The woods are full of Indians. For a set of bells to wear shoes. If not in any western, the captain's daughter faced intent on the river ahead to his side and touched his arm. Johnny, you're a fight, haven't you? Oh, not exactly. I gave the order to put into that landing. There's nothing else you could do when you heard the man calling for help. What's wrong with Dad? Why is he so unreasonable, Johnny? You two used to be the best of friends in the world, and now... navigate this river, and I'm grateful, but... somehow... you know, sometimes people change. You're right. Perhaps I shouldn't say this to you, but... last winter in Fort Benton... That's when it started? Yes. When he started playing poker with Zach Terrell and his cronies, I tried to warn the captain against him. He wouldn't listen. He lost a great deal of money, didn't he? Yes. But when spring came and we started getting the boat ready for our first run, I... I hoped he'd change back to his old self. He didn't? No. He became more touchy and irritable than ever, and... then just a week ago, the night before we sailed, something happened to make him worse. What? I don't know. When he came on board, I thought he was sick. Yes, I remember. Ever since then... Oh, it has me stumped, Betty. I don't understand him. I don't understand his orders. He used to say the Missouri had a hundred tricks in the daytime and a thousand at night. He always used to tie up when it got dark. But except for the night, we've only made two stops since Benton. Fort Jackson and Fort Lincoln. He refuses to tie up any place where there isn't a fort. Why? It may sound foolish, but... But what? It acts as if he were afraid of something. That's the truth, Betty. Afraid of what, though? It may be the gold. We're carrying a lot of it. Well, we'll be getting rid of it at Fort Pierre. Another day and night. Let's... Let's hope it's only to go all this way. Ranger and Toto had followed the trail that led from the woodchopper's cabin into the forest. Half a mile from the river, they found a small clearing. And in the clearing, a horse tethered beside a weather-beaten shed. With their guns drawn, the masked man and the Indian approached the shed. The lone ranger kicked the door open. The moonlight streaming through the doorway showed them a man lying face down on the bare ground inside the building. And shot back, dead? No. But him lose plenty of blood. We'll do our best to save him. As Toto bandaged the man's wound, the lone ranger built a campfire outside the shed. The man was placed beside him and wrapped in a blanket. When the warmth from the fire reached him, he opened his eyes. How are you feeling? A masked man. And an Indian. Never mind a mask. We're friends. This lone ranger. The lone ranger. Who are you? My name is Harry Lindquist. Woodchopper. My cabin's on the river. I know this clearing. My cabin isn't far. About half a mile. Who shot you? He said his name was Kurt. A big man with a black... Why did he shoot you? Search me. If he was after money, he sure must have been disappointed. He rode up about ten o'clock. Asked to spend the night. I told him sure. I was fixing some grub for him. My back was to him. When I heard the shot, it's all I remember. He brought you here and left you for dead. Why, that's his horse beside the shed. He must be somewhere around here. No, he's gone. The river coon stopped at your landing. And he took passes for Pierre. Keep us up here. You think Kurt Feller set fire to cabin? He must have. What's that? When Donald and I reached the landing, your cabin was on fire. The crew from the River Queen helped Kurt put it out. But there's much left of it. Why should he want to burn down my cabin? Well, we have no idea. Unless it was simply to attract the attention of the River Queen's crew and bring the steamer into the landing. Keep us happy there. Many turns in river. It's easy to ride through forest. Get to Pierre before boat. But we tell Sheriff him arrest Kurt when he walk up down gangbang. Yes, Tonto. But we can't leave Harry here. There's a trading post a couple of miles down the river. If you could take me that far. Oh, we shall. But first, could you take me to the landing? Just to see what's left. Why, of course, Harry, as soon as you're strong enough to ride. I'm strong enough now. It's only a little way. Well, we can try it. We'll take it very easy. Shortly before the Lone Ranger, Tonto and Harry reached the landing. They heard voices and grew rain, while the forest still gave them concealment. Twenty horses were ground hitched in front of the charred cabin. Twenty men were milling around the cabin, the woodpile, and the pier. Jack, come here. I found something. What is it? See? Tracing the dirt with a stick to the letter K. There, a point toward the dock. Good. That was a signal we agreed on. Got here in time, stopped the boat, and now he's aboard it. Good thing the captain doesn't know him by sight. Why do you think I picked him for the job? Now all we have to do is get the big pie and coal before the steamer. Well, that should be easy. The River Queen can't possibly reach the coal before tomorrow night. Through the forest, we should make it by tomorrow noon. Well, suppose Gert can't make the captain pull in there. If you'd find some way, the River Queen will stop the coal, and we'll be waiting for it. All right. End of your saddles, men. All right. Hey, Miss Kurt Banner. What do you want with me? I want you to send for your father. Tell him you must see him at once. You want him to come here? At once. What if I refuse to send for him? Then I'll use this gun. Well, suppose he refuses to