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.

This is Fort Benton,

the small army post far up the Missouri River

in Dakota Territory,

where a young naval lieutenant is just reporting to the post commander,

who resents anything or anybody who is not army.

I call this story...

[ knocking ]Come in.

Sergeant Medcalf has returned with Lieutenant Drysdale, sir.

Lieutenant Drysdale? Yes, sir.

Oh, yes. Lieutenant Drysdale. Send him in.

Sergeant?

You were to report back here in eight days, sergeant.

Yes, sir.You'’re a day late, sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Was the boat from St. Louis a day late, sergeant?

No, sir.It was my fault, sir.

Being unaccustomed to riding horseback,

I couldn'’t make the necessary distance every day.

For being a day late, sergeant, you'’ll be docked a day's pay. Dismissed.

It wasn'’t his fault, sir.

Twice since you'’ve been in my office, Drysdale,

you'’ve addressed me without my permission.

I was just trying to explain about the sergeant--

And that makes a third time.

Talking out of turn seems to be your weakness, Drysdale.

According to this report, that'’s why you were sent out here,

for arguing with your superiors.

I was proven right, sir.

I'’m afraid you're gonna be a problem, Drysdale.

Lieutenant Drysdale, sir.

I recognize only army commissions out here.

Navy commissions are entitled to equal recognition, sir.

Yes, yes. I'’m afraid you'’re gonna be a problem.

The major will be happy to know I won'’t be a problem long.

If he would give me a detail of men and the necessary equipment,

I would be out of here and on my way in two days.

On your way? Where to?

To chart and report on the navigability

of the Missouri River to its source, sir.

Here are my orders.

Orderly!

Have the quartermaster issue a rifle, saddle and sidearms for Drysdale.

He'’s going out on the next patrol with Lieutenant Whitcomb.

Those orders can'’t be ignored, sir. I have a report to make.

I'’ll tell you what to report.

You report that the Missouri River runs west from here.

That it'’s water clear to its source.

That beyond that is snow.

Orderly.This way, lieutenant.

It'’s Mr. Drysdale.

Yes, sir.

Close the gate.

♪♪ [ drumming ]

There'’s activity down there, all right.

We'’re too far to tell what kind.

Here, try this.

A telescope? Navy issue.

Just slide it in and out till you get your bearing.Huh?

I mean, a good view.Mm.

Mm. At least a thousand of them.

A war council.

There'’s a Sioux war bonnet.

And the war regalia of an Assiniboine chief.

The Sioux and the Assiniboine have joined forces.

Meaning what?

Meaning we'’ve got twice as much trouble on our hands.

Come on. We'’d better get back to the fort and make a report.

What'’s all that for?

I'’m taking a bearing so I can tell the exact location of the Indians.

You mean you can pinpoint this spot with that?

That'’s right.

This is my nautical almanac.

This is my azimuth compass. This is my correctional solar attachment.

They'’re all--Yeah, I know, I know. Navy issue.

That'’s right. How'’d you guess?

[ grunts ] Lieutenant!

Drysdale, it'’s too late to help him. Come on.

[ whooping ]

Ah!

[ whooping ]

[ speaking foreign language ]

Sarge, open the gate!

Close the gate.

[ knocking ] Come in.

Lieutenant Drysdale, sir.Mr. Drysdale.

I mean Mr. Drysdale.Send him in.

Come in, Mr. Drysdale.

You'’re supposed to be out on patrol, Drysdale.

Lieutenant Whitcomb is dead, sir.

Also, Private Jones. Indian scouting party.

Where were you when they were killed?

I was with them, sir.

How long ago did this happen?

Four and one-half days.

And you found your way back alone.

Yes, sir. It'’s easy if you know celestial and solar navigation.

Lieutenant Whitcomb had a report, sir.

The Sioux and the Assiniboine have joined forces.

Joined forces? [ chuckles ]

The Assiniboine are hundreds of miles to the west of here.

They'’ve joined with the Sioux.

In war council.

You should be prepared for an attack of at least a thousand savages.

You seem to be unusually well informed, Drysdale.

I know what I saw.

And you saw a thousand Sioux and Assiniboine, eh?

Yes, sir.

