer proof, as I have done many times before. Let my magic robe and the sacred moccasins be brought from my teepee. Uh, one more, Kiget! Yeah! I will again offer proof, as I bring big medicine for Pyroma. Good. And as I place the robe around my shoulders and the moccasins upon my feet, let the fire be raised to even greater heat! Kigigokwe! Kigigokwe! That is good! Whose shine brightly, like the gleaming red eyes of a million devils, the flames are leaping tongues of destruction to all but Pyroma! First, a prayer to the mighty fire god. O nadakomu, o sinauta, suma om danaoka! Now Pyroma walks into the fire. Merge unharmed! Is that not proof that I, and only I, am favored by the fire god? Kigig's words of truth, this medicine is big. I, Chief Red Fox, proclaim it! It was just before sundown on the following afternoon when the lone ranger and Tonto, on a trail not far from Madison Butte, brained their horses to a halt. Oh, oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh! Why stop here, Kimo Sabe? That flock of buzzards circling overhead. They're pretty low. Look, Tonto, silly big fellow. Dead man, the arrow through his back. Ah, and that Apache era. Poor old fellow. He probably never knew what hit him. They're not far from Madison Butte, Tonto. It's a dangerous country for a man to travel alone. Clothes look like maybe him Prospector. Yes, and he's been dead for several hours. No way of telling who he is unless it... Ah, wait a minute. I'll go through his pockets. You find paper? Yes, it's a letter addressed to Dr. John Moffitt, Merrittville, Arizona Territory. That's no help, but there might be a signature inside. What letter say? Not much. I'll read it. It says, Dear Doc, I found the kid's mining claim, but you're loco if you think there's any gold out here. There's nothing but a lot of gray stones and Apache engines. I'll send this ahead by mail and take my time coming home with a mule. Signed, your brother Ben. Yeah. Apache Killam. Maybe Steel Mule. Yes, but at least we know his name. The name of one of his relatives. How far is Merrittville from here, Tonto? Ride one day, one night. That's too far to carry a dead man. We'll bury him here and then ride to Merrittville and deliver his letter. What are you here? That's strange. There's generally someone at a doctor's house. There's somebody here, mister. The window is open. I'm sitting in a chair with a shotgun covering both you gun hogs. This time you won't get inside the house. Is this the home of Dr. Moffat? You know Blaine well it is. And I know who you are. Part of Trig Coleman's Allhood Gang. We're not outlaws. I have a letter to deliver from Dr. John Moffat. Is he here? Line won't get you anywhere, mister. He got anything for Doc laid on the porch and vamoose. All right. I think Dr. Moffat will be anxious to get this letter. It's from his brother. From... You mean from Uncle Ben? That's the way it's signed. Where did... I mean, how'd you get a letter from Uncle Ben? If you'll put down that gun, I'll tell you about it. What? All right. I'll turn up the lamp and you can come in the house. But remember, I'll have you both covered. Come on, Toto. Then I'll let the lamp... What? You're wearing a mask. I was right, Jarrett. Who's the engine? A friend of mine. We're not outlaws. What are you wearing that mask for? I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll put both my guns on the table over there. You do the same with your shotgun. Then we'll both be even. How about it? Never saw one of Trig Coleman gun slicks do a thing like that. Unless it's a trick. I've never heard of Trig Coleman. Well, will you match my play? You have nothing to lose. Well, I... Maybe you are in the square. Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't notice that was a wheelchair you're in. That's all right. I had an accident. My legs won't work. If I get around, all right, this way. I see. Is Dr. Moffat your father? No, Doc's just... Say, what about that letter? Here. It had to be opened because the man who wrote it never had a chance to mail it. Let me see. Gee, it's from Uncle Ben, all right. But Doc's on his way out there, so he'll see him be better. What's your name, son? Jimmy. Jimmy Burke. And Uncle Ben is... Oh, he's not my real uncle. I just call him that because he's Doc Moffat's brother. My pa was killed last year, and I had an accident. So Doc Moffat and Uncle Ben adopted me. Doc's awful smart. He says if this old mining claim of pa's turns out, we'll have enough money for me to go back east and have an operation that'll fix... Uncle