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.

We all like stories of the pioneer days along the trail,

and especially about that special breed of men--

the stagecoach drivers,

who rode through all kinds of danger and took it as part of their daily life.

Now, this is a story

about a one-man treaty with a tribe of Indians

and about a stage line

that some people said went from nowhere, through nothing, to nowhere.

Yet it was the first overland route to link two oceans.

It was officially known as the San Antonio and San Diego Mail.

But everybody called it...

Well, the west bound'’s almost ten minutes early.

Silas!

Apache?Yeah.

Tulio!I didn'’t know the driver was hurt. Is it bad?

He'’s dead.Dead?

We'’re lucky he was able to last till he got us here.

He'’s been dead ever since that arrow hit him.

You mean the horses brought us in by themselves?

They get so they know the road as well as the driver.

Give us a hand with him.

How far back were you when the Indians jumped you?

This side of a creek, coming out of a canyon.

Ciénega Creek.Yeah, about nine miles.

How many of them were they?Oh, about a dozen.

They popped out of some rocks, a-whooping and a-shooting.

They chased us a ways and then galloped off.

Just like Apaches. Hit and run. Put him down here.

Tulio, get a blanket and cover him up.

Then run and tell the sheriff and the coroner.

And let Captain Webb know. He'’ll want to ride out with the soldiers.

The place is Ciénega Creek.

There'’s hot coffee insides, gents.

If you want anything else, town'’s just a quarter mile down the road.

How far are we from Fort Yuma?

Ten days, barring accidents.Or Indians.

Nope, just accidents.

We won'’t be bothered with Indians from here on in.

MAN: That'’s right.

This here'’s Silas St. John, your next driver.

Had no trouble on his section since he took over.

You ought to put him on that Apache run.

Apache'’s a little out of my line.

I'’ll stick with the Maricopas and the Yumas.

Oh? You got kind of a power over them, huh?

Just a power of common sense.

I don'’t shoot at them, and they don'’t shoot at me.

Well, I was just fixing to start looking for you gents.

Why mules? You all out of horses?

Well, we'’re heading into desert country.

In the sand, a mule can outrun even an Indian pony.

That'’s why they call us the Jackass Mail.

All aboard.

Now, just a minute.

I see you men have added some hardware to your getups.

Yeah. Indians try something this time, we'’ll be ready for them.

[ chuckling ] Yeah, we'’ll give them more than they bargained for.

I'’ll have to ask you for them.

What?I don'’t carry a gun myself,

And I don'’t let any of my passengers carry one either.

MAN: A smart man would play it safe.

That'’s why I'm taking the hardware.

Well, I'’m sure gonna feel naked without it.

And I'’m gonna feel a lot better without it.

All right, gents, get aboard.

[ shouts ]

Indians!

Get down!

[ horses neigh ]

[ speaking foreign language ]

What'’s going on?

I'’m scared to look.

Maricopa Wells.

[ laughs ]

These are Maricopas. They won'’t bother you.

I brought presents for my friends.

Some food. Oil.

Mirror. Comb.

You, uh, bring them things like this every trip?

Every time I can afford it.

[ speaking foreign language ]

Am I dreaming, or is that real food I smell?

It'’s real. The women fix supper for us every time we get here.

After the stuff I was eating last month,

I'’ve almost forgotten what real-eating food tastes like.

Well, get over there and grab yourself a plate and see what it tastes like.

I'’ll be with you soon as I can get the mules water.

Huh. You know,

I never thought I'’d see the day when I'’d sit down among real, live Indians

and get up without an arrow in me. [ chuckles ]

You ain'’t up yet.

[ speaking foreign language ]

Where they going now?

They'’re going back to their village,

just a mile or two over that hill.

How'’d you ever manage to make a treaty with them?

I found out they were people, just like us.

Treat them like one of your own kind,

and they'’ll do the same.

Well, we better get moving.

What'’s our next stop?

Gila Crossing. We'’ll be there in time for breakfast.

You gonna have some more of your Indian friends fix it for us?

