Original subtitles

? [ Guitar: Ballad ]

[ Man ] ? Far away, up high

? In the High Sierras

? Hidden valleys

? Where the all the folks who have something to hide ?

? Can go and abide

? A place to go and hide

? Hide away

? In the hills

? Hide away

? In the hills

? There to stay

? There to stay

? And never come down

I-- I didn't try to shoot him, just scare him.

I was afraid he'd trample me.

I-- I'm lost.

Do you know the way back to Sierra Vista?

It-It must be a two-day ride at least.

What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a girl before?

I've never seen you in Sierra Vista.

May I ask where you're from?

Anyhow, there are wild horses up here.

I-- I've been hearing stories about 'em...

grazing in these mountains all my life,

but nobody ever believed they were true.

How'd you get up this far?

Well, I-- So you do talk.

Maybe now we can introduce ourselves.

What are you doing here? I told you. I'm lost.

You alone? Yes.

You got no business this far up in the mountains by yourself.

Oh, that's the funny part about it.

It-- It was business. What business?

Well, with a man called Lonesome.

Do you know him?

He's a kind of hermit.

Does a little prospecting.

He was in town a few days ago trying to sell some mustangs he found somewhere.

The sheriff scared him away by asking a lot of questions about them.

I thought the sheriff had been a little unjust,

so I followed the man.

I-- I went too far without realizing it and lost the trail.

I've-- I've been wandering for two days.

Yesterday my horse disappeared, so I-- I--

Put me down! I'm in a hurry.

Where are you taking me?

What's this? She's lost.

Well, who is she? Where'd she come from?

My name's Riley Martin. I live in Sierra Vista.

My father-- Jeff.

My name's Ring.

Pleased to meet you, Ring.

Well, you won't be. What are you doing?

Don't worry, ma'am. No one's gonna hurt you.

It's better for you not to know the way to our place is all.

Oh. I-- I was just--

Well, anyhow, what are you afraid I'm gonna see?

Don't try it again, or I'll make you walk.

All right. I'm sorry.

Hungry? You live up here?

Come on inside and eat.

Don't you ever answer a question?

Anybody would think you'd forgotten how to talk to people.

You may be right.

Sit down if you want to. I'll fix something.

Where's your father?

Standing watch.

What do you mean?

What's he afraid of?

Please answer me! Start on this.

Your father acts as if he doesn't like people.

We're not partial to 'em.

What if a search party comes up here looking for me?

Surely your father wouldn't-- Don't fret, ma'am.

There hasn't been a mortal soul found his way up this far long as I can remember.

After you eat, get some sleep.

Then we'll start you back down.

Hey, Jeff, I made a strike! They're coming back.

I'll show you. There must be more than a hundred up past the high lake.

What about her? She'll stay put.

Yeah, I guess you're right, Ring.

She ain't gonna try to hightail it tonight. She does, it's her own lookout.

All right. Let's take a look at your lucky strike.

Come on. Hyah. Come on.

Spying? No. No, I was just--

I-- I guess you'd call it that. Now what?

She gets back to Sierra Vista,

every cowpoke and wrangler in the whole country will come swarming up here.

These mountains won't be safe anymore.

We'll have to keep her here for a while.

Keep me here? You wouldn't dare.

You keep me prisoner, they'll be here just the same--

and not looking for horses.

We'll have to, Jeff. There's nothing else we can do.

I don't know. I don't like it.

I shouldn't have followed you.

I was curious, and I'm sorry.

But, please, if you let me go,

I promise I won't talk about this to anyone.

I give you my word. How did you follow us?

Well, I-- She's gone!

I took her out of the barn.

What, the-- the brown mare? You rode her?

Miss, you sure must know how to handle a horse,

'cause we only broke her last week.

She still had plenty of ginger.

Must have gone back to the herd.

They don't give up their taste for freedom in a hurry.

I'm sorry I was so careless. Well, come on, Ring.

We'll ride her back and get rid of her in the morning.

Thanks. No. I'll stick around here.

I want to get a closer peek at the herd.

He's moody, that one. He can't stand losing a horse.

Well, we'll get you out of here now...

just as soon as Ring shows up.

Now, he's gotten kind of skittish.

You made him gal-minded, I reckon.

Oh, he's just full of fear and suspicion.

It's all very strange, you two up here...

keeping to yourselves.

That's him now.

Hello, Ring. Herd keep you on the move all night?

I got real close to 'em. It's the same bunch...

we spotted last winter up over the crest. Yeah?

They'll be grazing down this direction for a spell.

Is she leaving? Yes, I am.

And I hope you're relieved.

I'll, uh, ride your horse, Ring.

She can take mine. It's-- It's gentler.

Are you crazy? If she takes yours all the way down,

it'll only leave one horse between us.

Maybe we'd better keep her around four or five days...

till we gentle one of our broncs for her.

I think we can get her out of here by tonight.

Let me know in case you figure out some quick way to get rid of me.

It can't be too quick!

I'd walk if I could!

Now, be careful, girl.

Nobody's gonna hurt you.

Nobody's gonna-- Now, now. Watch it.

Just take your time. Now, now. Now, girl.

It's okay. Everything will be all right.

Nothing to be scared of at all.

