Original subtitles

THE OLD RANGER: And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Hyah! Yah!

Yah! Yah!

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

and I have another interesting true story for you

about the historic Death Valley country.

For this story, I'’m taking you across the Continental Divide

into eastern Colorado.

It'’s the year 1873.

For the first time since the Gold Rush to Pikes Peak,

interest in a territory has shifted from mining to ranching.

The reason: the advent of the railroad,

bringing the market within reach of the great range country.

Ed Pratt is one of the settlers who saw the opportunity.

He took up some land in the region southwest of Pueblo

and started raising sheep.

His first herd is ready for shipment,

as we open our story of...

Of all the confounded luck!

To break my ankle just when I'’m getting ready

to drive my first flock to the railroad.

I got a good mind to try to go anyhow.

Now, Ed, that'’s out of the question.

Well, if I wait for this bone to knit,

it'’ll mean I'll miss the market altogether.

You realize what that'’ll mean?

It'’ll mean going deeper into debt.Pa--

It'’ll mean having to borrow money to get through till next season.

Pa! Pa!It'’ll mean that--

What is it, Loren?Let me take '’em for you.

You? I'’ve moved sheep all over this ranch.

I can do it.Why not, Ed?

Ah, it isn'’t just a question of driving sheep.

Lije could do that. He'’s a good herder.

It'’s a question of driving the bargain after you get there.

I can do that, too, if you give me some idea.

Ah, you'’re too young.

They'’d take advantage of ya.

I'’m going on 17. I'’m as tall as you are.

And he'’d have Lije with him, besides.

Lije? He'’s as dumb as a sheep himself.

Can hardly read let alone figure.

Ah, it just wouldn'’t do.

Ed, we need the money.

We can'’t afford not to let the boy go.

Oh, drat. That gopher hole.

Yeah, guess I got no choice.

Then I can go? Thanks, Pa. I'’ll tell Lije.

Now, just a minute. This is no spree you'’re going on.

This is business.I know that.

Oh, just so you do.

Here we are. Here'’s Pueblo.

Southern terminus of the Denver and Rio Grande.

You know, I ain'’t even seen a railroad.

We come out on a railroad as far as Kansas City.

But I was only nine then.

We can make Sweetwater Creek first day.

Bed down there.

You know, there'’s water in every one of them valleys, according to the map.

That'’ll mean good grazing.

We can deliver the sheep to the railroad as fat as when they left home.

You know, I wish I could ride all the way to Denver with '’em.

When I go to Denver, I'’m not gonna ride on a smelly old cattle car.

I'’m gonna ride up on a passenger coach, on a plush seat.

Are the seats plush?You bet.

Green. With kerosene lamps overhead too,

just like in a house, and cuspidors.

Well, gosh, maybe we get a look at one when we'’re in town.

After we sell the sheep. Remember, this is no spree we'’re going on.

This is business.

[ bells clanging ][ bleating ]

[ no audible dialogue ]

[ Lije shouting ]

Finest bunch of sheep I ever did see.

Every one of '’em in prime condition.

They sure are, Pa.

Here'’s the tally.

357.

Try to get there with hardly no loss at all, barring accidents.

There'’ll be no accidents.

Now, main danger is pileups.

Watch out the leader don'’t go over a bank and take the others with him.

As soon as you sell them sheep, you head right back for home.

No hanging around town with your pocket full of money.

You savvy?Yes, Pa.

You oughta be able to get about 250 a head.

If you'’re smart.I'’ll try.

All right, son. Get going.

By, Ma.

Good-bye, son. Take care.

I will.

[ bleating ] [ bells clanging ]

[ Lije shouting ]

[ bleating continues ] [ bells continue clanging ]

Hey, better get down from there, little fella.

You'’ll be left behind. Come on now.

Come on.

Gee, what a beautiful valley.

Ain'’t marked on my map here.

That map of yours is no darn good.

I paid six bits for the thing.

Then you got stung.

This'’ll be the perfect place to camp for the night.

Stream flowing through it.

Plenty of foliage. The whole floor is green.

Well, let'’s be going, then.

Gonna be sundown before we know it.You'’re right.

[ gunshot ]

You get him?No, I missed him.

Boy, I ain'’t never seen nothing like the jackrabbits in this valley.

Run like billy-o.

Never once even stop to nibble.

[ chuckles ] You'’re just a bad shot.

[ birds squawking ]You know, this time of day,

the birds should be coming in to rest, but they ain'’t.

They'’re all on the move.

Well, we'’ll eat beans and bacon.

I don'’t understand. There'’s something funny about this place.

[ animal howling, distant ]

[ bleating ]

[ howling continues ]

[ bleating ]

[ sniffing ]

Whew!

Something must be dead. Making an awful smell.

Don'’t you notice it?No.

I must be lying right on it.

Why don'’t you move your bed over there?

I'’m going to.

Smells just like rotten eggs. I don'’t see how you can stand it.

Well, I used to herd goats.