No, afraid not. We won'’t see any more Indians for a while.

Mister.

I'’m Sam Walton. This is my wife Lita.

We'’d sure be obliged if you could take on a couple of more passengers.

Do you folks live around here?

No, sir, we sure don'’t.

We'’re heading west to homestead.

I don'’t want to homestead. I just want to go back home.

[ crying ]Now, now, honey, everything'’s gonna be all right now.

Everything'’s just gonna be fine.

Not knowing too much about this country,

we managed to get ourselves lost in the desert.

It was awful.

Better come inside, ma'’am. Rest yourself.

Thank you.

I'’ll put these in the boot for you.

Well, uh, couldn'’t we keep them inside with us?

Everything we'’ve got left is in here,

and we'’d sure like to have them near us.

I understand. Go ahead.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

There'’s one thing more.

I see you'’re carrying a gun.

It'’s not against the law, is it?

Nope. But I have my own private law here on the Jackass Mail.

Nobody carries a gun.

It'’s a deal he made with the Indians.

And it works, mister. We'’ve seen it work.

I hope you'’re right.

You'’ll get it back at Yuma.

Whoa.

[ speaking foreign language ]

Why do the Maricopas block our road?

We'’re friends.We have no friends among your people.

Your chief gave promise of safe passage.

He cannot break that promise.

White man broke promise first.

You come with us.

I can'’t leave my stagecoach here.

Tell your chief I'’ll come back.

White man word not good.

You come now.

[ shouting ]

[ speaking foreign language ]

[ whooping ]

Yah! Yah!

[ shouts ]

Hyah!

[ whooping continues ]

Hyah! Yah! [ shouts ]

Hyah! Hyah!

[ speaking foreign language ]

Yah! Yah! Yah! Yah![ barking ]

Whoa.

What in tarnation are you trying to do, Silas?

Set a new record? You'’re nearly an hour early.

Couldn'’t help it, Charley.

Maricopas were after us.

Maricopas? What for?That'’s what I aim to find out.

I'’m sorry if I shook you folks up on that ride.

Especially you, ma'’am.

You got us here safely. That'’s what really counts.

Yes. That was quick thinking, St. John.

And a mighty fine piece of driving, too.

Yes, it certainly was. It sure was.

Did I hear you say that you were going back

to see what was the matter with those Indians?

Yep. If I don'’t get it straightened out,

the Jackass Mail is in for trouble.

Then I guess we won'’t be seeing you again.

Thank you for picking us up.

Oh, I'’ll probably be back in time to take the stagecoach out this evening.

You mean we'’re gonna have to sit here all day while you'’re out chasing Maricopas?

Whether I went back or not, Mr. Walton, wouldn'’t make any difference.

You see, here on the desert, we hole up during the hot hours

and travel when it'’s cool.

Or cooler.

All right, folks, all out, please.

You first, ma'’am.

You'’ll find Jose's Cantina across the road over there.

Food'’s pretty good, if you like chili.

You know, I think them Mexicans got the right idea.

Get yourself hot enough on the inside

and you won'’t notice how hot '’tis on the outside.

[ laughs ]

[ grunts ]

Say!

That thing'’s heavy.

You must be carrying rocks in your socks.

Watch your step there now.

That'’s it.Thank you.

If that driver talks to those Indians, he'’s going to find out.

Sure, but it'’ll be too late to do him any good.

[ speaking foreign language ]

[ speaking foreign language ]

I told your braves I would return.

I kept my word.

Why am I treated like this?

Dragged before the great chief of the Maricopas like a lamb tied for the sacrifice?

If their treatment is rough, it is because their hearts are bitter.

[ speaking foreign language ]

It is to find the reason for that bitterness that I'’ve come.

Tell me so that I might right the wrong

and once again boast that the mighty Maricopas are my friends.

It concerns a white man and a woman who came to us out of the desert heat,

pretending sickness and planning evil.

The man told us their horses had run away.

And we took them into our village and gave them shelter and care.