Whoa, girl. Whoa, girl.

Hold on.

Nobody's gonna hurt ya.

Whoa, girl.

Whoa, girl. Whoa, girl.

We'll give you a chance in just a second, honey.

All right. Get the--

That's it, girl. Take it easy now.

Now, we'll show Ring no five days for us.

Jeff!

You old fool. I told you you can't rush 'em.

You taught me that yourself.

My spur-- it caught in the stirrup.

It's your back that hurts, isn't it?

He needs a doctor.

I'll stay with him. You ride into town.

No. Don't-- Don't listen to her.

I don't want a doctor.

I don't know what you're afraid of, but, whatever it is,

it can't be worse than letting him die.

You've got to go.

I don't want anybody from town.

If I live, I'm-- I'm gonna stay free.

If I die, I-- I can do it without their help.

Get Lonesome.

Ring. You didn't tell me you knew Lonesome.

And besides, how could he help?

If you want to help, ma'am, you'll stay inside with him.

Bad?

Lonesome will be here soon.

I'm afraid he--

he ain't gonna be able to help much this time.

Maybe it's better if I die.

I been thinkin' for a-- for a long time.

This is no kind of life for you.

No.

You've been tied to me, Son.

Now you'll have nothin' to be afraid of anymore.

You'll have nothin' to be... scared of.

Nothin' to hide from.

Where you can go anywhere, you can... do anything.

Do what? Where would I go?

Down to the flatlands and be a scarecrow for a lot of cows?

No, Jeff.

Sooner or later, they'd do to me what they did to you and--

Here's where I belong.

Here's where I'm stayin', no matter what.

Just don't ever listen to what they say about me.

Don't ever believe 'em.

You don't have to tell me that. I got to tell ya.

You got to hear it now...

so you'll always remember it.

What I said in court a long time ago...

was true.

I'm swearin' it to you again.

I didn't kill him, Son.

I never even saw-- I know, Jeff.

You stay quiet now, Jeff. Don't talk.

Oh, there's so much to tell you.

See, now that there's signs of the big herds coming back again, well, you'll--

What's the use?

It's just a crazy dream that I've been foolin' myself with.

No, it's not, Jeff.

We've been nursing it for years, haven't we, Jeff?

Found them, lost them, found them again.

Ever since I was 10. It's no use.

But inch by inch, they've been comin'.

And one day, we'll ease 'em into the biggest corral anyone ever laid eyes on.

And I'm not gonna do it alone...

'cause you'll be here showing me how,

just like you've always done.

You're not gonna die, Jeff.

You hear me? You're not gonna die.

All right, Son. All right.

? Noddin', noddin'

? Noddin'

? So keep on joggin'

? Joggin'

? Joggin' down the trail ?

? I'm a-ridin'

? Let the wealthy carry the load ?

? All I want is providin' ?

? There's a friend at the end of the road ?

? Round the bend

? At the end of the road ?

Well, knock me down and stomp me flat.

You're an awful long ways from the courthouse, young lady.

I was following you and got lost. Jeff's inside--

I told the sheriff, and I'm tellin' you...

that where I got them mustangs is my own goldurn business.

Lonesome, Jeff's hurt.

I knew your pa when he was the best lawyer in the territory,

and I don't think it's right for you to be a-chasin' round after cases.

Now, if I was you--

- Did you say Jeff's hurt? - Yes.

Stay there, Sarah.

How'd you get up here anyway without 'em fillin' you full of lead?

I'll explain later. Go on in.

Well, I would if you would stop jabberin'.

You go on outside.

Now don't you worry.

I fixed up Sarah once when she went so lame and the doc wanted to shoot her.

I'll see what's wrong, son.

Now you know.

I-- I'm not spying. I--

Please don't think I--

I knew it anyway.

I guessed it back in the cabin from what your father said.

I've heard about Jeff Hassard all my life.

They never forgot, huh?

Fifteen years makes this sort of thing a legend, Ring.

People talk about it the way they talk about the first blizzard.

They're still wondering if Jeff Hassard...

found his way clear out of this part of the country,

if he's still alive somewhere.

Your mother?

She died the first year.

I'm sorry, Ring.

Winters are hard up here,

especially when you're living like a hunted animal.

Oh. She was used to home, comforts and friends.

Friends?

It was her friends drove her out.

Town has people in it, but no friends.

Have you ever been to Sierra Vista?

No, and I don't want to.

You haven't been inside of town since you were too young to remember, have you?

I like it up here.

But you're alone.

When you found me, I wondered why you looked at me the way you did--

as if you'd never seen a woman close-up.

Best get back. Ring.

I want you to know you can trust me.

I'll never mention this place to anyone...

or tell about you and your father.

He's an outlaw.

You're from down there.

Your kind is supposed to hunt him down, not protect him.

But I think he's innocent.

You do? Why?

What a man says when he may be dying is the truth.

How is he?

There ain't nothin' I can do.

He needs a doctor, bad. How bad?

Well, he ain't gonna die, but maybe it's worse.

Might never walk again.

I'll get a doctor. Now, son--

Even if I have to go across the border to find one who's never heard of Jeff Hassard.

That'll take money.

Yeah.

