"Jason, we get this Conastoga over that last mountain pass  we be droppin' to Tennessee down in the valley o' the promised land." "And to think of it!" "This ol' Sweet Betsy that's seein' us through safe!" "You made this, Jason." "I'll tell ya somethin':" "That's the sweetest piece o' shootin' iron I ever laid a grip on!" "Kentucky rifle!" "Oh, don't you remember Sweet Betsy from Pike..." "Are you alright?" "I'm alright." "Boy, I hope it isn't that wheel again." "This wagon is a real Jonah -- always busted down." "I tell ya, Jason, we've lost nigh onto three days 'cause of it." "Oh, it won't take long, Mr. Williams." "I've fixed so many wheels this trip, I reckon I could be a master wheelright." "Well, it couldn't happen at a worse time." "There ain't enough water left to brew coffee, much less water the stock." "It ain't water what's botherin' me -- it's them 'Injuns'." "I mean, it's the time that we be wastin' that frets me." "I promised Bill Ben I'd be back in time to take 'em up to Arkansas  for a bit o' trapping' before the first snow." "I had some extra spokes made in Independence." "Just give me a few men to help." "We won't hold you up long." "Well, it ain't just this break here that I'm worried about." "Daniel?" "It's all the other things that's happened to this wagon." "And all the other things that's likely to happen, when we get to them hills, and mountains beyond them." "It's those rifles of Clay's." "They make too heavy a load for the wagon." "Ever since we picked them up in Independence, we been havin' trouble." "We didn't have any before." "You were anxious enough to have me and my rifles back at Independence." "As far as I'm concerned, ya can take your rifles and yourself and " "Wait a minute." "This ain't no time to be arguing' over what's important and what ain't." "If I recollect right, Foster, you made a bargain with Jason here, that you'd carry his rifles on your wagon  and he'd look after the wagon, to see that it got through." "Seems like that was the time to do your arguing', when you made your deal." "Not out here in this Injun country with a broken wheel." "He's right. 'Cause I'm holdin' up the wagon train just thirty minutes." "Not a single minute more, to give ya the time." "It'll fix a piece a machinery, I'll tell ya that." "Any man that could put them spokes in there like that is better than good!" "Hey, let's get it on that wagon, right?" "Come on, man, let's get ya " "What's the matter?" "It's the axle." "What?" "Knocked plum in two." "Oh, we's in some real trouble." "Preacher Bently..." "You wouldn't have a piece o' tough timber on your wagon, like a piece o' old hickory or somethin', would ya?" "I'm sorry, Tobias." "I sure wish we had." "Luke, do you carry any timber on your wagon?" "No." "You carry enough stuff to take care o' my family and their kinfolk, too, ya ain't got room for no timber." "No, ain't got none." "Here come the wagon, boss." "Time's up, Clay." "We'll make room for all of you in the other wagons." "But there's no room for any boxes or barrels or such." "You've got room for three more in our wagon, Jed." "And I can take the women in my rig." "Reckon Carrie'd like that anyhow, havin' some womenfolk to talk to, even if it be a bit crowded-like." "Well, I'm stayin' with my rifles." "And nobody here has to stay with me." "But I think I can fix that wagon if I can get a little help." "I'm stayin' with ya." "I'll still be in time to meet Bill Ben before the first snow." "I'll give ya a hand, too." "It'd be kinda good to be doin' some work for a change  instead o' settin' in that jogging' wagon all day long." "Mr. Williams, nobody knows better than me what them rifles mean to Jason." "We can be fixin' this Conastoga and catch up to your wagon train in no time!" "All we need is a body or two to help!" "Well, I ain't one to stand in your way." "Luke here's a good man." "Suppose he stays." "And Lon Setter, to help out you and the others." "No, I'm plannin' on goin' with the " "Lon!" "I'll stay." "Thanks, Jed." "Don't worry." "We'll make it." "Are you serious, Williams?" "About leaving your wagon behind like this?" "We have an agreement, too, and I paid you good money to join this wagon train." "If ya don't wanna stay, Foster, you can go with the women." "I'll take care of your outfit, like I said when I signed on." "Be sure that you do." "And be sure that everything is still on the wagon when you catch up." "Wait a minute." "You've got no call to worry." "I know Jason a long time." "I never know 'em to take what ain't rightfully his." "Tobias is right." "And we're all a-wastin' daylight." "Luke, suppose you and Lon borrow some