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Foreign. Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. Now, let's get into this episode. A fiery horse for the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty HI O. Silver. The Lone Ranger, Indian companion, the masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. It was he, more than any other man who made the wagon trail safe for the pioneers and drove the outlaws from the new territory. 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 hoof beats of the great horse. Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Hello, Silver. We're heading for Snake Creek. It's going to be trouble. Arnold. Silver. Hawaii. A thick cloud of dust rose above the ramshackle desert town of Snake Creek. Many horses hitched. The prairie schooners stamped their hooks eager to take the bits in their teeth and head out of town. The men and women seated in the wagons were eager too. They listened impatiently to the man who was trying to prevent their leaving. Hey, just hold them reins tight. I tell you, folks are making a mistake. Hush your charm, Travis. Rig, wait. We got itching feet and we're meaning to travel. Hey, use this. Snake Drake. We're heading out. Don't listen to tab. Now. Hold your spurs. I wait up. I want you to listen. All right, quiet. Hush up. Everybody. Want Travis. Say it and say it, Prado. We ain't got all day. Well, I said it before and I say it again. Why don't you stay here in Snake Creek? What's wrong with it here there's plenty of good land. Now, that's enough, Travis. There's a plenty wrong with it, and it all boils down to you. All us folks come out here because you painted such a pretty picture. You said Snake Crick was a second Garden Eden. Well, it ain't savvy. All it's got is dust and cactus and no water. And as for the Garden of Eden, the only resemblance is it's got plenty of snakes. Yeah, and Travis is a wolf. Only reason you want us to stay is on account of you run the store and you run the gambling hall. You figure you can charge us high prices for supplies and take what money you got left over your gambling table. Well, we had our fill, Travis. We're heading far out of here. Adios, Tell you unfairwell. Yeah. Let's get moving. Let's speak it out. Henry, get the brakes off your wagons. We're heading. Find them schooner. Doubt we're heading for greener pastures. Come on, you hustles. Lean into the T. Come on, you leaders. Come on. Think they're pretty smart, don't they? Leave them be on the lurch. Yeah. Sebastian. Yes, Senor Travis. You wish something? Yeah. I want you to get word to the boys that wagon train's got to be took care of. Savvy? Tell the boys to be in my store tomorrow. No. What's that town below us in the valley? Tundo. That Snake Creek. Not very big, is it? I wonder if the rumors we've heard about this man Travis have any truth behind them. Snake Creek doesn't show many signs of life, Kimosabe. It's empty. From here it looks almost like a ghost town. Except for those few horses hitched to the rail in front of the general store. Matt, Travis store. You notice these signs along the trail? Tander. It's wagon train. Yeah, it's a wagon train. Must have left Snake Creek sometime yesterday. Probably in the morning. Tracks appear to be about a day old. That's right. Tanda, I think you'd better go into Snake Creek. Go to the general store and get some supplies. We not need supplies. That's just an excuse, Kimasabe. I'd go myself, but my mask would arouse suspicion. You can enter the town and the store without comment. Oh, me do it. I want to see if you can learn what Travis is planning. Maybe nothing. Those horses tied at the hitching rail in front of your store might mean nothing, Tanner. But we've heard rumors and we might as well make sure. Go ahead, Nico. Get him up. Scout. I'll wait here for you. You ought to reach the store a little afternoon. Hey. Sense of bastion. Out to get you fell so as I can talk to you straight. You all heard about some of the folks here pulling up snakes and heading back where they come from? Yeah, Travis. You gents all work for me. You do have paid for me. And you're good. Yeah, Travis, You've been paying us wages for three months now. Me and Shorty and Gunsight and the others. Yet we ain't done a lick of work. You do it now, you'll do plenty. You're old gun toters. Quick on the trigger and sure shots. What for you give us orders to stay away from Snake Creek and keep to the hills? Because I didn't want anybody to see you around town. Savvy? Now, look at you gents. I've been getting folks to come to this town. I had agents planted back at the fort where the pioneers who head west start from. Sure, you had men steer them this way. Right. The more folks come here, the more money I could stick them from for this store. And the more I could steal. Steal from them Gambling. Reckon if them folks get back to the fort, you're going to have mighty slim pickings from now on. Them folks ain't getting back, huh? You heard me, Trigger. They ain't getting back to the fort. Oh, I begin to savage. That's what I brought you fellas in for. I want that wagon train wiped out or listening. It's more than 150 miles to the Fortune. It'll take that wagon train more than a week. Yeah, it's been going a day and a half. Now, you gents hit the trail now and you ought to catch up with them in two, maybe three days. And your Travis. Yeah. Needle Pass City's a very good place where the ambush. Huh? Needle Pass is right where it's going to happen, Sebastian. Trigger, if you and the boys take that wagon by surprise, there won't be nobody left to get to that fort. I suppose. We don't take him by surprise. Travis. Suppose they have time to pull the wagons into a circle? Needle passes. Now they can't form a circle. You'll be able to pick them off easy. That is correct. Besides, his wagon train will not be expecting any attack. They will not be ready. Yeah, it would be like apples falling off the tree. Well, I reckon we better start soon. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll be waiting for the wagon train at Needle Pass. I got plenty of bullets for you. We unload that here. It's for you, Trigger. Yeah. It is for you, Shorty. Second cut. I reckon I better go along with you, Trigger. Sure. You're a good hand with the rifle, Travis. Sebastian will stay behind and look after things in Snake Creek. Easy. Hey. What's eating you, Sebastian? Senor, I see someone. Yeah. Do not make a move. Not yet. But there is someone over in the shadow behind the force. Yeah. Yes. Him. Sebastian. Keep handing out them bullets. Sebastian swallowed a Jeff watching us. Must have sneaked into the store while we was. Gavin. He's always behind the furs. Yeah. Start loading a gun, innocent like. We'll wander over that way. When I give the word, jump him. Keno. Travis. No. He snags these bullets. They're plenty good. Like I was saying, Trigger, we'll head up the trail until we get to. No. Grab him. Stand still. All right, we got you. What's wrong? You let go. Oh, I'll be it. It's an engine. Sneaking in, huh? Me come to buy food supplies. Why, you ain't fooling nobody, engine. You come spying on us. You not let me go, then I go anywhere. Just try. Watch out. Now we got you. Grab him. He's getting away. Wait to head for dog. Ah. You down, engine. Nice work, Trigger. Sure hit him a clap with your gun buds. You're almost risking to get away. Yeah, reckon I'll have a jog for a couple of days. Pretty slippery there. Don't breathe. He ain't slippery now, Travis. He's lying on the floor cold in a mackerel. What are you going to do with him? You and me and the rest of the boys better get traveling. You all set? We unhitch our horses? Yep. Heading for Needle Pass in the wagon train. And he's red skin, huh? Lock him in the back room. Sebastian, you'll be here to guide him. Hey, how you feel, redskin? You open door? Open door? Oh, no, no. Sebastian leaves door so unchained. This way you know can get away. Tanto get way. That's very funny, Travis. He leave me here. He go with hombres already one hour. He say keep you locked up in back room. Maybe Sebastian, I got other idea. How you like for me to shoot you, redskin, eh? You'll not try that for why not miss? Over here. I got gun right here. It's very easy for to aim gun through little space here in full trigger, eh? Do not try. Oh, red skin. I try. Right now you watch. I bring hammer of gun back. So now one little squeeze of the finger, eh? I aim the gun so the gun's safe there on the floor. Who are you? You hit gun from hard. You. You wear the mask. Open that door. No. Open it. Diablo. Mister, you draw gun like fast lightning, See? See? I open door. See? Uncle no. You come, kimosabe. I saw Travis and the others leave. Tanis, you get inside. Inside. Put the chain on. Italo. Lock it. Hurry. The horses are outside. Habits and ambush. You heard me here plenty. The wagon train. That's right. They go for Needle Pass. And we've got to catch that wagon train. We've got to warn them. Steady, Silver, old scout. You can tell me all about it as we go. Kimasabi. We've got to travel. Come on, Silver. Up the crater to mark Skylar. Silver away. Well, I reckon we're moving right along with this here wagon train. What's that there up ahead? Needle pass. Ms. Perkins. Calculate we've gone through it. Pretty soon now, Peter. The folks will be glad to get back to the force. Sure. Main thing, though is getting away from Snake Creek. That skunk Travis ain't the kind of hombre I like to have around. I guess this time folks be a m more careful who the pay heed. Yeah. Sure is peaceful looking country, ain't it? I'll feel better when we get to the fort. What's the surface? Well, nothing much, I reckon. Only. Oh, leave it past. Ma', am, are you frighten about Travis? He's crooked as a curling snake, but we best forget him. Pardon me, ma'. Am. Hey, you drivers better start springing out these wagons. The trail gets narrow when I go through Needle Pass. Ain't room for more than one in line. You better drop in right behind me, Ms. Perkins. Yeah, you sure ain't much room up y. Who's them fellers alongside the rock? Hold up this wagon. Mister. Tell that redskin to leave. Go. My horse. Stop the wagon. Crane. Henley. Henley. He's wearing a mask. A mask? Where's my gun? No gun. Save your bullets. You may need them soon enough. Driver. There. Tado and I may have been here sooner, but this country isn't known to us. We missed the trail once and took us a while to get back on. I got these wagons back away from the pad. There's no time. You're heading straight for an ambush. Ambush? Did you hear that Max fella? He's so cool. Mr. Otter, what kind of trick I tell you? There's an air was ready and Needle Pass Travis's gunman hidden there for you. That's right. Unless you get back and form a circle, you won't have a chance to defend yourself. You a shot? That's the beginning. You men. There's no time to head back down. Get busy. Bring these wagons into a circle. Try to swing that leaky. Do it. Swing your body in. There it comes. We're in for a seat break in water. They formed the circle. They'd have gone another 100ft. We'd have had him easy. Yeah, we look out. I seen that engine draw beat on you. So come close. What are we going to do? Figure we're going to stay right here. We got the advantage on them. Sure. They form the circle. We got that mass man on the engine, too. We're looking down on him and we got him surrounded. We're going to keep pouring lead till there ain't a one of them left alive. Savvy? Not one. 