Adventures of Champion 49-08-05 The Mystery Of The Rustler's Hangout

Summary

Adventures of Champion 49-08-05: The Mystery Of The Rustler's Hangout

Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Release Date: June 11, 2025

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Introduction

In this thrilling episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, titled "Adventures of Champion 49-08-05: The Mystery Of The Rustler's Hangout," listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio. The tale follows the intrepid young boy Ricky West, his wise Uncle Smokey, the loyal German Shepherd Rebel, and the magnificent chestnut stallion Champion as they navigate the perils of the Wild West. This episode delves deep into their latest adventure, pitting them against cunning cattle rustlers Fingers and Flint.

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Background

The story picks up from yesterday's suspenseful events where Ricky and Uncle Smokey discovered the nefarious activities of cattle rustlers Fingers and Flint. These rustlers have a vendetta against Ricky and Smokey for exposing their illicit operations. Determined to eliminate the threats, Fingers and Flint orchestrate a sinister plan to dispose of Ricky and Smokey by casting them into a treacherous whirlpool hidden within a secluded valley.

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The Encounter with the Rustlers

As the protagonists seek refuge in the valley, the rustlers make their move.

Uncle Smokey (02:26): "We knowed they was cattle rustlers. And you remember how me and Ricky and Champion and Rebel had been hiding in a pretty little valley where there was a big waterfall at one end."

Fingers and Flint ambush Ricky and Smokey, hurling them into the powerful whirlpool, intending to dispose of them permanently.

Flint (03:34): "Well, Flint, looks like that's the end of them two. They won't be sticking their noses into our business again. Not ever."

However, the whirlpool proves to be a formidable obstacle. Ricky and Smokey struggle against the strong currents, fearing the worst.

Ricky (03:59): "It's pulling up my legs, Uncle Smokey. Going to be drawn into the center. Can't keep my head above water much longer."

Survival Against the Odds

Defying the rustlers' expectations, both Ricky and Smokey survive the ordeal. Through sheer determination and quick thinking, they manage to escape the whirlpool's deadly grip.

Uncle Smokey (04:32): "I opened my mouth. And then I felt myself starting to go up again. Up, up, up, up. I went faster and faster. And then all of a sudden my head popped out above water and I could breathe good clean air again."

Realizing they're still in the vicinity of the falls, they discern that the rustlers believe them to be casualties of the whirlpool.

Ricky (05:16): "Gosh, Uncle Smokey, I thought you were never gonna come out."

Strategizing Against the Rustlers

Understanding that Fingers and Flint have been deceived into thinking Ricky and Smokey are gone, the protagonists devise a cunning plan to turn the tables.

Uncle Smokey (07:24): "But Uncle Smokey, what I can't understand is how Rebel and Champion got back here."

Determined to protect their cattle and expose the rustlers, Ricky decides to create a larger disappearing act by hiding the cattle within the cave behind the falls.

Ricky (09:35): "Look, I'll take Champ and Rebel and we'll go up there in the valley and drive those cattle back here over the trail and into this cave back of the falls."

Uncle Smokey (10:14): "That's just about the biggest disappearing act that was ever pulled. Yes, sir. A hundred headed cattle disappearing right off the face of the earth."

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The Rustlers' Return and Final Confrontation

Fingers and Flint, unaware of the protagonists' survival and strategic maneuvers, return with an increased number of cattle, aiming to strengthen their operation.

Fingers (12:10): "Down there on the ground. Cattle hoof marks."

However, they soon realize that the cattle have vanished without a trace, leaving them puzzled and vulnerable.

Flint (12:03): "There ain't another single steer in the whole blame valley."

As the rustlers trail the missing hoof marks towards the waterfall's hidden opening, Ricky emerges with Champion and the local sheriff, leading a posse to confront the unsuspecting criminals.

Uncle Smokey (12:26): "I saw him, Ricky on Champion, leading the sheriff and the whole posse down into the valley."

The confrontation is swift and decisive.

Flint (13:04): "Hey, fingers, it's green. Pop. What? Pop, it can't be. He's dead."

Uncle Smokey (13:09): "Oh, no, I'm not."

Despite the rustlers' attempts to eliminate Smokey, their plan unravels as Ricky and the authorities ensure that justice prevails.