water off o' your wagon." "Then this wagon train's gotta be shovin' on." "Get your things and we'll be moving on." "You may join us if you wish, Cordie." "I'm not goin'." "Like Ruben says, it'll only be an hour or so before we're back with the wagon." "And anywhere he stays is good enough for me." "But, Cordie, suppose somethin' should happen." "I mean, something " "Ruben's right, Cordie." "You really ought to be up ahead with the wagon train, where Dr. Hawkins is." "Just in case." "It isn't anywhere near my time, child!" "I oughtta know." "Then I'll stay, too." "But you can't stay, Amy." "I won't let ya take the chance." "You're going ahead with me." "Well!" "Seems like Mr. Clay isn't the only one around here who likes to give orders." "Maybe you like a man to give orders." "Maybe that's why you'd stay back with the wagon, so you could be near Clay..." "And take orders from him." "I just talked to Mr. Williams, the wagon boss." "He figures you ladies can join the womenfolks up ahead in the train." "Ruben, maybe you can fix 'em kinda comfortable-like on Luke's wagon." "Well, Tobias." "Cordie says she ain't goin'." "I'm not going either." "Miss Amy, if you'd take the advice of an old hand, you'd join up with that train." "Since Mr. Clay is in charge of this wagon, I'll follow his advice." "If he thinks I should go, let him say so." "Jason." "Amy, you're coming with me." "You're my woman." "Mr. Foster, we're not married yet." "And I'm staying." "Jason!" "Back there just now, I told Foster I never knowed you to take anything what wasn't rightfully yours." "Anything make you change your mind, Tobias?" "I don't know yet." "Maybe." "Yeah." "There is somethin' " " Amy." "She belong to Foster long 'fore we join up with this train." "You got no call to let her stay, knowin' what you do." "Except maybe you gonna get ideas to change things." "If anybody else say that, Tobias, he'd be swallowin' words along with his teeth." "I'm sorry, Tobias." "I didn't mean it." "Son, we been together a long time on trails like this, with 'tenderfeet' like these." "How many times you wish we had a rifle like this?" "You made 'em, son." "That Kentucky." "And we gotta see that they get through to the folks who has a needing' for 'em." "You put a rifle like that in the hand of a settler  you give 'em safe passage through Injun country, without gettin' his hair lifted." "Protection for his farms and ranches." "You've got four cases o' fine Kentucky rifles on that wagon." "A hundred good reasons why every soul on that train should reach Fort Bent alive." "And I aims to stay with you." "Tils ya gets there and sets up a shop." "And make a 'Kentucky' for every settler who has a wantin' for one." "There's just one thing, Jason." "Rifles and women don't mix." "We're movin' up!" "I wouldn't waste any time gettin' that wagon fixed, Jason." "The women join us or no?" "Oh, they're goin' to, son." "They'll stay." "They're staying with the wagon." "Well, if that's the way you want it." "I don't have to tell you to keep an eye peeled, and your rifles ready." "Good luck." "Carrie!" "Carrie, I gotta stay with the wagon what's busted." "Be awfully careful, Luke." "Now, don't you worry none, Carrie honey." "Ol' Luke'll be back with his outfit before the sun sets, and that's a fact." "Now you be a good boy, Clyde." "Bye-bye, Daddy." "I love you." "Good-bye, honey." "Yo-ho!" "Runnin'!" "I'm gonna ride up there and take a closer look at them rocks." "See if I spot a tough piece o' timber in the foothills." "Ruben, we gotta lighten this wagon, so we can get it off the ground." "Figure if Tobias finds us a piece o' timber, we can make a new axle and take off." "Alright, Clay." "Can I help ya, Brother Luke?" "Here we go." "Yes, sir, Preacher." "Here's one." "Alright." "Let me have a hold of it." "Yeah, I help you." "Let me set this down." "Oh, my beautiful china!" "Dump your own stuff, Clay." "If this wagon needs to be lightened  your rifles are the heaviest things in it." "You don't understand, Foster." "If there's any Injun trouble, those rifles are our only chance." "You fools!" "Every one of you!" "All you're doing is letting Clay talk you into risking your lives for his rifles to get through." "His precious rifles!" "As for me, I'll take my chances with the Indians." "If we see any Indians!" "Comanche!" "I'm..." "I'm sorry about the dishes." "We got one chance o' gettin' this wagon through, and that's to lighten the load." "Not just for now, but permanently." "Reckon it don't make much difference how rough this stuff's handled." "Afraid the Injuns'll get it anyway." "Cordie, honey." "Are you sure you're alright?" "Oh, yes." "I