I got a little gold dust tucked away about a day's ride from here.

You can have it, Ring. Take too long.

Besides, Jeff needs nursing, and you're a better hand at it than me.

I'll take some mustangs down and sell them.

No, you better let me do that. After all, you never--

I could make a better trade than you could.

You stay, Lonesome.

I'll take you with me, but you'll have to ride hard.

I'll keep up with you.

That will take a little bit of doin', ma'am.

I'll manage.

Come on now.

Come on now. Hyah!

Come on! Hoh!

Thanks.

I'd like to tell you how sorry I am--

about everything.

If it hadn't have been for me, your father--

It was an accident. Nobody's to blame.

[ Riley Screams ] Ring!

A rattler.

I was washing. I didn't even see it.

Then it struck.

Spits. You'll have to use the knife.

Mess knife isn't sharp enough.

Oh, no! No, you can't! I couldn't stand it!

You've gotta stand it.

Riley Martin's house-- where is it?

Straight ahead at the other end of town.

A small white house with a shingle. You can't miss it.

Holy cow! Ain't that Miss Riley you got up there?

Hey, that is Miss Riley.

Riley? I've been worried half to death--

Save it, ma'am. She can't hear you anyway.

What happened? Who are you?

Where did you find her? Tell me what happened.

She's been shot. Shot?

I shot her.

Don't gawk, ma'am. Get a doctor.

Quick!

You're home now, ma'am.

My arm hurts.

That means I'll keep it, doesn't it?

That's twice you've saved my life.

Stop jabbering. Doctor will be here in a jiffy.

Lady went to fetch him. Your ma?

My aunt.

She's in the bedroom, Doctor.

Well, Riley, what's this all about?

Rattlesnake, Dr. Robbins. Rattlesnake, hmm?

I see.

You got some explaining to do, mister.

And fast.

I never talk fast. Please, Duke.

Why, he saved her life, Duke.

He shot rattler poison clear out of her arm.

You'd better be thanking your stars he had the nerve to do it.

Sorry.

All I'd heard was that you'd shot her through the arm.

All right now, everybody out. Out, please.

I was plumb out of my mind worrying about her.

When she didn't come home for three nights,

I thought I'd never see her alive again.

Wherever did you find her, Mr.--

Harris.

Harris what?

Harris nothing.

Well, you got a first name. Mine's Duke.

Duke Lafferty.

Mine's Ring.

Where did you find her, Ring?

Her horse ran off. She was wandering.

Far up, you say? Depends.

Hey, wait a minute.

You can't run off like that.

You saving Riley's life calls for a drink.

Can't oblige. I have to be getting along.

But you don't realize.

Town was pretty worked up about Riley being missing.

Folks are kind of fond of her.

You'll have to give 'em a chance to thank you.

It'll be easier with a glass in your hand.

I don't drink.

You can stand at a bar and hold a glass, can't you?

I don't know. I never tried.

Hyah! Hyah!

Where you going with those horses?

Isn't it kind of crazy to chase halfway across the country...

just to ask a man where he's goin' with his horses?

My horses.

I found them wandering without brands.

That makes 'em my horses, stranger.

Where you been all your life not to know that?

Not wandering. Tied up.

And one of them's saddled.

That's for calling Matt Rango a liar.

Come on. Come on.

? My mule Sarah She's no fool ?

? She can count She's been to school ?

? She can switch her tail She can wiggle her ear ?

? And she always takes a bow when the people cheer ?

? Oh, come on, Sarah Don't feel sad ?

? You're the very best mule that I ever had ?

? A man stole Sarah to take a ride ?

? He mounted on Sarah with his feet astride ?

? Sarah took a look Saw it wasn't me ?

? And sent him a-sailin' to eternity ?

? Oh, come on, Sarah Don't be sad ?

? You're the very best mule that I ever had ?

Lonesome, what happened to Jeff?

He's doin' fine, considering he's more worried about you than hisself.

How come you left him? Well, he said, "Go see about Ring."

And you know how set he gets.

He kept after me until finally I give in.

Go on back, Lonesome. Oh, he's all right.

He's got food, water and my gun.

He can take care of hisself. Only he's not so sure about you.

Did you find a doctor?

No, I can't until I get my... horses back.

What happened to your horses? They're gone.

Stolen by a man called Matt Rango.

Big Matt?

Why that low-livin', big-talkin' horse thief.

Well, if he's got 'em, they're gone.

I'll make him give 'em back. How?

The best way I can, I guess.

Well, the best way would be go see the sheriff.

I don't deal with sheriffs.

Ring, I know how you feel about the law,

and I ain't sayin' that it ain't so.

But Big Matt is a bad one,

and his men ain't no better than a bunch of polecats.

You're not forgettin', are you, that Jeff's lying up there helpless?

You see, you got no right to get yourself shot full of holes.

Yeah.

Yeah, you're right, Lonesome.

Thanks.

I'll meet you at the sheriff's office...

just as fast as Sarah can get me there.

It's no use, son.

If them horses weren't branded,

there's nothing I can do about it.

He didn't have time to brand them. Maybe so.

But anybody who finds unbranded mavericks wandering on the range...

has got a right to keep 'em.

They weren't wandering. I left them tied up.