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. Sam. Now to continue our story. Just as the wagon train was about to enter Needle Pass, the Lone Ranger halted it. Shots rang out from the heights above the trail. And the siege was on later that night. Don't fight out of no use wasting bullets. It's plenty dark. It must be past midnight. Travis and his gang are still all around the wagon train. It plenty good we get here. Yes. At least Hanley had time to form his wagons into a great circle. Travis will have a hard time closing in. But the situation is still bad, Kimasabe. Very bad. Well, Travis can't attack. He can make certain the wagon train doesn't move. And in a few days. What matter? Water, Tata. Water. The wagon train has made a dry camp tatter. The only water here is in the barrels and the wagons. Oh, man. Travis needn't worry about water. He's free. He can send men out. He controls the water hole. The water's being used up. Not only that, but several bullets aimed at these people hit the water casks. Much of water was lost. What do we do? Oh, look. What is it, Mrs. Perkins? Is something wrong? You're lighting a fire. Give me that torch. You realize the fire only gives Travis something to shoot at. Lang of caution, mister. I didn't think. I reckon the last box out for sure. I just wasn't thinking that. So that's all right. A spot like this, it's hard to keep your wits about you. You sure done us a service, mister. If you and the engine hadn't warned us, we'd all. We won't talk about that. What's to be done? Travis got us right proper. All he needs is time. Mrs. Perkins, I want you to make sure that the water is used as spaciously as possible. Don't worry about those shots. They're shooting in the dark. It's only to keep us busy. Yeah, yeah. We're seeing about the water. We've got to be careful with it. You mean we're going to be here for days? Just be sure it isn't wasted. Where's Hanley? Yes. He ain't here. Not here? Where'd he go? He snuck out of camp a little while ago. He's trying to get through Travis gang so as he can maybe ride out to the fort and bring help. He's trying to get through Needle Pass. He'll run Right into them. Want somebody shot? Strictly just keeping them nervous, like you figure, Travis. Say, I was just wondering. Yeah? Supposing one of them tries to slip through to the fort for help? Let him try. First off, I got men posted all around. Yeah? Anyone tries to slip through, won't get far. But then I get more than that. It's more than 100 miles to the fort. I got the trail garden. You mean you got men posted to the fort? Yep. Got a pair every 20 miles. You see, I figure things out ahead of time, I don't miss it. Trigger, what's that? Sounds like a horse. Yeah. Somebody trying to get out of the wagons, like you said. All right, mister, you're asking for it. Get out of the way. I'm coming through. Let him have it, Trigger. My arm. Stand of there. Turn around, horse. Turn around. I gotta get through. I quick drag his range between the two wagons inside the circle. Mister. Mister. That there's Hanley. I'm all right. You're hurt. Ain't nothing, mister. Got my arms scratched and the doggone horse run for it. Rung me back to the wagons. When I wanted to go the other way, something happened. Hanley, you all right? He's been shot. What are you men doing here? Get back to your post. We'll look after Hanley. Get back. You want Travis to walk in without firing a shot? Like an act? Like something can't be done, Mister. I'll tend to this armor. You'll say we gotta do something, mister. We gotta. Yes, Hanley, we do. Pass. This guard is close yet. Unless help is brought from the fort, Travis is certain to wear us out. Just a question of time till the water gives out. Tada. You check the water. How long will it last? Five day chemotapi. Five, maybe six. Five days. The ford a hundred miles away. You couldn't have done it in time anyway, Henry. Yeah. Not to the fort and back. Your horse couldn't cover that hundred miles fast enough. But perhaps Silver can. What? Here, Silver. Where's my saddle? Ta take a look at Silver's hoofs. How me do it? But, mister, you can't get through. I can try. A hundred miles and back. Ain't no horse can do that. No horse? Our silver shoes, Tyler. All right. And then we're all set, Mister. Wait. There's little time. Henley. I know this here horse of yours is good. It's the best horse I ever seen. But it's plum loco. You can hold Travers off for five days. Sure, sure. But don't do it, mister. Don't try it. Travers has won plenty. Smart hombre. First off, you won't get through the pass. And even if you do, Travis must have men lined up all the way to the fort. They'll be waiting for you. Waiting and they won't be disappointed. Tada. We