dick! it's all right. i'm all right. this can't go on. it's the third time. you want me to run fromom bunch of hoodlums? they're not hoodlums. they used to be our friends. we can't stay here any y nger. we have to go. if we went out west... we can't. not with the baby coming. i'm thinking about the baby. that's why we have to go. oh, dick, it's a new world out there,

i can't stand it any longer.

four days of this leaky weather. i'm beginning to feel like a duck. you got a head start, charlie. you look like one. very funny. ha. ha. ha. i sure hope mccullough didn't run into trouble. worried about him. he'll be the most surprised man in the whole country. if this doesest let up, the water's gonna come out of them mountains like a dam busted. yes, sir, a few more days of this, and we're gonna be in for it.. we can't make weather, major, but we can sure make miles.

major adams: ten minutes' rest, boys. ten-minute rest, folks. whoa. how's the missus? nonoso good, major. i don't know why the devil i ever did it. i swore a solemn oath i'd never take another pregnant woman on one of my trains. but you did. yeah, and i ought to have my head examined for doing it, , o. i don't know what was the matter with me. look, major, we're here, and there's nothing you can do about it now. at least we mind our own business,

you're talking about the milforor, huh? tell me, what's between you people and them, anyhow? that's personal, major. but if i had known they were gonna join the train after we got rolling, i wowodn't have signed up with you. excuse me, major. come on out and stretch your legs. is it still raining? the sun's shining now. oh, i had the most awful dream. let's have your foot. i dreamed the baby was here, and you weren't around. there was no one here to help me. that's downright silly, and you know it. it was as clear as day. come on out and get some fresh air. anything i can do? no, thank you. all right, now.

thank you. sure is. i hope it stays this way. well, hello, danny! hello, dan. you said you was gonna show me a real injun, major. don't you worry, danny. i'm gonna show you plenty of indians one of these days. dan? where are you, dan'l? i'm with the major, mom! now, don't you start wanderin'! she means i mustn't pass the time with them. oh? is it true you killed my pappy, mr. richardson? what's that, danny? did you? no, dan. then why does my mom say you did? danny, i think you and me got a little w wk to do down the line.

you stay here with me now. major. now, you listete to your mother. i know what the boy's been telling you, but it wasn'tt no more than the truth. that's pretty strong, mr. milford. maybe it is and maybe it ain't. i ain't lookin' for trouble. what's done is done, and there's no help for it. how can you talk like that, with what he did to your own son! fred's dead, laura. nothing will bring him back. if there's gonna be any trouble on this train, i got a right to know about it. well? well, the... the richardson family and us, we came from the same county back in kentuck. me and my son fred and laura here-- she was married to fred-- we worked us a farm. 'tweren't much-- that is, compared to the richardsons. they owned a bank, raised horses, owned half the county.

he was a fine man, major. tell him all of it. well, perce richardson died a couple of years ago and his son took over. that one. 'tweren't more than six months before the bank failed. haha the people in the valley went broke. he got a year and a day for embezzlement, but... it was too late to do any good. i see. no, you don't! you don't see it at all! everything we had in the world was in that bank. my freddie, he couldn't take it. you didn't see him walking the floor, broodin' so he couldn't even hardly talk, and you didn't go to that barn like i did and find him hanging from a rafter! stop it, will ya, laura? use? do you want me to forget it? do you want me to forgive my husband's murder? it's what you're doing to the boy!! hate's bad enough in one generation, ma'am. what'll happen if it spreads to two?

to dick richardson. i ain't forgotten what he done not only to me and laura, but to the other folks back home. milford, i won't have any trouble e this train, and i'd like to get your word that you won't start any. well, i... i ain't lookin' for any. but i ain't makin' any promises either! well, i've told you, i don't want any trouble, and i mean exactly t tt.