Their position,

112 degrees by 24 minutes north,

47 degrees by 24 minutes west.

Or approximately 130 land miles northwest of here.

I want you to make this report in writing, Drysdale.

I'’m going to send a patrol out to this area.

And if they don'’t find evidence of what you saw-- [ knocking ]

Come in.

Major, sentry reports the approach of two braves carrying a truce lance.

Truce, eh?

Your so-called thousand Indians

come to sue for peace.

Tell them my terms are surrender or be annihilated.

Didn'’t come to ask for peace, sir.

Then why did they come?

They'’re Sioux and Assiniboine sub-chiefs.

They speak for a thousand warriors on both sides of the river.

We agree to abandon the fort,

they promise safe passage to Fort Union.

We'’ve five days to make a decision.

If we don'’t leave--

Trying to scare us out.

They'’re not bluffing, major. I saw--

I don'’t need your views, Drysdale.

Abandoning ship to come back to return and fight

on better terms is no disgrace, sir.

Under my command, we face the enemy.

I'’ll never give up this fort.

Never!

♪♪ [ drumming, distant ]

Evening, Medcalf.

Evening, sir.

You seem nervous.

Nervous, sir?

Yes, nervous. What is it, sergeant?

It'’s these war drums, sir.

Four days they'’ve been at it.

I can'’t help but thinking about tomorrow being the fifth day.

Don'’t tell me you've fallen for that bluff of theirs.

It might not be a bluff, sir.

Lieutenant Drysdale was certain he saw--

I'’m just as certain he didn't!

Sergeant, canvas has been missing

from several of the supply wagons. Why?

Needed repairing, sir.

Also, the reports show that Private Clark

borrowed carpenter tools from the supply corporal. Why?

He likes to build things, sir. Used to be a carpenter.

And Drysdale, it seems, has been issued an unusual amount of writing material. Why?

You'’ll have to ask him that, major.

Be sure and brace this well.

It'’s the mast, and there's a lot of strain on it.

Here'’s some more pitch.

Good. Now we can finish sealing the hull.

How fast do you figure this boat'’ll go, lieutenant?

Oh, fast enough to outrun those Indian canoes.

With a little breeze.

Caulk that well.

You know, I ain'’t never saddled a sailboat before.

It'’s gonna be real interesting.

Well, I gotta get back to duty. Be back later.

Right, Ken.

Shh, shh. Use the muffled end.

How'’s it going, lieutenant?

Pretty good.

Let'’s call it a night, men.

What about the mast? We haven'’t put that up yet.

We can step her when we get outside.

It'’s only a matter of a few minutes.

Sure wouldn'’t take any prize for looks.

All I hope is it takes us out of here, if the need arises.

Hello, Drysdale.

I didn'’t expect to see you here, sir.

Of course not.

I'’m not an architect, but these don'’t strike me

as being fortification plans.

They'’re not, sir.

Curious to know exactly what they are.

An exercise in sea draftsmanship, sir.

Is it necessary in this exercise to have pitch on your hands and trousers?

You'’re building a boat, Drysdale. Where is it?

I asked you a question. Do you hear me?

Yes, sir. Then answer me!

I regret, sir, I cannot answer.

You mean you refuse.

Oh, you regret, do you?

You'’ll regret it more when you face court-martial

on charges of insubordination.

Ten-hut.

Men, a boat was built on this fort.

Its purpose-- a cowardly retreat.

Doesn'’t sound very pretty, does it?

Yet that'’s why it was built.

And there'’s the man responsible.

If the major please, I'’d like to explain.

The major does not please. Orderly!

You built that boat without my permission, Drysdale.

Now I want you to destroy it.

You can'’t be serious, sir.

That could mean the difference between life and death of every man here.

From what? A handful of Indians with war drums?

Carry on with it. Let'’s have no more discussion on the matter.

I'’m sorry, sir. I must refuse.

Refusal to carry out an order is mutiny, Drysdale.

That could mean the safety of every man here.

Pick up that axe and carry out that command,

or I'’ll shoot you right where you stand.

[ whooping, gunfire ]

Bugler, blow call to stations! Man your parapets!

♪♪ [ bugle ]

[ whooping, gunfire continue ]

Well, what'’s the count?