Ben says here that claim's not so good. I... I'm afraid it's worse than that, Jimmy. What... What do you mean? Your Uncle Ben is dead. We found him on a trail near Medicine Butte. He was killed by Apaches. Oh... Uncle Ben's dead? I'm sorry, Jimmy. Doc... Doc was afraid of Trigg Coleman. He went out there after Uncle Ben, but... But now I... Easy, easy, easy, steady, son, steady. Tell me, why did your Uncle Ben go over into the Medicine Butte country? And why did the doctor follow him? Well, I... I guess you could say it started about a week ago. I... Doc's busy. I would call on sick folks most of the time, and Uncle Ben used to sit right here and tell me stories. They were good stories about... about how he used to fight engines up in Colorado. Yes, sir. I tell you, Jimmy, them Arapahos used to be mighty fierce. Mighty tricky, too. Golly, Uncle Ben. Did you have many fights with them? Oh, and I can give her count, son. I mind one time I was guarding some trappers up the Gunnison River. He was ambushed. Ambushed? Gee. Well, hey, he was like this. I, uh... Eh, shucks, I wish I had some rocks here. I could string them out on the floor and show you just how it happened. Yeah, I... Well, I know where there's some rocks, Uncle Ben. Yeah. Pa's our samples. Over there in the bottom door of the dresser. Yeah, just the thing. I'll get them. Ah, these will work fine. I'll build them up just like that gold. She's Colorado. Now, look. Uncle Ben showed me how he's ambushed by engines up in Colorado. Ah, just one of the times, Jimmy. Ben, if you'd really been through all the... Where'd the rocks come from? The old ore samples Pa used to have. Oh, yes. I remember your father talking about samples. Let me see. Ben, did you have these, I said? I didn't need them. I've been prospecting long enough to know real color when I see it. Jimmy's Pa could have saved himself trouble looking these back. I'm not so sure. Ah, nothing but scrub rock. You must have had them wrapped up in twine. Look at the little piece of his string. That's exactly what I'm looking at. Where was this mine? Over towards Medicine Butte someplace. What's the difference? It's low-grade scrub ore. I don't know. I've been mining close on to 40 years. Jimmy, your father left a map. Where is it? In the dress of draw, I guess. Why, though? Yeah, champion, you hush of it. There's nobody more ignorant about mining than the shabones, even if he is mine, brother. Ain't I told you a thousand times that Jimmy's Pa didn't... Here's the map. He's got the mine mark. It's in the valley just below Medicine Beach. Ben, you're going over there. Let's take it out and file the claim in Jimmy's. Yeah, you're loco. I tell you there's no gold there. Maybe not gold, but hurry up. Get out in the barn and saddle your mule. You're heading for Medicine Butte today. Oh, golly. Doc, do you think maybe Pa really did find something? I don't know for sure, Jimmy. This is just a hunch of mine. But for your sake, son, I hope I'm right. Doc insisted, so he left that night. I see. And when did Doc follow your Uncle Ben? Well, not till the next day. That's when Trey Coleman and his gang moved in. Moved in? Yeah. You see, I was in here in the house all alone, and Doc was out making calls. All at once, Trey Coleman and Lefty walked right in without knocking. They found the map, and when I started to yell, Trey hit me. So Trey Coleman hit you, huh? So hard, I didn't wake up for almost an hour. You say he and the other outlaw found the map? Sure they did. When Doc came home and found out of what had happened, he's so mad he could hardly talk. Well, don't blame him. Then he left to trail your Uncle Ben. That's right. Now I don't know what'll happen. If Doc finds Trig and Lefty, it'll be two to one. I can take care of myself here, but I can't help Doc. Don't worry about that, Jimmy. Tonto and I will tell Doc you're getting along all right. You? You mean you and the engine are going to... God, you're the funniest outlaws I've ever seen. I don't think Trig, Coleman, and Lefty will think we're funny. We can find them. Hello. We're heading back for Medicine Butte. Adios, Jimmy. Goodbye, mister. I hope you... God. Gee, maybe I've just been sitting here dreaming, and they weren't real. Maybe I just imagined I've been talking to them. One, two, three, let's go. Oh, golly. 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 we will continue our story. Although the Lone Ranger and Tonto rode west toward Medicine Butte with all possible speed, they had no way of knowing that Dr. Moffat had already reached his destination. It was late afternoon when he pulled his horse to a halt in the valley below the towering natural fortress of the Apaches. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, yes, I remember that map. This is about the place where... Steady now. Might as well get off and scout around. I can't see any sign. Yes, there is. A little lean-to over near the base of that cliff. Maybe Ben's camping there. Ben! Oh, Ben! You're going to stop yelling at the shack, Doc. Trig Coleman. You don't think you're the only gent who can leave Merrittville, do you, Doc? Coleman, you filthy scum, I ought to... Boy, you... You sent your brother out here to stake a claim. You wouldn't have done that unless... Where's the real claim? The gold claim. I don't know anything about a gold claim. You're lying. Why, I ought to... Try to persuade him, Trig. Maybe I can jog the old coot's memory. All right, Lefty. Work him over. Oh, oh, oh, who's got a hole, fella? Oh, oh, fella. This is where we buried Jimmy's uncle, Tonto. I have no idea where the mine is located, Mr. Dimmick, fella. This is as good a place as any to start looking for sign. That right. The ground hits the horses here. I'll take one side of the butte. You work along the other. We'll meet back here in about an hour. Ah, let me do it. Hey, where is it? Start talking. You're a... Twisting wet rawhide around my arms may give you yellow buzzards some satisfaction, but it can't make me tell something I don't know. Oh, you little... Trig, I've got an idea. Here. Let's take the old goat over to that empty mine. The real shaft must be somewhere nearby, and he might tell us... All right. There's nothing to lose. Get on your feet, Grandpa. We're going for a walk. Here we are, Trig. Yeah. All right, Sawbones. We're giving you another chance. Where's the gold mine from here? I don't know. This is a place where you had it marked on a map, but it's a fake. And you know where the other one is because your brother ain't here. He must have found it. I hope he found something besides a couple of snakes like you two. You dirty little sawbones. I'm going to... What was that? I don't know. Sounded like something hit that tree over there. I'll see what... What the... Engine's trick! Apaches! Gun him! Gun him down before it's too late. Skins. I'm glad of it. They're not crippled kids, Coleman. So you haven't got a chance. None of us have. Captain Whitefellers. Yes, Tonto. There must have been at least a hundred braves in that party. We're lucky we didn't arrive here a few minutes sooner. Apache, half camp, top of bluff. Take prisoners up there. You think them fellas we searched for? I'm sure of it. The elderly man looks something like the man we buried. It must be Dr. Moffat. The other two are probably Trigg Coleman and Lefty. First time we see Apache take prisoners. Yes, I know. They generally take scalps and leave dead men behind. There must be some reason for... Let's take a look at that mine, fellow. Did this gold mine fellas try to find? I suppose so. Although Jimmy's uncle Ben said there was no gold here. He was an old prospector. He couldn't have been fooled by... Wait here, Tonto. I'm going to look in the shaft. Ah. Feet deep. Nothing there except loose rocks. Here's a piece. That not look like gold ore. It isn't. I can't think of any reason why Dr. Moffat would send his brother out here to stake a claim unless he... Wait a minute. Me not savvy. This is ore. A kind of ore. There's no time to think about it now. We've got to get back to the horses and find a trail to the top of Medicine Butte. Go on. In the Apache camp atop Medicine Butte, flames of the ceremonial fire threw their weird light on a wild and frenzied scene. The measured beat of tom-toms became faster and faster as hundreds of half-naked savages circled a fire in a dance of death. Pyroma, the medicine man, urged them on by pointing to the bound figures of the three prisoners who lay on the ground before him. Suddenly, Chief Red Fox signaled for the dance to stop. Moa! Manoa! Oh, mighty warriors of the Apache, we dance tonight to honor the great fire god. Fire god! The fire god who speaks to us through the lips of Pyroma. Fire god! It is good that we honor fire god. It is good that we pay him homage by sacrifice. The sacrifice of blood! The death of these three white devils will the god of fire be pleased. The least thing you can do is die like a white man, even if you didn't live like one. But first, Pyroma again proves that the fire god is a friend of the Apache. Yeah! Yeah! Bring the magic robe and