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why didn't i listen to you i didn't listen. and wait till after the baby came? now, molly.

rockin' and buckin'. i'm scared, dick. i'm scared! major adams: ho! ho. what's going on back there? whoa! i'll be right back, honey. get up! get up here! can i give you a hand, mr. milford? i don't reckon i need your help. what's the matter, grandpa? get up! get up herer get up here! what's going on here? get him unhitched, bill.

this is a very sick horse, mr. milford. it's a cold! its eyes are inflamed. what does that mean? well, uh... well, speak up, man, if you know. looks to me like glanders. it sure does. sometimes thth call it farcy. it's contagious, usually fatal. it's an infection they get from the water or from another horse. every horse on the train might have it. whoa. whoa, boy. you seem mighty sure about this, dick. i am. well, he knows his horses. knows 'em as well as anyone. we better do something. we sure had. well, the sick horses ought to be shot. chances are, though, it wouldn't make much difference. the rest of them will probably come down with it anyhow. well, we'd better round up everybody, i guess. have to talk this over with them. come on, ken.

and we find that over half of them have got glanders, and it looks like there's nothing we can do for the rest of 'em. we have no choice, folks, no choice at all. every sick horse has got to be destroyed, so i want you to check every one of them very carefully. you'll leave us at the mercy of the indians, major. i'm not worried about the indians ininhis part of the country. only thing that worries me is if we get a flash flood while we're down here in this wash. we're stuck without horses. that's all there is to it. probably a man or two can get up there and get back with a herd in abobo ten days. ten days? what about the danger of flood? see that little knoll over there to the west? tomorrow morning, we'll start hauling these wagons up there the best way we can. we can get 'em high enough there so that they'll be out of any danger of the flood. we'll be all right till we get some new stock. well, buying horses calls for horses, major. most of us are-- mr. logan, there's $1,500 in the emergency fund.

well, i don't rightly know. i don't know where the devil mccullough is, i can't send hawks, and i can't go myself. i've sure got to have somebobo who knows about horseflesh. i was raised buying and selling horses. i've done it all my life. let me go. what about your wife? you've got a baby due, you know. major, women have been having babies for a long time. i guarantee you, i could swing a better deal than anybody on this train. it's important to me. i'd consider it a personal favor. s any reason for you not to go. the main thing is to get those horses here as quick as possible. $1,500 is a lot of money, major. the way things shape up now, it's a matter of life and death. if richardson's going for r ose horses, you'd better send me along to see that he comes back. you're just spoiling for it, milford. now, get this straight. i ain't askin' for any trouble, but when you got a dog that bites, you muzzle him. when you give money to a thief, you protect yourself. break it up! break it up, you two!

you know, sending you two off together wowod be just fine! might not be a bad idea at that, major. i won't start nothin', major. the way i look at it, we're all in this together. i don't have to like a man to be on his side. i'll fight the injuns with him. the way i i e it, that's about the way it is now. what do you say, richardson? i'd like y y to get out of here before dark. we're all in this together. if m mford wants to go along, we'll ride to maddenville together. ry the money. all right, then that's settled. pick the best horses you can, and get back here as soon as you can. remember, there's a lot of folks counting on you. be back in about ten days. the baby'll be here by then, and you said you'd be with me. oh, dick, don't go. we've got to have horses. i'm the logical man to go.

have a baby! do you know what will happen if we get a flash flood before we get those horses? i don't care what'll happen. i want you here with me when the baby comes. the people on this train and i see how they look at me like i'm a coward, a thief, like i'm dirt. and the way they look at you, i can't stand that. this is my chance to put another look in their eyes. maybe it's the only chance i have to prove to them that they can trust me, that the richardsons arargood people. i don't care about reputations. i'm afraid... afraid i'm going to die! you're not going to die, molly. oh, dick! major adams: you ready, dick? be out in a minute, major. i've got to go. i can't help it. maybe the babybyon't come as soon as you think. if you leave me now, you don't need to come back. i told you i had no choice. i mean it.

all right, that suits me. that's the first sensible thing you'u' said in weeks! dick, mrs. logan will look after her. don't you worry. she'll be all right. come on. ( sobbing ) you watch out for r urself, ken. i'll be all right, laura. dan'l, boy, you take care of your mommy now. you watch yourself, grandpa. i don't want him to kill you

( indistinct shouting ) man: okay! 'morning. 'morning. smells good. while we're moving the rest of ththe wagons, we got a job we'd like you ladies to do for us. all this harness has probably been infected. it's going to have to be boiled in hot water and washed with lye. can you do that for me? anything you say, major. thank you. oh, miss logan, how's mrs. richardson feeling? she ain't actin' right, major. she don't talk and won't eat much. she-- she's made up her mind she's gonna die. mm-hmm. excuse me. ( crying softly ) mrs. richardson? mrs. richardson?