Well, you got any proof?

Only liars have to show proof.

Sorry, but I've got to act on the evidence.

That's what the law says, and that's what I've got to go by.

Well, it's not what I go by.

Since when are you teamed up with that sort?

What do you mean "that sort"?

Well, either he doesn't know anything about the law...

or doesn't have much regard for it.

Hogan.

Ride out to the Bar "L."

Tell Big Matt he'd better be on the lookout for trouble.

This is it-- the Bar "L."

Come on.

Take my advice, Ring, you won't try this.

It's risky. I'll be back with my horses.

Anything goes wrong, you hightail it.

Somebody's gotta keep you out of trouble.

They're all ours.

Get goin'. I'll keep you covered.

Find out where the doctor lives, and I'll meet you there.

Get movin'.

Come on, Sarah! Come on!

Let's go!

Come on, Sarah!

Sarah, sometimes you make me ashamed of both of us.

Come on! Come on!

Hold it!

You just don't seem to want to let honest folks sleep at night.

Depends on what you call honest.

Glad you didn't get hit. Thanks.

More proper to hang a horse thief.

I'll remember that.

Easy there.

You're liable to lose the sheriff a hanging.

The penalty for horse stealing is hanging.

And you don't want to be defended in court. Why?

Courts didn't do my father any good.

You don't approve of lawyers. That's it.

Lawyers didn't do him any good either.

Besides, a woman's got no right to be a lawyer.

I thought you were different, Ring,

but now you sound like everybody else.

The sheriff told me. Lonesome told me.

"Riley Martin's still chasing after her first case."

Ring, don't you trust me?

I didn't send for you.

It don't make sense that you're here.

What do you know about what makes sense?

The Bar "L" ranch belongs to Duke Lafferty, doesn't it?

Yes, of course. What's he to you?

What are you driving at?

What's he to you?

We're engaged to be married.

Is that what you mean?

His foreman stole my horses.

Why should I trust you?

Now get out.

Ring, you've lived apart from people so long,

you're afraid of them--

the way some wild animals are afraid of others.

But you can't go on that way. You can't.

The time comes when you have to have faith in others...

as well as yourself.

Sorry, Miss Riley. Time's up.

Miss Riley, are you sure you're not just after a case?

Certainly not. I know they're Ring's horses,

and I'm not gonna stand by while he's accused of trying to steal them.

Hi, Mr. Lonesome. Have you been away?

Sure have, Johnny.

Far? Yeah.

Far as, um, China?

Further than that.

Did you ever hear of San Francisco?

Would you tell us about San Francisco?

Sure. Sure.

? In San Francisco town there lived a whale ?

? She ate pork chops by the pail ?

? By the pillbox By the wheelbarrow ?

? By the bathtub

? By the schooner

? Her

? Name was Susie and she's a peach ?

? But you can't leave food within her reach ?

? Nor nursemaids

? Nor adenoids

? Nor chocolate

? Ice cream sodas

? Well, what can you do in a case like that? ?

? What can you do but sit on your hat? ?

? Or your toothbrush

? Or your grandmother

? Or anything else

? That's helpless [ Laughing ]

I repeat, I want to see the public defender.

We ain't got no such animal, Riley.

Well, that's horrible.

Why, the state law says--

I don't know as much about the law as you do.

After all, I ain't had a fancy education...

in one of them fancy eastern colleges.

I'll have to ride over to Kingston...

and discuss this with a federal marshal.

Wait a minute.

Now, what is a public defender?

Well, in federal territory, if a prisoner doesn't have a lawyer,

the court provides one free.

That's called a pubic defender.

Where in blazes am I going to find a lawyer...

who'll defend this Ring Harris for nothin'?

That's your problem. Uh, Riley.

Could you be appointed public defender?

I accept, Your Honor.

Save you a trip to Kingston anyhow.

And thank you. Don't thank me.

Just thank your stars I'm an honest judge,

even without an education.

I always go by the law...

once I get to know what it is.

Good-bye. Good-bye.

Hmm. What--

Quiet! Quiet!

Proceed.

Did you or did not find six horses in the hills two days ago?

I sure did-- ma'am.

What did you do with them? Kept 'em.

Like anybody's got the right to do with mavericks-- ma'am.

Judge, what do you call a lawyer that wears skirts?

Your Honor, I've assured the prisoner...

he would receive justice and fair play at this hearing.

Instead, his counsel is being exposed to ridicule and laughter.

Goldurn! Miss Riley's right.

A court of law ain't no circus!

Miss Riley, you take my advice. Put your client on the stand.

Let him tell his own story if he's got one.

How about it, son?

I'm not her client.

You better take the stand.

Where'd you come from? Who are your folks?

I've got nothin' to say.

If you don't speak up, I'll have to declare you guilty.

- Your Honor-- - What good would it do if I did talk?

You'd find me guilty anyway.

You ready for sentence?

May counsel beg the court to take into consideration...

the fact that the prisoner is not familiar with the law?

Ignorance of the law is no excuse, Riley.

You know that.

But he's never been in contact with it.

Why, he grew up in the mountains...

with-- with no one but his father. Shut up, ma'am.

In the mountains,

with no one but his father.

Ring--

Ring Harris.