the sacred moccasins. Yeah! Crouching in the shadows at the edge of the camp and beyond the circle of firelight, the lone ranger and Tonto watched the scene before them. The medicine man made big talk. Let him kill prisoner, burn him. Look, set way, Tonto. I don't know how we can save them. Our guns wouldn't be any match for hundreds of Apaches. Two of those fellas crooks may be better than die. No human being deserves to be burned alive. Kimasabi, look! Medicine man put on white coat. Him gonna walk in fire! That's one medicine man's trick I've never seen before. Him walk through fire! You see? There must be some reason for. Although, there is. And I think I know the answer. Maybe there's time to say the lies of Dr. Motham those two. I don't mean to not know what you mean. I'll explain it later. Go to the horses, Tonto. Our camp gear is strapped back of the saddles. Bring one of our blankets. A white one. Hurry. Let me bring it. Good. Now help me tear off two pieces. So that when we wad them up, they'll look like moccasins. Look. Medicine man will take off coat now. You see him? Yes. I've been hoping he'd do that. He doesn't want any of those Apache braves to examine his magic coat too closely. Him take coat back to teepee. That's our chance. Be not savvy. Take off your shirt, Tonto. Put some pain in your face. In this light, you'll pass for an Apache brave. Now, sneak around to the other side of the camp. The medicine man asks for his magic coat again. You bring him this blanket. But what do you do, Kimo Sabi? I am going out there and try to talk faster than Pyroma. Hurry, Tonto. There's no time to lose. Hurry. The fire god calls for his sacrifice. Put the white devils into the fire. No, wait, wait. Almighty Chief Red Fox, I bring a message. Another white devil. Where's the mask? Who speaks to Chief Red Fox? The real fire god, who is angry and speaks through my mask. He is angry because the Apache listens to the false words of Pyroma. He lies. Kill the white devil who dares to... His magic coat will no longer keep him safe from the flames. He lies. I have proved my medicine. Then prove it again. White man in mask is fool. Prove it, Pyroma. It shall be done. My robe. The magic robe. Me bring coat. Now, I shall prove again that... Just a minute. If the robe will burn, I'll throw it into the fire. Pyroma has no fear. His medicine is strong. Is that so? Look at your robe and your moccasins. They burn. Fire consumes them. No, it cannot be. You believe your eyes, don't you, Chief Red Fox? No. No. Pyroma's medicine is gone. The fire god burns his robe and his moccasins. Man with masks speaks truth. There is but one way to appease the god of fire. Release these prisoners. Then fire god no longer angry with Apache? I promise you he won't be angry. We start over here, Chabamba! Thanks. I don't know who you are, but thank heaven you're here. We owe our lives to you. You sure fooled the Red Fox. Shut up, you. I'm walking the edge of the mesa. Don't run. Just keep walking. Yes, sir. It was really a close shave. I thought we were goners. Never figured we'd be free like this again. You won't be free long. You and Craig Coleman are going to jail. What? Well, listen, you can't set it. Drop that knife. Well, I'll show you. No, you won't. No, man. Who can get away with that? Hey, Tonto. Might as well tie them up, Tonto. We'll take them to the shack, then I'll ride into town and bring out a sheriff. Yeah, let me tie them up. I don't mean to seem curious, mister, but who are you? You know these two armies are crooked, yet you save our lives. Who I am isn't important, Dr. Moffat. Not nearly as important as the money you tried to get for Jimmy's operation. Oh, you mean the mine. I never did get a chance. I'm sure your guess was right. The medicine man proved it. Chrysolite. Isn't that what the mine is? You're right, doctor. That's what it is. Chrysolite. Chrysolite ore. Pure asbestos. It's a shame little Jimmy's paw couldn't have lived to know that an asbestos mine is almost as good as gold. Your brother is dead, doctor. He was killed by the Apaches. Tonto and I buried him. We found a letter addressed to you. Then Jimmy told us the story. I'm sorry about Ben, but I'm glad for Jimmy. So am I. Tonto will wait here with you, doctor. I'll send out a sheriff to take care of Coleman and Lefty. Adios. Wait. Wait a minute. I want to say... Yes, I... Well, go on. He wears a mask. But he can't be an outlaw. Tonto, can you tell me who he is? Ah, him. Lone Ranger. I'll tell you. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.