[ bleating ]

[ dog barking ]

Loren! Hey, Loren, we lost some sheep! Run off?

No. Dead.Dead?

I found '’em just down, laying on the ground.

Some animal got to '’em?No. There'’s no sign of blood at all.

I thought at first they was asleep

till Buster went up to '’em, and they didn'’t move.

Come on. Let me go see.[ barking ]

There'’s dead sheep scattered all over the place.

We must'’ve lost nearly 100 of them!

171.171?

That'’s nearly half the flock, Lije.

Pa'’s gonna be fit to be tied.

It ain'’t your fault.

Whose fault is it?

What happened to them anyway?

There-- There'’s not even a mark on '’em.

It'’s just as if they died in their sleep.

I don'’t know. Some disease, I reckon.

But what? They were all perfectly well last night.

Nothing could'’ve hit 'em that quick.

Let'’s get outta here before something happens to the rest of '’em.

Come on.

[ bleating ]

You know, that was a darn good price you got.

Your pa himself couldn'’t have done any better.

But what does it all add up to?

About a third of what we should be taking home.

Pa'’s gonna go clear through the roof.

I still can'’t figure out what happened to them sheep.

He'’ll say if he'd have been there, he could'’ve saved 'em.

Yeah, well, he couldn'’t. I mean, nobody could'’ve.

You know Pa. [ train horn blaring ]

Yeah, I know.

You wanna take another look at the trains?

I'’ve sort of lost my ambition.

Me too. Might as well get on back home,

get it over with.

ED: I don'’t believe it!

Pa, it'’s true.

171 sheep dying for no reason whatsoever.

It couldn'’t happen!It did happen.

We can take you up there and show you, boss.

Oh, no, you can'’t.

All right, fellas. Come honest.

What did you do with the money?

Pa, you don'’t think we'’re holding out on ya?Did you lose it?

Did you spend it? Were you rolled in some deadfall?Oh, Ed!

Every cent we got from the sale of the sheep is right there in Ma'’s hands.

You'’re lying!

I heard you two planning before you left.

How you were gonna paint the town red. No.

I shouldn'’t have let you go in the first place.

Now, he got top dollar for them sheep, boss.

You'’re fired!Fired?

Yes! Git!

As for you,

you get upstairs to your room and stay there till I tell you to come out.

I'’m no kid. You can'’t treat me like this.

If it weren'’t for my broken leg, I'’d take you out in the yard and horsewhip ya!

Now get going!

[ door closes ]

[ barking ]

Buster, go home.

[ whimpering ]Now, you gotta go back home.

Now please go home. Go on home, Buster!

Buster, go home!

Now, you'’ve gotta go back.[ whimpering ]

You just can'’t come along with me, and that'’s all there is to it.

Now go home. Buster, go home.

Buster, now please go home.[ whimpering continues ]

Go home, Buster.

[ whimpers ]

Ed, Loren'’s gone.What do you mean?

Well, I went up to his room just now to look in on him, and he wasn'’t there.

His bed hasn'’t been touched, and his gun'’s missing.

Well, where you going?

Out to the corral to see if his horse is gone.

Wait for me.

Buster! Buster! Buster!

Buster, come on, boy! Buster! Come on!

[ whistling ]

His horse is gone and so is his saddle.

He'’s even taken the dog with him. Young fool!

Well, I don'’t blame him for leaving home after the way you talked to him tonight.

One thing I can'’t stand is being lied to.

Maybe he wasn'’t lying. Maybe the sheep did die.

Not in a million years.

What makes you think you'’re always right, Ed Pratt?

Sometimes I wish-- I wish that--

[ Buster barking ]There'’s Buster.

Well, so you come back, fella.

Loren'’ll come back too. You'’ll see.

Buster, where'’d he go? Where'’s Loren?[ whimpering ]

Where'’d he go? He'’s trying to tell us something.

What happened to Loren?Ah, nothing happened to him.

He just run off, that'’s all.

The dog'’s acting queer.

I think Loren'’s hurt or in trouble.

Maybe I should hitch up the rig.

This time of night? Alone?Well, there'’s no one else to go.

You'’re laid up, and you fired your only hand.

Well, if he don'’t show up soon, I'’ll notify the sheriff.

I'’m driving over to Jim McClean'’s the first thing in the morning.

He'’s the nearest deputy.

And so, I'’ve come to ask you to please help us find him, Sheriff.

We'’ll do everything we can, Mrs. Pratt, to help.

Now, you go right on home, and don'’t worry.

Thank you.

[ hoofbeats approaching ]

Howdy.

Uh, mind if I hold up here for the night?

You alone?

Yeah. And glad of company.

You'’re the first person I'’ve met in days.

Make yourself at home. Thank you.

I swore I didn'’t do it, but he didn'’t believe me.

So you ran away from home, huh?

Well, wouldn'’t you, if you were accused of stealing?

I mean, your own father.

I reckon.

Where you heading for now?

North to Denver.

After that, I don'’t know.