mean, you don't need ol' Doc Hawkins?" "Oh, no." "Anythin' like that, why, you'd be the first to know, Ruben." "Yeah, but just suppose that " "Oh, no, it isn't yet!" "You know, you are fretting' like an old hen." "Besides, if it was my time, women have had babies without doctors before." "Since the beginnin' o' time!" "Why, I'm nothin' special." "Special to me, honey." "Mr. Tobias!" "Hope he didn't see any Indians." "Don't!" "Jason, you're goin' crazy!" "It's goin' already?" "Well, let me tell you somethin', Jason." "You're gonna get all the fightin' you're hankerin' for." "Both of ya!" "There's Comanches out there!" "And from the signs, they're as thick as mosquitoes on the Cull River." "Did you find any timber out there for an axle?" "Not on the prairie." "Only a crazy man would be fool enough to ride up on the hills this time o' day." "Come morning' we'll find some timber." "Tobias, you figure maybe them Injuns is settin' up there fixing' to trail the wagon train?" "Maybe someone -- me -- oughtta ride out to warn 'em." "Ain't fair let 'em sit there like fish in a barrel." "Luke, them's Comanches." "They ain't about to tackle anything this size." "It's your wife and kids you're worrying' about, you can make your mind easy, son." "When there's such thing as a crippled wagon around, they ain't about to tackle a great big wagon train." "But I could get a horse and ride there in no time at all!" "Nobody leaves this wagon, Luke." "That's an order." "And I'll shoot the first man that tries it." "You sure know how to pick a woman, Ruben." "If I ever find a woman that could cook like your Cordie, I'd get myself hitched up right now." "You gotta learn 'em, Lon." "You wouldn't believe it, but before we got married, Cordie couldn't even cook water." "Water!" "What I really need's a little mountain dew, to sorta wash it down." "Lon!" "Come here." "If that confection there uses water, I ain't about to see any o' ours wasted." "Who said anything about wasting' it, Mr. Tobias?" "You know, like the reverend said, 'A body's gotta have food for the spirits'." "Seems like you wants spirits instead o' food." "Go on, take that contraption and put it away." "We got some work to do." "I thought maybe just " "No, no." "Go ahead, put it up!" "I think that fellers in the wrong business." "Ol' horse, I reckon you 'bout the most important one at this party." "Lots o' folks depending' on you." "Have one on the house." "Drink hearty." "You told me not to waste water." "You mean us humans can't have it, but these dumb critters can, huh?" "That's right, Lon." "Exactly right." "Them Comanches could come in here and lift my hair right now." "Yours, too." "Wouldn't mean anything, excepting' to us." "But you let something' happen to these horses  and that wagon ain't got a prayer of ever reaching' Haitian's Creek again, and you either." "Now, listen, Mr. Tobias." "You know all about Indians..." "You think there's gonna be trouble?" "Trouble?" "Well, I reckon the whole world's gonna have its share o' trouble." "Now you take them tenderfeet that just left us up ahead in them Conastoga wagons." "They're pushin' west." "Ain't no trouble gonna stop them." "'Course, they've heard about them high mountains out there that reach up and nearly touch God." "And the big green trees, and the streams full o' fish." "Forest full o' game that's all waiting there, just for that." "But, Lon..." "They'd never make it if they didn't have that Kentucky rifle." "Trouble?" "Sure they'll meet up with trouble." "They'll probably run into a Sioux war party, sittin' on paint ponies, sacks o' arrows across their back  streaks o' paint on their bodies, standin' out like a blazin' sun." "And them Sioux'll be itchin' for trouble." "Sioux could outshow 'em, outsmart 'em, outfight 'em." "Well I guess they could whip 'em." "If they didn't have that... yes, sir." "I want you to do somethin' for me." "Take a hold o' that 'Kentuck'." "Slide it in." "Give the trigger a slow, smooth, easy squeeze." "Ain't it a thing a beauty!" "Hey, Lon, you know what I call that?" "Sweet Betsy from Pike." "Oh, don't you remember Sweet Betsy from Pike?" "Who crossed the high mountain with her lover Rike?" "With two yoke of oxen and one yeller dog..." "A tall Shanghai rooster and one spotted hog..." "Gimme that gun." "Ain't that a thing?" "Yes, sir, Lon." "You take that bunch o' Comanches out there." "They see a wagon like this broke down, they keep an eye on it." "And anything happen to cripple us, they'd be in here in a minute." "But as long as we got Sweet Betsy here and we keep our powder dry and our eyes open  we ain't gonna have no trouble with them