keep Travis off. Take care of the water. Look out for night attacks. You be careful now, Silver. We're going to bring help. We're not getting through it all. It's up to you, old fellow. Good luck, Mr. Suicide. He can't do it. He can. Slow and easy, Silver. Our first job is to get past Travis. Trigger, listen. It's another horse coming this way. We'll give him the same medicine the other fella got. You're heading for trouble, missy. Down, Silver. Fast. Look out. Shelter. Ride them down, Silver. Look out for now hoos. Did you see that? He got away. White horse. It's a mask man. We miss him. He's through the pass. Yeah. Yeah, but it's a long way to the fort. The boys are waiting. He won't get through. Not a chance. Come on, Silver, old boy. Stretch those legs. We're through Needle Pass. Now on, Silver. It's a long way to the fort. Come on, Silver. On and on raced the great white stallion. His silver hoops spurning the ground. The masked rider leaning forward, aiding him with all the same gill at his command. On through the night, streaking like a silver bullet out of Needle Pass over sliding shale and hard baked clay, through sand and gravel. His speed never falls. On and on. Then as the first rays of the morning sun spread light across the plain. What's that? Look at that horse. Come quick. Grab your guns. Heading for Needle Pass. Travis told us to stop anybody who the campfire back in the circle made for the wagon train. Tono led the defense against the outlaws. You know, seems like ever since that masked fella rode out of here, I keep hearing that. H of you keep hearing them hoops. A pounding and pounding. There's one of the skulking rats. That mass fella got through Travis's gang. That was something. Him get through. It's been half the night and all day since he went. I keep hearing them hoofs. Thinking of it so much, I reckon. Yeah. We don't get help, we're done for. You watch. Water. Keep hearing them hoofs pounding and me hear them too. Me hear them in mine. On and on across the plains, down steep banks and through swift running streams. Great legs churning the water, shining silver in the afternoon sun. A great heart Fighting up broken, rocky slopes. Help, Silver. Keep your feet, old boy. Come on, Silver. Racing toward the distant fort, charging against natural obstacles. And human ones too. Look at that horse. Look at his. We're halfway there, Silver. Come, Silver. On. While back at Needle Pass, Travis urged his outlaws to the attack. He put the L at that wagon. Got him, Travis. They can't get away. Give him a chance to rest. We'll keep shooting till the water's gone. Then we'll get him for sure. Keep pouring lead into that riding. Swift hoops cutting into the miles. Faster and faster. The evening shadow stretched longer and longer. The day darkened and still the Lone Ranger urged the great stallion on. Good for Silver. We've got to bring help from the boards. Keep those hoops pounding. On and on, faster and even faster into the night. On and on and on. The days drag by at needle pass. 3, 4, 5. Then this is the last water. Kill him. Gone. Long time now. Get the lid off. Empty. Nary a drop of water left in the wagon train. No water left. My throat's drier and tender. No water, I tell you. There. No water. We tap cask. We know that. We're done for, Injun done for. Yeah. No water. Five day now. Five days. Yeah, look at us. Our tongues is beginning to swell. Look at them fellas aiming their rifles out between the spokes of the wagons. They're so weak it's a wonder they don't fall on their faces. This time tomorrow, Travis will close in. His men will come. Soon they won't be able to stop. A week wore out. Travis knows it. Hear them shots? He's doing more shooting even now. Maybe this time he's coming. We ain't got a chance. Maybe so. Engineer Pard must have been killed. No. He must have been have been killed. He could never have got to the fort in the first place. Relicting plumly. Any more shots, get ready. It sounds bad. Second Travers ain't waiting no longer. It come from this way. I need your pass. Call the boys. Sellers. Here, man. Come here. It's the attack. Never mind that side. Come here. It's coming from this way. I'm out of bullets. Can't fight without water. Ain't no use. Well. Hey, what's that? It's a soldier. Where's my horse? That friend are saved. It's the mess. He brought help from the fort. Come on you fellas. Get your horses. We're going out to join in the fight. Come Ram, I get mister. How you done it is a miracle. You brung the cavalry all away from the fort. 200 miles. 200 miles. And that horse of yours done it. There's a signal. Henley. The cavalry's escorting your wagon train to the fort. Yeah, and they're taking Travis and his men back for trial. Every last one of them. Adios, mask man. Come on, Ms. Perkins. We go now. Kimasabi. Yes, T. Steady, Silver. Scout. Silver. Plenty. Good horse. Yes, T. There's no other horse in the world like Silver. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated. This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com Become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank our most recent ranch hands, Steve and Ron W. Who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail. 707-986-8739. This episode is copyrighted under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright. For more information, go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening. Sam.