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Conclusion

"The Mystery Of The Rustler's Hangout" masterfully weaves suspense, adventure, and clever tactics as Ricky, Uncle Smokey, Rebel, and Champion overcome formidable adversaries. Through resilience and teamwork, they not only survive the rustlers' schemes but also bring them to justice, ensuring the safety of their cattle and the peace of the valley.

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Notable Quotes

• Uncle Smokey (02:26): "We knowed they was cattle rustlers... hiding in a pretty little valley..."
• Flint (03:34): "They won't be sticking their noses into our business again. Not ever."
• Ricky (04:07): "Current's awful strong. Getting stronger the nearer we get to the little."
• Uncle Smokey (04:24): "You hold your breath as long as you can, Ricky."
• Ricky (09:35): "I'll grab it on this thing."
• Uncle Smokey (10:14): "A hundred headed cattle disappearing right off the face of the earth."
• Flint (13:04): "What? Pop, it can't be. He's dead."
• Uncle Smokey (13:09): "Oh, no, I'm not."

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Insights and Themes

This episode highlights the timeless themes of courage, resourcefulness, and the triumph of good over evil. Ricky and Uncle Smokey exemplify leadership and quick thinking, essential traits that resonate with listeners of all ages. The loyal companions, Rebel and Champion, underscore the importance of teamwork and trust in overcoming challenges.

Moreover, the intricate plot showcases the classic battle between heroes and villains, a staple of Golden Age radio dramas, keeping the audience engaged and invested in the characters' journeys.

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Note: This summary intentionally omits advertisements, intros, and outros to focus solely on the narrative content of the episode.

Transcript

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[Narrator]

A herd of wild horses blazing their way across the plains of the West. The sound of a thousand stampeding hooves. And leading them all is the king of them all. D not freeze. Champion, the World Wonder Horse. Yes, boys and girls, the Mutual Broadcasting System presents once again the transcribed adventures of the king of all wild horses. Champion, the world's wonder horse. A series of fast, exciting stories about a boy named Ricky west, raised in the wilderness since childhood by his adopted uncle Smokey, a German shepherd dog named Rebel, and a stocking legged chestnut stallion you all know and love. Champion, the World Wonder Horse. Right now though, boys and girls, here's your old local Smokey to tell you the last episode of this week's exciting, exciting story, the mystery of the Rustlers Hangout.

[Uncle Smokey]

Well, howdy there, boys and girls. Yes, sir. Like Mr. Rusted just said, this here's your old uncle smoking. And doggone it, I'll bet you can hardly wait to find out what's happened to Ricky, Rebel, Champion and me since yesterday. Well, I'm not gonna keep a gushing any longer. No sir. Now let's see. You remember yesterday how a couple of cattle rustling varmints by the names of Fingers and Flint had been trying to kill Ricky and me on account of we knowed they was cattle rustlers. And you remember how me and Ricky and Champion and Rebel had been hiding in a pretty little valley where there was a big waterfall at one end. And how one morning we seen a whole lot of cattle being driven into the valley. Well, doggone if it weren't them very same wrestlers. Yes sir, we'd been hidin right smack dab in the rustler's hideout. Anyway, kids, them no good hombres grabbed Ricky and me and throwed us right out into the middle of that big whirlpool. A whirlpool where anything that was thrown in went down and never come back up.

[Flint]

Well, Flint, looks like that's the end of them two. They won't be sticking their noses into our business again. Not ever.

[Uncle Smokey]

Well, sure, kids. As Fingers said, it sure looked like Ricky and me was goners all right. And we knowed it too. Cuz there wasn't no way to get out of that there whirlpool. No way at all.

[Ricky]

It's pulling up my legs, Uncle Smokey. Going to be drawn into the center. Can't keep my head above water much longer.

[Uncle Smokey]

Me neither, son. Current's awful strong. Getting stronger the nearer we get to the little.

[Ricky]

I wish I could see, champ.

[Uncle Smokey]

Me too.

[Ricky]

I'm going under, Uncle Smokey. I'm going under.

[Uncle Smokey]

You hold your breath as long as you can, Ricky.

[Ricky]

Goodbye, Uncle Smokey.