Frisco, maybe.

Where you heading, mister?

To bed.

Hold it!

What'’s the idea, sneaking off in the middle of the night?

I, uh-- I just decided to be on my way.

Well, I'’m deciding different, sonny.

We'’re not parting company.

Now hand over your gun.

Now let'’s go back to bed.

[ thunder rumbling ]

I sure am grateful to you folks for giving me shelter.

Glad you seen our lights.Yeah.

Wind out in this country blows four ways at once.

Your first year out here?

My second. And the last.

Discouraged, huh?

Wouldn'’t you be if you lost the entire flock you was taking to market?

Lost '’em? How?

Queerest thing I ever known.

They just died one night.

All 200 head. For no apparent reason.

In the best of health when they were bedded down.

By morning, just so much mutton.

Where did this happen?

Between here and Pueblo.

You know the San Isabel region?

Yeah.

There'’s a valley there.

It'’s a beautiful valley.

But don'’t let it fool ya. Stay out of it.

Go around. There'’s some kind of evil in there.

[ thunderclap ] Even got the smell of death.

Then he was telling the truth.

Sure, I am.No. Our son.

He had the same experience.

In Suicide Gulch?

"Suicide Gulch"?That'’s what I call the place.

We didn'’t believe him.

No, Myra. I didn'’t believe him.

I'’d like to talk to him. Compare notes.

You can'’t.

He'’s gone away.

We don'’t know where he is.

He ran away from home.

What are you gonna do to me?

That'’s just what I was wondering.

Hey, is that the kid?

That'’s the kid, all right.

And look who he'’s riding with-- Haley.

We'’ll jump him on the trail ahead.

[ whinnying ]

We got ya, Haley. And you, too, kid.

Throw out your guns and come out with your hands up.

HALEY: You ain'’t got nothin'. [ gunshot ]

You know, he'’s just about right.

Holed up in those rocks, the odds are 10-to-1 in his favor.

Try to keep his attention this way,

and I'’ll see if I can slip around behind him.

I wouldn'’t go in there if I were you, Jack.

That'’s the only way we'’re gonna get 'em, if we get '’em.

[ gunfire continues ]

Drop that gun.

Now put up your hands. Both of ya.

All right, boys. Come and get '’em.

Are you trying to tell me that you weren'’t in cahoots with Haley?

If I had'’ve been, do you think you could'’ve sneaked up behind him?

It was me that kept him from shooting you.

Then what were you doing with him?

We just happened to camp at the same waterhole.

The same waterhole! Just by a mere coincidence, I suppose?

Yes, sir. Look, Sheriff,

if I had been in cahoots with Haley, wouldn'’t I have been carrying a gun?

You were carrying a gun when you ran away from home.

Haley took it off me last night at the waterhole.

He threw it away. Sheriff, you gotta believe me.

I haven'’t broken any law. All I'’ve done is run away.

All right, son. I do believe you.

Sit down. I wanna talk to you.

Now, I don'’t know what the trouble was at your house.

My pa treated me like a kid.And you wanna be a man, huh?

Well, prove it. Go home and take your medicine.

Your pa needs you just as much as you need him, son.

I understand you'’ve got a mother too.

I only wish my mother was still alive.

[ hoofbeats approaching ][ barking ]

Pa, it'’s Lorey!

Lorey, Lorey, Lorey!Ohh!

Oh, Lorey, we'’ve been sick with worry.

I'’m so glad you're back.

Howdy, Pa.

Good to have you back, son.

I'’m sorry I lost my temper.

I shouldn'’t have run off.

Forgive me, Pa?

But it sure turned out good.

Good?Good?

$1,250! Look!

Twelve hundred and--

Where did you get that kind of money?

It'’s a long story, Pa.

I don'’t think you'’re gonna believe it.

Son, I'’m through doubting you anymore.

Well, it'’s my half of the reward for helping capture a train robber.

[ together ] A train robber?

Son, you'’re really a man now.

You sure are.Lije! What are you doing here?

I found out I needed a good sheepherder.

Especially for next year when you two drive another herd to the railroad.

Pa! But not by way of Suicide Gulch.

"Suicide Gulch"?That'’s what they call it now.

A lot of other folks lost sheep there too. Same way you did.

Well, what happened? What killed them?

Nobody knows. It'’s a mystery.

There'’s got to be a reason.

Everything has to have a reason.

So what was the reason?

What was the mystery of Suicide Gulch?

It took 63 years to find out the answer.

And here it is.

"Suicide Gulch'’s Secret Is Out.

"Uncle Sam'’s Scientists Solve Riddle

of Colorado'’s 320 Deadly Acres."

A poisonous nonmetallic element called selenium in the soil of the area

is drawn up by plants in sufficient quantity

to be dangerous to livestock.

Now that the secret is out, sheep no longer graze here.

But each summer, tourists flock

to the magnificent scenic area

of Colorado'’s San Isabel Forest,

on the edge of which lies the area known as

"Suicide Gulch."