Ring.

You're Jeff Hassard's boy!

You don't deny you're Ring Hassard, do you?

I object, Your Honor! Overruled.

Where's your father? Is he still alive?

Please, he's not on trial for his father!

Good. Then you admit he's Ring Hassard.

Put him back in jail.

That's where him and his kind belong.

You can't do this! You've no right!

I'm the one who says what's right in this here court, Miss Riley.

You're too young to remember Jeff Hassard,

but the rest of us here, we remember!

And there are folks in town who'll remember so good...

that maybe he'll be safer in jail.

The hearing's over, folks.

Are you here again? Yep.

I'm gonna keep on comin' till you let me see him.

Lonesome, it ain't healthy to have anything to do with a horse thief.

He owes me money, Tom, and I aim to collect it before you hang him.

Come on. Just let me talk to him.

Last time I told him you was here,

he said to stop bothering him and get going where you belong.

He's ornerier than Black Angus McDougal.

Who?

Black Angus McDougal. You've heard of him, ain't ya?

Can't say I have.

Bad man. A killer.

There's a song about him. Let's see.

? I'll tell the story of Angus McDougal ?

? Who shot two men in the back for the mail ?

? The posse caught Mr. Angus McDougal ?

? And off they dragged him to Jericho jail ?

? They set a date for the hangin' ?

? But Angus swore a great swear ?

? "Blank-blank your blankety hangin' ?

? I don't intend to be there" ?

? And though they carefully guarded McDougal ?

? One night, his partner broke open his cell ?

? "Now, how'd you do it?" asked Angus McDougal ?

? "I stole the keys quicker than you can tell" ?

? 'Twas late at night and the deputy sheriff ?

? He closed his eyes just to rest for a spell ?

? The hours are long

? When you're deputy sheriff

? We fixed it so he will always sleep well ?

Pretty. Wanna hear some more?

Mm-hmm.

? Drift along

? Drift away

? Drift along

? Little stray

? At the end

? Of the day

? Drift along

? Drift away

? The shades of night

? Are fallin'

? The clouds have turned to gray ?

? That's when you'll hear me callin' ?

? A-yip-a-kai-yai-yay

? Drift along

? Drift away

? Drift along

? Little stray

? At the end

? Of the day

? Drift along

? Drift away

? Drift along

? Drift away

? Drift along

? Little stray

? At the end

? Of the day

? Drift along

[ Snoring ]

? Drift away

? Drift away

? Drift away

[ Snoring Continues ]

? Drift along Mm-mm-mm ?

? Drift away

? Drift away

I got us some horses around at the back.

Yes, yes?

Coming.

Hello, Lonesome! Come in.

Good evenin', Doc.

Uh, who's the patient this time-- you or Sarah?

Is this a professional call or a holdup?

There's a man up in the mountains. He hurt himself bad.

It's his back.

I can't pay you now, but I promise I'll be able to later on.

Anything you ask.

I try to help those who need my services, whether they can pay or not.

Who is the patient?

I'd rather not say.

Doesn't matter to me who he is,

but if he's a fugitive, I'll have to make a report to the sheriff.

You know that.

Lonesome, go saddle the doctor's horse.

We'll wait here.

Well, Hank?

Life up here's been good for you, Jeff.

You're in perfect shape.

Yeah, perfect.

Flat on my back.

Now you got me bound up like a sack of potatoes.

Well, we've got to keep those broken ribs in place,

Jeff, till they mend.

We got a lot of work up here cut out ahead of us.

We're a little shorthanded.

How soon can I ride?

Ride?

About that, uh-- We'll have to wait.

It may take some time.

Uh--

I'm an old hand at breaking bad news,

but I'm afraid I'm still no good at it.

You did it fine, Hank. Thanks just the same.

You just keep your spirits up, Jeff.

You might be on your feet sooner than you think.

You meanin' to leave now?

They need me back in town.

Lonesome, you see that the doctor gets safely back home.

Sure will, Jeff. Sure will.

I'll go. You stay here.

No, Ring. This time, you stay here with me.

We can trust Dr. Robbins.

You will keep our secret, won't you, Hank?

About me still bein' alive?

If I don't, I might never get back home.

Is that what you mean?

I'm a doctor.

I respect law and order in the human body,

and I respect law and order in society.

If you want to shoot me for that--

Hank, I'd like to speak to Ring... alone.

Come over here, Son.

You'd kill Dr. Robbins, wouldn't you?

It's either him or us. No posse's coming up after you.

It's only me and you, Jeff. Nobody else.

That's all that matters.

I know that's what I've said to you a thousand times,

but I was wrong, Ring.

You weren't wrong.

People down below are rotten.

You and me-- we can't live alongside the likes of them.

Once we get the ranch built,

we'll teach them to have respect for the name of Hassard.

How you gonna do it single-handed?

I'll find men to ride for us.

Where? Who'd ride for us?

They'd turn us in maybe, but not ride for us.

You know every foot of the Sierra country, Lonesome.

You know who's on the outs with the law.

You think you can find any of them, bring 'em up here?

You mean you want outlaws to work honest?

Why not?

Must be plenty that'd rather work honest...

if they weren't being hounded all the time.

He's just like you, only crazier.