[Uncle Smokey]

Yep, kids, that was it. Me and Ricky was pulled right down in the middle of that whirlpool course. I held my breath just as long as I could, all the time feeling myself being pulled deeper and deeper. And my lungs started to ache. And I knowed I'd just have to take a big breath. Even if it was water instead of air. So I said a little prayer and I opened my mouth. And then I felt myself starting to go up again. Up, up, up, up. I went faster and faster. And then all of a sudden my head popped out above water and I could breathe good clean air again. And there, right alongside of me, was Ricky.

[Ricky]

Gosh, Uncle Smokey, I thought you were never gonna come out.

[Uncle Smokey]

Ricky, where are we? I don't know.

[Ricky]

It's gonna be dark in here. I think we must be back in the falls.

[Uncle Smokey]

Yeah, I guess you must be. Cause there's the falls over there. You can see the light coming through the water.

[Ricky]

We aren't at a danger yet, Uncle Swoopy. It's still about 50ft to the edge of the plum. I don't think I can make it.

[Uncle Smokey]

Me neither. Hey, hey, that sounds like Rebecca.

[Ricky]

That's Champ being Uncle Smokey.

[Uncle Smokey]

Champ.

[Ricky]

Here we are, boy, out here in the water. Here he comes up a smoky. Champ's going out to help us. Could have just hold out a few seconds longer.

[Uncle Smokey]

Try, Ricky. Huh? Try.

[Ricky]

Over here, Champ. Over here, boy. That's it, Champ. Good boy. Grab his man, Uncle Smoker. I'll grab it on this thing.

[Uncle Smokey]

I've got it.

[Ricky]

I'll swim for sure. Champ swam.

[Uncle Smokey]

Well. Sure. Boys and girls, by holding on to Champion, Ricky and I was able to get to the bank of the pool. A sort of a ledge it was. And then we pulled ourselves out of the water and just lay there too tired to move.

[Ricky]

I still can't figure out how we got here, Uncle Sakuki. How'd we get out of the world?

[Uncle Smokey]

I think maybe I can figure it out, son. You see all them old sticks and stuff down there in the water? Well, you remember when Fingers was showing us his big disappearing act where he throwed the stick into the whirlpool and it never come back up?

[Ricky]

Yeah.

[Uncle Smokey]

Well, Chan, the reason that stick didn't come back up was because it come up back here back of the falls. Them rustlers thought it stayed down there in the bottom of the pool just like they must think we did too. But we didn't. Well, I'll be afraid they're gonna get a mighty big surprise and we turn up again alive and kickin.

[Ricky]

But Uncle Smokey, what I can't understand is how Rebel and Champion got back here.

[Uncle Smokey]

Son, that's something we're gonna have to find out. That is, if we ever get out of here without having to swim back through the whirlpool.

[Ricky]

Say, I've got an idea, Uncle Smokey. I'm gonna try and get Rebel to show me how he got in. Come here, Rebel. Here, boy. How'd you get in here, boy? Show me how you got in.

[Uncle Smokey]

He's running off the left, Ricky.

[Ricky]

I'm gonna follow him, Uncle Smokey.

[Uncle Smokey]

Well, go to it, son. I'll wait here. I'm still a little tuckered from that swim.

[Ricky]

Okay, I'll be back in a minute. That way. Rebel, Is that the way you came in along this ledge, boy? Gee, what happens? It's a nice wide ledge and it leads right over. Now I see it, boy. There's a regular path that leads around the falls and outside. So that's how you got find something, son. There's a big wide path here, Uncle Smokey. Wide enough to drive a team of horses. We can get out anytime we want.

[Flint]

Well again, Flint, under That water for a good five minutes.

[Ricky]

Yep.

[Fingers]

Nobody can live underwater for that long.

[Flint]

Yeah, that'll teach them to stick their noses in our business.

[Fingers]

Yeah, sure will. Well, what say we start driving this herd toward the water? Because I sure got ways of spending the money we're going to get when we sell these cows.

[Flint]

We ain't going to the border, Flint. At least not yet. We ain't going to stay here neither. All right, now look, use your head. Now that the kid and the old man are dead, there ain't nobody to prove we're the rustlers, is there? So we got more time. A whole lot more time. Time enough to pick us up a few more head and this time a real herd to drive over the border. Come on, let's get going.

[Fingers]

Wait a minute now. What about these stairs we've already got here in the back?