Injuns." "G'night, son." "Don't you worry, son." "I ain't gonna let them Injuns get you." "Come on, let's go." "Tobias?" "Ain't no use telling' ya..." "Sorry 'bout the women." "Oh?" "Havin' 'em with us, I mean." "Cordie, well she chose to be with Ruben." "I think that she had a right to be." "I shoulda made Amy leave." "Only I didn't." "And Tobias, maybe you're right." "Maybe I did what I figured I had to do." "Oh, don't you remember Sweet Betsy from Pike?" "Who crossed the high mountain with her lover Rike?" "With two yoke of oxen and one yeller dog  a tall Shanghai rooster and one spotted hog." "Their wagon broke down with a terrible crash..." "And out on the prairie rolled all kinds of trash..." "A few little baby clothes done up with care..." "Mr. Tobias!" "Mr. Tobias!" "What do you want, Lon?" "I found Luke's watch." "You did?" "Yeah." "Oh, this note was with it, too." "Read." "What's it say?" "Well..." "Mr. Tobias." "You're not gonna believe this, but I can't read." "You can't?" "No, sir." "But could you read it?" "What's it say?" "Well, it's 'writ' pretty close on the paper, isn't it?" "It says..." "Luke's gone." "Crazy coot!" "He wouldn't do a thing like that!" "He just had to get back to that wagon train." "He couldn't wait, could he?" "Didn't worry about any o' the rest of us gettin' there or not, huh?" "Well, what did you expect him to do?" "Just sit here with his wife and child up ahead with the wagon train?" "Leave us out here shorthanded when we need every man and animal we can get  to find our way back?" "It seems to me, Clay, that your high-handed methods are putting us all in danger." "Come on, Tobias." "Let's get saddled up." "You're not gonna go and leave us here?" "Don't you worry, Lon." "No, we're not leaving you, Lon." "We gotta find a piece o' timber, so we can make an axle." "Besides, Foster and Ruben'll stand watch over ya." "Anything wrong, son?" "You know, Preacher, when we get to California, I'm gonna get Miss Amy to learn me how to read." "Then I'll be able to read just as good as Mr. Tobias can." "Oh, Luke's gone!" "What?" "Yeah!" "Brother Tobias!" "Is there anything I can do here for you while you're gone?" "Yes, Preach." "You can say a prayer for Luke." "Well, son." "I'm ready, any time you are." "Ready for what, Preacher?" "To repent, Lon." "To repent!" "Lon, I seen that still you brought with you." "And, Lon, it ain't a very good one." "You remember what Jason said about just havin' to get them rifles o' his through on time  cause maybe the lives of every man, woman and child in his wagon train depended on it?" "Yes." "Well, not only our lives, son." "But maybe the lives o' hundreds of other people to come." "People he ain't never seen, maybe never will see." "You see, his job is saving' lives." "My job is saving' souls." "You see, Lon, the Lord is smiling' on us, and he's made it rich, and fruitful  and just as sure as the honeybee'll find the dogwood blossom in the springtime  just as sure will there be thousands o' people comin' along here on this trail we made  a-followin' us." "And you know, they gonna need the word o' the Lord." "Just as much as they gonna need them Kentucky rifles." "And it's for them poor souls, that I'm paintin' these signs here on the rock." "The 'S' on here." "Alright." "Here they come!" "They're back, everybody!" "They're back!" "I wish they'd get on with it." "I'd feel a lot better if we were on our way." "Seems like Luke here's due a decent burying, since we got a preacher here to give 'em one." "Appears to me like folks is in such a hurry nowadays, rushing' from one end o' the land to the other  they ain't got no time left to be good Christians." "The more time we lose, the more chances are stacked up against us." "Let's bury 'em, and get to work on that wagon." "It's the livin' that count, not the dead." "Lord, we are might pressed for time, but we know that you will keep an eye peeled for us  while we say the Word over our dear, departed brother." "You see, Lord, Brother Luke here..." "Brother Luke has had a hard road to hold  but I reckon he's found a resting' place at last, Lord." "A resting' place beside your knee, for all eternity." "And please, Lord..." "Have mercy on his soul." "Now, brothers and sisters, I'll line the hymn up for ya." "Are you going to let 'em come in?" "What for?" "All they're lookin' for is a handout, while Luke's blood's still fresh on their hands." "Well, maybe if we give them all the goods, they'll let us through the passe." "Foster, there's some Indians I'd rather trust than white folks  but that bunch o' Comanches out there like a bunch o' scavengers!" "Even the other