You figure some other way I can get hands?

Well, there's the Coulters. Who are they?

Old man Coulter and his boys. He's got four sons.

They've been hiding out over on the other side of Clay Canyon...

ever since Brent-- that's the youngest--

got mixed up in a bank robbery over in Clifton.

The whole lot of 'em would rather live by the good book...

if they could get the law to pardon Brent.

But the law ain't forgivin'.

Think you can get 'em?

Mmm, maybe.

They might have a couple of friends.

Tell 'em to bring anybody they can. I'll make a deal with 'em.

All right. But don't say I didn't warn ya.

It will be like beddin' down in a mess of rattlers.

Ring.

You haven't answered me about Dr. Robbins.

You'll have to let me decide about him, Jeff.

Yeah, I-- I guess you are the decider now.

But if I ever get back on my feet again,

I'll hold you responsible for anything you decide bad.

You can find your way from here.

Thanks, son.

You're about as much of a criminal as your father was.

If it's whitewashing the memory of Jeff Hassard you're after,

you've come to the wrong place.

I'm not trying to.

I just want to hear the story from you the way it happened.

I've been through the town hall records, but they don't tell much.

A Friday it was.

Friday night, the fire started.

Looked like the whole mountain was burnin'.

Nobody could get near it till it burned itself out.

Then--

Then they found Harve.

He was burned black.

When they lifted him up, there was a bullet hole in his back.

Then they found Jeff's horse...

and his rifle, with a bullet missin' from it.

And Jeff?

They had to put him in jail so there wouldn't be a lynchin'.

Did he have any explanation?

You could tell by lookin' at him he was lyin'.

Cup of tea?

Thank you. I'd love some.

What did he say?

Just lies.

How he was hit on the head, and when he come to,

he saw some stranger draggin' Harve's body into the smoke.

Did he say what the stranger looked like?

He said he couldn't see him close enough.

When they asked him why a stranger would do a thing like that,

he got real wild, told a cock-and-bull story...

how Harve and him saw a big herd of wild horses...

and they were coming to town for help so they could trap 'em.

Only the whole town knew there weren't any horses.

Oh, maybe a few strays now and then.

But hundreds, like Jeff Hassard said?

Thank you.

What did people think Jeff's motive was?

He didn't need none-- not with his temper.

Harve must have riled him some way.

It's a very circumstantial case, Mrs. Jonas.

What difference does it make if it's circumstantial,

so long as we all know it's true?

It's about time.

Riley, you're an hour late for your supper.

Where have you been all this time?

After my talk with Mrs. Jonas, I dropped in on Dr. Robbins.

He's back. Of course he's back, and lucky to have a whole skin.

That's not fair, Aunt Susan.

Don't you start asking for a lynching.

This whole affair is none of your business, Riley.

- I happen to think it is! - Come on and eat your supper.

Heaven knows I warned you.

You've got to stop this lawyer nonsense.

Jeff Hassard shot his partner in the back,

then tried to burn his body so nobody'd find out.

But was it ever proven?

Well, he ran away, didn't he?

That's the same as admitting it.

If he was treated as unfairly as Ring has been,

I can't blame him for running away.

Eat your supper, dear.

I'll go see who that is.

Evenin', Aunt Susan. Oh, good evening, Duke.

You're just in time for supper. I've eaten already. Thanks.

Hello, Riley.

I hate to break in this way, but I had to talk to you.

What is it, Duke? Would you care for some coffee?

Oh, no. No, thanks. Sit down, Duke.

Riley,

you went to see the widow Jonas today, didn't you?

If it's about Ring Hassard, I don't want to hear it.

You have to, Riley. That's only fair.

Wasn't easy for me, with the whole town laughin' at my girl.

But I didn't try to interfere.

Now I have to.

They're not laughin' anymore, Riley.

They're gettin' mad. They don't like what you're doing.

Especially since Doc Robbins came back with the news...

that Jeff Hassard is still alive.

Jeff Hassard? Alive?

Oh, I've known that ever since the time Ring found me.

And what's more, I think he's innocent, and I intend--

I'm asking you to stop all this, Riley.

Asking me or ordering me? That depends on how you feel about it.

Well, I won't stop.

Can't you understand that I feel an obligation to Ring Hassard?

I know what's happened.

You met that Ring Hassard.

It was kind of romantic. He saved your life.

But he's different from our kind, Riley.

You think you're falling in love with him, but you're not.

You gotta stop foolin' yourself.

I want you to come to your senses.

I'm sorry, Duke.

Ring is in trouble because his name is Hassard,

and I must try to clear his name.

Well, you're wasting your time, Riley,

'cause the sheriff's organizing a posse right now.

It's gonna go up in those mountains and not come out...

until they've got both Hassards-- Jeff and Ring--

dead or alive!

A vacation? You and the boys?

I thought maybe you'd like to take a hunting trip up in the mountains.

A hunting trip?

We ain't been bothered by wildcats or anything.

While you're up there,

maybe you'll run into something besides wildcats.

Ring Hassard, for instance.

Ain't the sheriff and 50 deputies out huntin' them now?

If the sheriff ever catches him, he'll bring him back here alive.

Oh, and that don't set so good with you on account of your gal and--

On account of nothin', Matt.