[Flint]

There's feet here, ain't there? And there's plenty of water. And ain't nobody here to drive them away, is there?

[Fingers]

No.

[Flint]

So they'll stay here, Flint. Every last one of them. They'll all be here, right in this valley when we get back.

[Ricky]

Uncle Smokey.

[Uncle Smokey]

Yes, Ricky?

[Ricky]

The rustlers are gone, haven't they?

[Uncle Smokey]

For a while they have, I reckon. Why?

[Ricky]

Well, let's do a big disappearing act of our own.

[Uncle Smokey]

I don't get you, son.

[Ricky]

This cave is awful big, isn't it?

[Uncle Smokey]

Yeah. Yeah, sure is.

[Ricky]

Big enough to hold all of those stolen stairs, isn't it?

[Uncle Smokey]

I'd say it's big enough to hold all them to about 500.

[Ricky]

Then why don't we make those cattle disappear?

[Uncle Smokey]

You're still talking in riddles, boy.

[Ricky]

Look, I'll take Champ and Rebel and we'll go up there in the valley and drive those cattle back here over the trail and into this cave back of the falls. Then when the rustlers come back, the cattle will be gone and they want to know what happened to them. Well, looks like that, does it. Uncle Smokey, we've got them all back here in the cave.

[Uncle Smokey]

Yeah, sure have, son. That's just about the biggest disappearing act that was ever pulled. Yes, sir. A hundred headed cattle disappearing right off the face of the earth.

[Ricky]

Those wrestlers are sure gonna be mighty surprised when they get back here to the valley.

[Uncle Smokey]

Surprise? It's just a small word for it, boy. Just a small word.

[Ricky]

And now, Uncle Smokey, Champ and I are gonna ride into town and bring back the sheriff.

[Uncle Smokey]

That's a good idea. I'll come along with you.

[Ricky]

I think you better stay here. That you might still think that you're the rusty.

[Uncle Smokey]

Yep, you're right. I never thought of that.

[Ricky]

Besides, somebody's got to keep the cattle here in mccain.

[Uncle Smokey]

Well, you just leave that to me and rebel. But be careful, son. Be careful.

[Ricky]

Don't worry, uncle smokey. We'll be back in not more than four or five hours.

[Uncle Smokey]

Well, kids, Ricky and champ went off for the sheriff. In the meantime, rebel and me settled down to wait until they got back. Well, sir, four hours went by, then five hours, then six. And I begun to get a mite worried. And then I heerd something that made me go to the edge of the falls and take a look out into the valley. And do you know what it was? It was them two rustlers, fingers and flint, coming back. And they was driving about 50 more head of cattle.

[Flint]

Well, flint, here we are. Now all we gotta do is add these cows to the 100 head we already got and take out for the border.

[Fingers]

Just think, fingers, 150 head. That'll sure bring a pretty piece of change.

[Flint]

We'll be rich.

[Fingers]

Yes, sir. We show.

[Flint]

Hey, fingers, what's the matter?

[Fingers]

Where's the rest of them steers?

[Flint]

Why, they're right here. Hey, where are they?

[Fingers]

There ain't another single steer in the whole blame valley.

[Flint]

Well, maybe they. They strayed off. Maybe they.

[Fingers]

Fingers, look.

[Flint]

What? Where?

[Fingers]

Down there on the ground. Cattle hoof marks.

[Flint]

Well, I'll be. Look, look. They're headed straight for that there waterfall.

[Uncle Smokey]

Well, boys and girls, that was something Ricky and me hadn't figured on. Anyway, they followed the cattle hoof marks, all right. And they was heading straight for the trail that led behind the falls. I figured in about two shakes of a lamb's tail, they'd find the opening. And me, Well, I guess a feller's luck can't hold out forever. And then I seen him, Ricky on champion, leading the sheriff and the whole posse down into the valley. So right then and there, I made up my mind. I rushed out of the cave and met them rustlers face to face. And man, oh, man, was they surprised. What?

[Flint]

Hey, fingers, it's green. Pop. What? Pop, it can't be. He's dead.

[Uncle Smokey]

Oh, no, I'm not.

[Flint]

Shoot him down, flint. Shoot him down.

[Uncle Smokey]

I'd advise you to look behind before you shoot.

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