molly richardson... ...women have been having babies for quite some time now, and i don't think their menfolk have ever been any help to them. go away. he promised to be here. molly, he had a job to do, a job for all of us. if there was a war on, you'd want him to join up, wouldn't you? well, every time a wheel turns on a wagon train, it's war-- war against the land, against the weather, against the indians, against something. but he may not come back. what'll happen to me if he doesn't? he'll be back. he went with ken milford, and he hates dick. it's just not right! you know, molly, him going out with ken milford's probably the best thing that ever happened. that young man of yours has gogoquite a bit to live down.

nonoat all. don't you see? no, i don't see. i've got to tell someone. somebody else in this world has to know the truth. dick didn't steal anything, not ever. after his father died and dick took over at the bank, there was almost $200,000 missing from customers' accounts. e was only one way it could have happened. his father, huh? dick worshiped him... ...and he made up his mind that his father's name would always stand for honesty y d decency, no matter what happened to him. he-- he tried desperately to raise some money to pay it back, but it was no use.

if everybody else knew about this. oh, you mustn't. major, promise me you won't tell. you sure that's what you want? it's what dick wants. he went to p pson so people wouldn't know. all right, molly. all right. coffee, major? yeah, i'd love a cup. thank you very much. grandpa be all right, major? he'll be back here before you know it. i'll betcha if mr. richardson tries any monkeyeyines, my grandpa will get the drop on him. you hush. well, i'll bet you. you wanna bet? danny, why don't you go down and hehe the men with the wagons. can i, mom?

( chuckles softly ) laura... you know, i think that the least that you and molly richardson could do would be to... bury the hatchet. after what he did to me? revenge is no good for anybody, laura. it'll hurt you just as much as it does the other people. you know, laura, you're a mighty pretty woman, and you're mostly sensible too, and one of these days, the pain is going to be gone, and you're gonna notice the fact that the world is just full of men that need a woman like you. there'll be some man that you'll need too. ornia, you mustn't talk like that, major. it's just full of men that are lonesome. this is a mighty good cup of coffee. it's the kind a man likes to drink.

( indistinct shouting ) that's the way! that's the way! now, come on, you're making it! we'll get an early start. if our luck holds out, we'll be in maddenville the day after tomorrow. look, i'm stiff as a poker. i ain't used to this kind of ridin'! it's not easy on anyone. flash floods don't wait for tired muscles. i know all about duty.

i got something that'll help you. some ointment for those muscles. won't help your disposition any, though. what do you make of the smoke, pete? i don't know. eh, better have a look. ( approaching hoofbeats )

u'd have been a long time dead. we're with major adams' wagon train. this here's ken milford. my name's dick richardson. howdy. name's casey. en doing out here? we're on our way to maddenville to buy horses. oh? i just might be able to save you u llows a trip. i'm with the joe lassiter outfit, driving a herd over to fort claymore. maybe we can make yoyo a better offer, mr. casey, save ourselves that trip to maddenville. how far away is your wagon? 'bout a day and a half. take about threeeeeeks to make claymore. i don't know, the boss just might be interested. let's go see what he has to say about it. casey found company. howdy.

es. oh? with a train, a day and a half back. horses got sick on 'em. that so? glanders, mr. lassiter. this man here says you might sell us some horses. well, i don't know. i kind of half-promised these horses to the army. well, the army ain't no worse off than we are. my name's ken milford. this is dick richardson. well, you won't find no better horses nowhere around here. ask anyone about t e "j.l." brand. i'm joe lassiter. i'd be proud. come on. whoa, there. whoa. what do yoyothink? they're in good shape, but these are saddle horses. we need working stock. they may not be exactly what we want, but we don't even know they got working stock in maddenville. we could save ourselves quite a a w days if we buy these, and then when we go through maddenville,

well, what do you say? they're nice. clean-legged stock. i'm gonna make you a real price. sell you the whole shebang for, uh... oh, for $2,000, and thatatncludes all the horses in the back. savings of time's worth the money. would you pardon us, mr. lassiter? the horses are fine, but i still think wewe be better off in maddenville. the quicker i change this money for horses, the happier i'm gonna be. takin' no chances. i'm gonna buy those horses. mr. lassiter, our limit is $1,500. well, they're worth more than that. well, that's all the money we got. all right, if that's the best you can do. that's a deal. if you herd the horses back to the wagon train with us. sure. fellas might need a bill of sale. if you drive through maddenville,