Last night, they slipped away into the darkness,

and we discovered they had robbed the graves of our sacred burial ground

of many gold and silver treasures.

You have reason to be angry.

I'’ll not rest until that treasure'’s returned to you.

If the treasure and those who stole it are brought here before the moon becomes full,

we will again be at peace with our white brothers.

Until then, no Maricopa will lift a hand in violence.

The treasure you will have.

But the thieves must be punished according to white man'’s justice.

That'’s a law I must obey.

You will give your word that they will be punished?

I give my word.

It shall be as you say.

Hyah.

Well, you made it quicker than I figured.

Quicker than I figured, too.

Well, did you find out what'’s got the Maricopas the wrong way?

I sure did.

[ sighs ]

I sure needed that.

Little matter of somebody robbing their burial grounds.

Little matter? Now, Silas, you know that ain'’t no little matter.

Do they know who done it?

The Waltons.The Waltons?

Oh. That'’s what made them carpetbags so heavy.

How long ago did they leave town?

How'’d you know they left?

They sure wouldn'’t sit around waiting for me to get back.

No. I reckon they wouldn'’t.

They bought a horse and buggy and pulled out about two hours ago.

Said it'’s important they get to Yuma.

That'’s no lie.

And he took his gun with him, too.

Got it out of your satchel in the stage.

Come on. Give me a hand hitching up the mules.

It ain'’t time to go yet.

It is for me.

Oh, that sun'’s like fire.

Yeah.

Give me another drink of that water.

Easy, Molly. Easy, sweetheart.

Bandana dries out almost before I can get it to my face.

Can'’t-- Can't we pull over into the shade?

What shade?

Steady. Steady.

Not too fast.

Wet this for me again, will you?

Canteen'’s empty.

There'’s another one in the back.

Sam!

Hyah! [ whip cracks ]

He'’s falling behind.

[ laughs ]

Mules haven'’t got a chance to catch a horse.

Come on, baby. [ shouts ]

Hyah!

Easy.

Easy, Molly. Easy, sweetheart.

[ whip cracks ]

Steady, girl.

[ whip cracking ]

Come on!

Where is he now?

Sam! He'’s getting closer.

Hyah! Come on! [ whip cracking ]

[ shouting ] Hyah!

Hyah!

[ whip cracks ]Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

[ whip cracking ]Hyah!

Hyah! [ horse neighs ]

Hyah!

Easy, Molly. Easy, sweetheart.

Whoa. Whoa.

Climb down from that seat.

If he moves, shoot him.

Get over there.

Get in.

Giddyap there.

Come on!

Giddyap there! Come on! Get going!

Giddyap there!

Hyah! Giddyap there!

Hyah! Hyah! Come on!

Giddyap there!

[ shouting ] Come on! Giddyap there!

You'’re just wasting your breath.

I'’ve got them trained so they won'’t work for anybody they don'’t know.

You have, huh?

Well, you get up and drive them.

Back to Gila Crossing.

To Yuma.

No.

Get up there.

I'’ll give you till I count five.

One.

Even with that gun in your hand,

you'’re in no position to give orders.

Two.

Your only chance

of staying alive is to get out of this place,

and your only chance of getting out of this place is to have me alive.

Three.

Four.

Lita!

All right, St. John. You win.

Here. Douse her with water from head to foot, and keep her doused.

[ gunshot ]

[ shouting ]

Yah, baby! Yah!

Good job! Come on, sweetheart!

Hah-ha!

Giddyap now!

All right, gentlemen. All aboard.

All aboard.

Well, I see you got back all right, St. John.

Did you find out what was the matter with them Indians?

Yep. Got everything straightened out, all right.

All right, Silas. Let her roll.

Hey, wait a minute.

What about Mr. and Mrs. Walton?

Oh, well, they changed their plans.

Decided to go back to Tucson for a spell.

Yeah. Quite a spell.

[ shouts ]

[ shouts ]

Yes, sir. You can'’t beat it.

Don'’t have to worry about Indians.

A good man on the box.

Four fast mules.

Yes, sir. This is the way to travel.