come. You'll make your message urgent. But how will I send it? By the first crew member who passes by. Hey, I'll get over here in the corner where I can't be seen through the portal. All right. Open it. One word more than is necessary, and I'll shoot. Well, you'd hang for murder. That wouldn't help you any, would it? Yes. It's one of the deckhangers. Stop him. I... Do as I say, or I'll shoot. Joe. Yes, Miss Betty? Will you ask my father to come here? He's turned in for the night, miss. Left word, he wasn't to be disturbed except in an emergency. This... This is an emergency. Yes, miss. If you say so. Thank you, Joe. He's not asleep. He lay on his bunk, fully clothed, staring at the ceiling. Lost everything I've worked a lifetime at game. But at least I've stayed honest. And as soon as we get the same jewel, I'll send Betty East. Be safe there. Who's there? It's Joe, sir. I left word. I know, sir. But Miss Betty says this is an emergency. What? He wants to see you in her cabin. She didn't seem to be, sir. Very well, carry on. I... When the captain opened the door, it seemed to be empty. But the door was concealing Kurt and Betty. And when the captain closed it, he saw them. He saw Kurt's gun as well. Not a word, captain, or she died. What? The man from the landing. Right. I rode all the way from Pilgrim's Cove to meet you there. You're one of Terrell's men. Right again. You double-crossed us once, but we've decided to give you another chance. Where's Terrell now? You'll be waiting for us at Big Pine. The river queen doesn't stop until she gets to Pierre. You want your daughter to live? You wouldn't dare. Wouldn't I? There's a price on my head already. Pull the curtains over the forthole, captain, and sit down. We'll talk it over. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Then the flourish of Kurt's gun made him obey the outlaw. Curtains over the forthole and sank into a chair. Kurt motioned to the bunk, and Betty sat down on it. Her eyes were on the captain's bowed head. Dad, what's this all about? You must tell me. Go ahead, captain. Tell her. Betty, you may have guessed that I lost a great deal of money in Fort Benton during the winter. To be exact, $20,000. Really? I lost it to Zach Terrell, and I gave him my note. To meet the note, I'll have to sell my interest in the River Queen. Is that all? No, just before we left Fort Benton, Zach suggested another way in which I could pay off the debt. All I had to do was tie up overnight at Pilgrim's Comb, the first night out of Fort Benton. Terrell's men would be waiting there. They'd board the boat, force me to hand over the gold we're carrying, and... Well, that's all. Zach promised he'd tear up my note. But you refused. No. We didn't stop the Pilgrim's Cove. I gave my word I would, though. Why? Because of you. Zach threatened to kill you unless I stopped there. Oh. I had to agree to follow his instructions to get you safely away from Fort Benton. Once we started, I thought there was no way they could stop us before we delivered the gold at Fort Pierre. You found out different. What do you want me to do? I've told you. Put in the big pine coal. And if I refuse, your daughter will die. Sit down, Captain. You're not going anywhere. You and your daughter are staying in this cabin with me until you go through with your bargaining. How can I give any orders from here? By writing them out and send them up to the bridge by a member of the crew. Oh, the first mate will know something's wrong if I don't show up to relieve him at eight bells. That's when you'll send your orders. He'll explain your daughter is ill and that you're staying with her. Then Johnny will surely... Johnny will what? Nothing. Oh, Johnny. Johnny Knight. That's the first mate, isn't it? Oh, when he hears you're sick, you'll come here and want to know what's wrong. Well, Captain, when he shows up, you will just have to get rid of him. Or else... It twisted and turned, and the straight route through the forest of Big Pine Cove saved over a hundred miles. After they had left the woodchopper at the trading post, the Lone Ranger and Tonto followed the outlaw's trail. And at noon of the following day, they watched them making camp at the cove. Then the last man and the Indian rode slowly upstream. At three o'clock, the Lone Ranger found the spot he was looking for. Here, except for a narrow channel of deep water close to the high bank they were following, a sandbar stretched all the way across the river. Any steamer passing the point must use the channel. Oh, yeah. Easy, Scot. Take a look, Tonto. Well, if we get by here, the river queen will practically have to graze a bank. Uh-huh. Should be easy to jump to the lower deck. Maybe so. But when men see your mask, then take you prisoner. If they do that, I'll be taken to the captain. I'll have my chance to warn him, Kimo's hubby. The Lone Ranger and Tonto waited in the cover of the trees all through the afternoon. There was no sign of the river queen. Oh, maybe a boat passed here already. It grew dark, and the rising moon was silvering the river before they saw the lights of the steamer rounding the upstream bend. The river queen was moving slowly, and the voice of the lookout gripped it across the water. Water to the skyward. To the channel, sir. It was checked still more as she knows closer to the bank. Most of the crew and the passengers were gathered in the bow. There was less than ten feet clearance between the steamer and the shore as it slipped past the point where the Lone Ranger and Tonto were hiding. A vast man waited until the stern was opposite of the ceiling of the lower deck.