casey, you and stan ride along to the wagon train. i'i' get the rest of the boys and meet you at twin forks later. there you are, mister. everything's legal. and here's your money. man: casey! rustlers! ( gunshots )

milford! man: hold your gun, mister! drop it! thought you'd get away with my horses, huh? what do you mean your horses? we just bought them from joe lassiter. you did? joe lassiter? that's right. here. got t e bill of sale. well. that's a mighty cute dodge, mister, huh? i didn't sign it. my name's lassiter. joe! this guy you shot's casey, all right. pete thomas gang, just like you thought. that other one over there, he's new to me. that's ken milford you killed. om major adams' wagon train. string him up! we got the right-sized tree, joe! ( indistinct shouting ) lassiter: save it! we'll take him to maddenville. judge winton's due to come through any day now. we ain't had a legal hangin' in these parts.

i told you, you're makin' a big mistake! let's go, mister! i told you, i'm from the wagon train! you're gonna swing real high and legal. in you go. you're gonna hang an innocent man. that's what a judge and jury's for. has nothing to do with me. why don't you ride to the wagon train, see for yourself? and maybe have your pals bushwhack me? listen, my wife's having a baby! pping, mister. you'd better think up a better yarn than that by friday,

come on, hurry it up,, will you? we gotta get this stuff in. don't know what's the matter with people. you tell 'em to do things, they never get 'em done whwh they're supposed to. why the devil don't you watch where you're going? i'll say one thing for you, major. bad. get out of here, you little--! major. what in tarnation do you want? i thought maybe i could do something for you. any time i want you to do anything for me, i'll tell you! major! well, what is it? it's molly richardson. the baby's coming. well, that's fine! she don't look right. i don't like her color. oh? we got everything ready. two kettles on to boil. mrs. green's there, and mrs. parker,

i'd better look at her. mrs. richardson. molly. dick. is that you, dick? easy, molly. he said he'd be back in time. dick! easy now, molly, easy. you're never coming back to me! molly, he'll be back, believe me. why don't you go back with the men? there's nothing you can do around here. you'd only be in the way. you let me know if anything happens, will you, please? sure.

how is she? laura... why don't you go help 'em? that baby may be a long time coming. well, i... i'm sure your fred will understand. all right, major. thank you. ndnd ( pounding sound ) i still wonder if i did rigig, sending those two out alone. oh, you got nothing to worry about, major. that fellow w lford, he doesn't look like much,

dle. i know just what you mean, major. i knew a fellow in santa fe just like him once. tried to stab me in the back. you're a big help! major adams. major. how is she? well, she's all right, i guess. but... the baby was born dead. oh. nine months she's carried that life within her. away. sure is a shame. charlie, you know sometetng? that breeze smells to me like it could change. what breeze? i don't smell no breree.

ah. major, look! ain't that milford's horse? whoa, now! whoa, boy! whoa, fella! whoa! whoa, son. whoa, whoa. we got trouble here. blood on this saddle. indians, maybe. how do i know? what do you suppose happened to richardson? maybe he got a bullet too! i don't know what happened to milford either, or whether richardson's on his way back here with the horses. matter of fact, i don't know anything, a galdarn thing, except we're stuck here in the middle of nowhere and no way to get out. ain't that milfofo's horse? yes, it's milford's horse! he's d dd! richardson's killed him! oh, now, laura, just a minute, will ya? don't you even believe what you see, major? he killed dad and left with the money. and left his wife here with the wagon train? laura, don't talk like a fool. we'll see who the fool is! they had a fight. you heard it yourself.

what's'sonna happen, major? no horses, no... we just can't stand here and wait. i don't know what the devil's gonna happen any more t tn you do. i know we're in a mess, and as soon as we can get out of it, we'll get out of it. galdarn mccullough! next time, i send him off with a string around him so i can yank him back when i need him. i ought to have my head examined. probably off therere gallivanting someplace between maddenville and those mountains. you sent him yourself, major. oh, shut up and go get my horse! yes, sir!

all right, sheriff, i'm finished! let's have it. oh, just got word. the judge is getting here tomorrow. is that right, sheriff? yeah. well, looks like the end. looks like it.