Oh, sure. Sure.

If you and the boys happen to run into him,

the town'll be so relieved he's dead,

nobody will ask any questions.

These your friends, Lonesome? Yep.

Glad you came.

Uh, this is Ring.

Meet Sam Coulter, Brent, uh, Little Sam,

Jed and Jim Coulter.

This here's Snake Willens.

Do you expect us to work for him?

If that isn't what you came for, maybe you better leave now.

Lonesome here tells me you know where there's some wild horses.

We'll deal after we've seen 'em.

You can see 'em after we deal,

not that you could do anything about 'em even if you knew where they were.

But I don't want you messing things up trying.

Kind of fresh for a young'un, ain't he, Pa?

You said Jeff Hassard! Over there.

Come on, boys.

You just ain't got a bad enough reputation.

That's all.

Good thing Jeff has. They'll deal with me.

Well, remember what I said about them rattlers.

This here's Jeff. I've heard tell of you.

Heard a lot about you.

How do you figure the share?

You'll have to ask my son. It's his deal.

His deal? How come?

When a boy hauls me in and out of my own shack, I guess he's boss.

I figure there must be around 500 horses.

Rounding them up's gonna be hard work. It's gonna be dangerous.

We've never done anything that wasn't.

You brag too much.

We stick with it and we make it, we settle half.

The other half we'll keep to stock us a ranch.

The ones we sell, we all get even shares.

You want to stay on and work the ranch, you get the same deal.

How about it, Snake?

Sounds all right.

Well, if you got papers, Ring, I'll put my "X" to 'em.

If not, you'll just have to take my word,

which ain't never been worth nothin' to decent people before.

Hyah! Hyah!

I figure a couple more days rounding up strays,

and we'll have most of 'em in the big valley.

We can't keep 'em there. Too many ways to get out.

But over east a ways is a little valley that's a real natural corral.

We won't even have to build fences.

But it's gonna mean driving the whole herd over those hills...

down the other side.

Why'd I ever let myself work honest again?

'Cause you never did cotton to working dishonest, Sam.

Watch that ridge. They're up here somewhere.

- What's that?

Posse? - Can't tell.

We can ride around behind 'em and make it back to the cabin.

No. No use waitin' for 'em to come up this way.

We'll scare 'em straight back to town.

Sam, you take Little Sam, Jim and Jed,

ride around that hill over there.

We'll go this way.

They come in between us,

you tell 'em to turn tail or we'll start shootin'.

Right.

Sheriff? What's the matter now?

Do you think it's worth goin' on? We've been climbing for three days.

Well, he's gotta be somewhere.

If we don't find any sign of him by dark, we'll start down in the morning.

Keep away from them guns!

This here's unhealthy country.

You get out now, or you get hurt.

They sure scare easy, don't they?

Let's hope they stay scared.

What happened? Looks like you've been riding lickety-split.

Did you find him? No, he found us.

We rode into an ambush. Ambush?

And that's his bullet or Sam Coulter's. Coulter's?

So they started shooting, hey?

Looks like Hassard and that old devil have joined up together.

What do you think they're gonna do? Nothin' good, that's sure.

We ain't gonna nab 'em by talkin'.

The sheriff told me to deputize more men and go back up.

We're gonna cover every foot of them mountains till we clean them out.

Better get right over and see Doc Robbins.

Change your mind about things? No.

He's taken up with a bad bunch-- those Coulters.

I wonder why.

I don't know why or even if he has...

or how these Coulters got into this.

I only know he hasn't done anything to be hounded for like this.

Don't come any further!

Ring! It's me, Riley!

Ring, I've got to talk to you alone.

Well, now, ain't this nice? Go on back.

Bring her up so's we all can meet her.

- What do you want? - Don't worry. I came alone.

I've been riding since night before last.

I came to warn you.

They're deputizing men from all over the territory...

because you joined up with the Coulters, they say.

Even Big Matt's looking for you. Big Matt?

I had to let you know, Ring.

After all, I started all this trouble for you.

Tired, I'll bet. And hungry.

Thanks, Riley.

Ring, stop it. You're giving me the fidgets.

You've got guards posted. There's nothing else you can do.

What about the horses?

I have to use half the men for guards. How am I ever--

Would you pay any attention to me if I talk sense to you?

Go ahead and try, miss. I'll hold him down.

You don't have enough men.

You never will with posses coming after you.

But why are you in this trouble?

Why are you in trouble at all?

Because everybody in Sierra Vista thinks your father's a murderer.

Let's prove that he isn't.

No!

He's wrong, you know.

Well-- He is.

Maybe, if we tried, we could find that stranger you saw.

Then the town would have to listen to us.

No one's found him in 15 years.

No one's looked.

Oh, if you'd only help me, tell me.

Ring is running things now. We'll do it his way.

Did you train him to be stubborn or did he just get it from you naturally?

Looks like there's quite a set to your jaw too, miss.

Now what are them crazy critters up to?

Somebody's in the gorge. Where?

We'll find them!

Sounds like kind of a reckless notion to me.

We've got to find them before they find Jeff.

Sam and Jed, stay with the herd.

It's Big Matt. Yeah.

Looks like most of them are dozing.