Been lucky so far, sir. Only five dead.

But the average is against us.

That'’s defeatist talk, son.

I'’m only trying to explain the situation, major.

As fast as we push back one wave of Indians, another one comes.

Now you'’re arguing with me.

Just like Drysdale.

I don'’t care how many Indians there are out there.

I'’ll never give up this fort. Never.

Supply sergeant reports the ammunition'’s running low, sir.

Well, tell Sergeant Medcalf to tell the men to save the ammunition.

Yes, sir.

What are you doing away from your station?

I came to speak to you about the boat again, sir.

There'’s a breeze coming up, and if we--I'’ll not abandon this fort.

It'’d only be temporarily, major.

I'’ll not abandon the fort.

Can'’t you see your position is hopeless?

If you persist in this useless defense,

you'’ll be responsible for the lives of everybody.

Don'’t you try to place the blame for this on me.

You'’re in command.

Yes. And if I lose this battle,

it'’ll be because of you and that boat.

What? Yes.

You'’ve destroyed my men.

Their morale. Their will to fight.

All because you know they'’ve got that boat to escape in and so do they.

That'’s ridiculous. No one could fight any harder than they are.

Oh, is that so?

Well, I'’ll show you how hard they can fight.

Wait till you see how hard they'’ll fight

when they know they'’ve got no boat to escape in.

Major!

Major!

Drop that pistol, Drysdale.

Go on!

Don'’t you try to follow me.

Get over there!

Hurry up!

All of you, over there, against that wall.

Stand back. Get back.

Major! Get back!

It'’s our only chance, sir.

Give me that axe!

You'’ll see how they'll fight.

You'’ll see! I'’ll show you!Major Creel, sir--

[ yelling ]

[ Creel screams ]

Drag him out.

[ gunfire continues ]

Looks like his leg'’s broken.

He hit his head pretty hard. Might have a concussion, too.

As ranking officer, I'’m taking over.

Right, lieutenant.

That suits us fine.

♪♪ [ bugle ]

The fighting stopped.

Get someone to help you with Major Creel.

Get him to sickbay.Yes, sir.

What does it mean, sergeant?

They'’re getting ready for a sundown attack.

That means they'’ll storm us with every man this time.

Try to clean us out in one sweep.

We'’ll have to move fast.

Take a half a dozen men and get that boat to the river gate.

Private Clark'’ll show you how to use the log rollers.

Yes, sir. We'’ll be ready to sail in no time.

Unfortunately, we won'’t be ready to sail unless sufficient wind.

Yes, sir.

All right, open that gate and get this boat in the water.

[ whooping, gunfire ]

Here they come.

Tell your men to stay at their stations till they hear the bugle,

and then run for this gate.Yes, sir.

Private. Private Martin.

Go tell the doctor to get Major Creel

and the other injured ready to move.

Corporal.

Go to the storeroom and get the canoe paddles.

We'’ll need a little help with this breeze.

Yes, sir.

You seven men, leave your weapons here.

Go help the doctor moved the injured.

Bugler, blow retreat.

♪♪ [ bugle ]

Come on, men, quick!

[ speaking foreign language ]

In the boat, men. The wind'’s picking up.

Let'’s go!

[ knocking ]

Come in.

Lieutenant Drysdale reporting, sir.

Sit down, lieutenant.

Thank you, sir.

My adjutant take care of your men all right?

Yes, sir. May I ask how Major Creel is, sir?

Physically, he'’ll be all right.

But only time will tell whether he'’ll be able to return to active service.

I'’ve been very much interested in your report, lieutenant.

The situation at Fort Benton.

Major Creel served under me at Fort Union before he got this command.

I tried to give an unbiased account, sir.

Yes. It reads that way.

Too bad about the major.

The strain of prolonged duty sometimes plays

some pretty serious tricks with a man, lieutenant.

The worst of it is we don'’t always see it coming

until it'’s too late.

Well, I suppose you'’ll be anxious to return to sea.

Oh, yes, sir.

But first I want to go back to Fort Benton.

You do? Why?

I promised myself I would.

Besides, that river'’s great for sailing.

[ chuckles ]

Happy sailing, lieutenant.Thank you, sir.