( wanly ) help. help. ( stronger ) help! lassiter!

hold it, richardson! get off of that horse. am i glad to see you, major. why the gun? never you mind about that. just get off of that horse like i said.

all right. before i do any talking, how's molly? she's all right. baby come yet? yeahahborn dead. ( low ) molly. that's pretty rough, major. it's gonna be a lot rougher unless you've got a good story to tell. where's milford? he's'sead. did you kill him? no, major. that's not much of a story, boy. most of the folks back on the train figure that you killed milford and took off with the money yourself. do you think i did, major?r? i don't know.

lieve that you're the one that took that bank money. i told her not to say anything, , er. let me tell you something, boy. there's a place in the book where it says let the dead bury their dead. no matter what anybody says about your pa, it can't hurt him now, but it can sure ruin the lives of you and that gal of yours. your pa's name ain't worth a nickel in san francisco, but yours could be worth a lot. it can get pretty hard to carry after a while, major. i'm sure it can. what's this story of yours about milford? is it true? every word of it, major. i swear that. what about this bunch of rustlers thth you got the horses from? i heard them say they were gonna meet over at twin forks. that's where i was headed for when you ran into me. twin forks? i know that coununy. come on, son.

rest of 'em will be in the cabin. yoyocover the cabin from here,

( cocks hammer ) you! drop that rifle! ( gunshot ) stan! ( gunshot ) ( gunshot ) come on, boys!

drop that gun, richardson! i think the rest of 'em might be in there. what's the matter, mister? have a little fallin' out with your friends? that's right, they're in there. i've got them holed up. i'm trying to get back that money i paid for those horses! and i've heard enough of that story. here, jim, take this rope. i'm tellininyou the truth. there's good enough tree right there. we'll get the others later. ( gunshot ) turn that fella loose! you want the rustlers? we got 'em pinned up in there, but that boy's not one of 'em. well, who are you? i'm seth adams! you'd better make up your mind. i can't hold you and them too. well, i guess we'd better take a look. let's get 'em.

( sighs ) you all right? fine, major. i want to thank you. nothing to thank me for. more than you'll ever know. here's your money, major. why don't you carry it yourself? we gotta go to maddenville. we still haven't got any horses, you know? ( chucklkl ) come on. ( indistinct happy chatter ) wooster: good work, dick. thank you kindly. dick, i'm sorry about the baby. we all are. that's very nice of you, ma'am. i thank you. he's a mighty good boy. sure glad we had him on this trip. well, come on, get me a cup of coffee.

oh, dick! you're back! it's all right, darling. it's all over now. i'm so sorry about the baby. he was so weak. things were so bad for you all the time i carried him. babies can't come from misery, dick. he wasn't meant to be. but next time... next time, there'll be no lies, nor ever again, any time. the lord gave. the lord hath taken away. blessed be the name of the lord. amen.

how awful sorry i am. i carried a lot of hate around too long. i-i guess my fred... ...well, i-i guess he just couldn't stand up to things when they got too tough. maybe just living was too much for him. like the major says, i still got dan'l, and there's no hate in him, and we've got a new life to make for ourselves, in califorora. ready now, mr. richardson? we're all ready now, major. stay close behind, you hear?

wagons, ho!

? roll along, wagon t tin ? ? rollin' oveveprairie where there ain't no grass ? ? rollin' over mountains where there ain't no pass ? ? sittin' on a a ard, eyein' the weather ? ? prayin' to the lord we stay together ? ? sididby side ? ? on the wagon train ?

? roll along ? ? pickin' up a passssger in every town ? ? wonderin' if he's ever gonna shoot you down ? ? lookin' f f a pal, ain't it a pity? ? ? lookin' for a gal, needn't be pretty ? ? if she'll ride ? ? on the wagon train ? ? wagons ho ? ? gotta keep 'em on the run ? ? time to go and follow the sun ? ? roll along ? ? wagon train ? ? never had a cabin near a general store ? ? only hahaa wagon and a .44 ? ? sittin' on a board, eyein' the weather ? ? prayin' to the lord we stay together ? ? side by side ?

?? [hoofbeats]