Split up and come in from both sides.

Don't nobody move.

Not tonight, you don't! Take their guns.

Get up.

What are you doing up here?

Visitin'. That's all. Never did see such pretty country.

Place is gettin' infested.

This is my land. Keep off it.

You ain't got a deed sayin' so, have you?

No, just like I ain't got brands on my herd.

But I mean to fight for both of 'em.

I'll take you up on that sometime. Make it right now.

With you holdin' our guns, you make a lot of brave talk.

The way I see it, this fight's between me and Matt.

Winner stays, loser clears out. How about it?

You offerin' to take me on, mister?

Last time your boys fought for ya.

I was kind of curious to see what you could do on your own.

It'll be a pleasure.

Now get out and stay out!

And don't come back!

Hyah!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Hyah!

Hyah! Turn 'em in!

Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Get in there before I tan your lazy hides!

You got me plumb wore out, son.

Ain't never been done before.

Kind of wore out myself, Sam.

Let's take a look.

Looks like it was worth it.

Oh, Ring, it's a beautiful sight.

When I get my share, I'm gonna paint me two towns red.

There's a lady present, Little Sam.

Besides, you'll do your paintin' when and where I tell you.

Can I rest my weary bones now?

You go on back to the cabin.

When some of you get unkinked, you can come back and take over.

Don't forget to tell Jeff we made it.

Come on, boys!

I'll stay with you, Ring.

You really struck gold on the hoof.

What do you say we don't count our horses till they're broken?

It's gonna be easier than I figured.

Why don't we stampede 'em tonight? Can't.

Duke will be up with the posse in the morning.

We'll have to wait till he can slip away and let us know what the sheriff's gonna do.

Where's the sheriff's bunch now?

Just the other side of the valley.

They're gonna climb up to the rim as soon as I give 'em the signal.

That's bad. They'll see us.

No, they won't.

I'm supposed to give them the signal the minute I see Hassard.

And your eyesight ain't what it used to be.

Is that it?

It's Matt, stampeding 'em!

Get!

Yah!

Look! There's Riley!

Turn 'em, Ring! Turn 'em before they trample her!

Are you all right, Riley?

Let's see what happened to 'em.

Well, I guess we won't have no more trouble with Big Matt.

He's been stomped flat in there. Dead?

Pretty near. The other fella with him's finished.

I'd better see what I can do.

No, Riley. I'll have a look.

It's the posse. Let's scatter.

No use running.

That's right. Can't stand being shot in the back.

Whoa. You're under arrest, all of you. Take their guns.

Shall we start hangin' 'em now, Sheriff?

Where you goin', Miss Riley?

Maybe all that matters is how fast you can start hanging people,

but there's a man lying over there dying-- Matt Rango.

I had no idea Matt was up this far.

Go in there and take a look, Al.

Hey, fellas?

You want Jeff Hassard? Here he is.

Just in time to string him up too.

Here's a rope, Sheriff.

- Are you gonna let 'em do this? No, wait!

Been a-waitin' 15 years.

Then you can wait a few more minutes and listen to me.

Everybody always thought Jeff was lying when he talked about a big herd.

You never believed there were horses up here.

Well, there are.

Isn't it possible that he was also telling the truth...

when he talked about a stranger attacking him and Harvey Jonas the time of the fire?

Next thing you'll tell us is Ring Hassard ain't responsible

for Big Matt dyin' in there...

and Duke bein' dead.

Duke dead?

Wait here till I get back. Joe, Frank, come along.

Matt.

Matt.

What was Duke doing up here with you?

He's my boss, ain't he?

Or he was.

We came here to take this herd from the Hassards.

I guess I'm done for it too, ma'am.

Matt, would you tell that to the sheriff-- what you and Duke wanted up here?

Oh, get some water, please!

You're burned.

It's a burn scar.

Matt. How long has your skin been burned like this?

Please, Matt, think back 15 years.

Harvey Jonas and Jeff Hassard.

You killed Harvey Jonas, didn't you?

Please, Matt, I'm not accusing you.

I'm only asking you to tell me.

You've got enough to answer for.

They're gonna hang Jeff Hassard and his son.

You wouldn't want to be responsible for that too.

Tell Jeff Hassard...

I'd have killed him, too,

to keep that herd for myself.

Only I thought he was a goner in the fire.

Matt Rango just died in there,

but not till he confessed to the killing of Harvey Jonas.

We'll get you well again, Jeff.

Al, you take him down slow and easy.

Glad for you, Jim.

Whew!

I've come so close to hangin' so many times,

you'd think I'd get used to it.

Hangin's out for us Coulters, Pa.

I might as well confess. I never did rob that bank.

It was a case of mistaken identity, like Miss Riley says.

Well, it felt good to have people think I was a bad man.

Why, you never did rob that bank?

You pussyfootin', weak-livered little--

If this is true, Coulter,

it's the goldangest fool thing that's ever been done to the law.

But we'll take you in and give you a chance to prove your innocence.

? Far away, up high

? In the High Sierras

? Is a valley where a young feller I know ?

? And his bride

? Will go and abide

? They're happy as they ride ?

? Ride away

? To the hills

? There to stay

? There to stay and seldom come down ?