Injuns don't trust them." "Maybe Tobias, you know..." "Maybe like Daniel says, if we talk to them." "Please." "Jason, you got no business o' even thinkin' o' trading' with 'em -- you know that!" "Alright, Miss Amy, if that's the way you want it." "Alright, if you got to do your palaverin', let's get on with it." "Me talk for Chief." "All this, this land, all who pass through must bring gifts to Chief." "Well, tell Chief this is free land." "We do not come to harm Chief, but live in peace with him." "And already, one of our people have been murdered." "He say, 'Many bad Indian in passe.' He not know what bad Indian do." "But he will be responsible if we pay him." "He'll let us go through the passe without harm." "If we give him all this, savvy?" "Not my rifles, Foster." "You dang fool." "We'll see who's the fool." "I told you I could make a deal, and I have." "Jason..." "Jason!" "Jason, simmer down." "No good goin' to come from letting' these varmints know that we're at each other's throats!" "Wait a minute!" "Them don't go!" "Old man go back on word." "The old is right." "These rifles stay here." "Chief say you must give all gifts laid before him." "Or be known as man who word like water." "Well you tell your chief that to call a white man a liar means death." "Chief say, 'Death come to white man who lie.'" "And squaws, for he have many braves." "Well, we better humor 'em, Clay." "We'll never get outta here." "One thing you can bet on, Foster." "We give 'em those rifles, we won't." "You think, after what you've seen 'em do to Luke, they're gonna keep their solemn word?" "No, your chief don't understand." "We can't give up these rifles!" "Maybe it is not Chief who is liar -- maybe it's you!" "What does that mean?" "It's a challenge." "I don't understand!" "Well, you gotta show these Indians here we ain't scared of 'em." "Don't!" "Don't shoot, Tobias!" "I oughtta kill you." "Chief say, 'You good warrior." "But you few, we many'." "Chief say he no afraid gun." "Let arrow of his warrior seek you out with great cunning." "Well, you just tell your chief to keep his eye on ol' Sweet Betsy here." "I can't see it." "I can't hit that arrow on Luke's grave if I can't see it." "I ain't ever asked you for much, but I'm sure asking' ya now..." "Not for myself, but for the folks who's on this wagon with me." "You gotta help me knock that arrow off o' Luke's grave." "So I can show these Comanches the power o' this Kentucky rifle, and maybe we can go through this land in peace." "Without any blood shed." "So, I'm puttin' myself in your hands." "He hit it!" "He hit it!" "Sure do thank you." "Sure thing with a rifle, Tobias!" "You sure made Sweet Betsy sing!" "The ol' Kentuck outshoots that feather!" "Ol' Daniel Boone himself couldn't o' done it slicker!" "Wasn't nothin', Lon." "Ask Jason." "How much you wanna bet I split a few on a point of a buck at a hundred feet!" "Full o' your boasting', Tobias." "Pride goeth before a fall." "For the Lord's eye, the seed that bullet." "How'd that preacher know?" "Just a minute, Clay." "I say we coulda made a deal with those Indians." "But you chose to fight them instead, over your precious rifles." "I'm sorry you feel I talked too plain to them Comanches, Foster." "But I've dealt with them and their likes a long time." "And I ain't ever seen soft words stop Comanche's arrows yet." "I gotta job to do gettin' that wagon through, without losin' any more lives than I have to." "First, we're gonna get this wagon fixed." "And nobody beds down til we do." "You got 'em!" "I'm dying!" "How does it look?" "Don't!" "Get those bandages." "Is it over?" "I can do it." "Is it over?" "Oh, let me do it." "It's nothin' but a scratch, but everybody says nothin'." "Just a scratch." "A scratch..." "A scratch." "If you ain't a mess!" "Jason!" "Get those women outta the wagon!" "What do ya think, Tobias?" "They comin' in?" "I don't know." "Don't worry, Amy." "Come on, ladies, get out quick." "Alright." "Careful." "Watch your head." "Careful." "Alright, there." "Be very careful." "What are you going to do, Clay?" "You can't go out there alone!" "I've done it before." "Ain't nothin' to worry about." "Maybe Daniel's right." "Maybe if we gave them the rifles." "I can't do it, ma'am." "These rifles are like a trust to me." "If they fall the Injuns' hands, that wagon train can't move up and down this trail in safety." "Can't ya see that?" "It'd be like murdering my own folks." "Don't worry, Amy." "Jason'll be alright." "They're slackin' off!" "Doggone it, I think that Clay's a better Injun than most Injuns are!" "There's another redskin you can say a prayer for, Preacher." "Sometimes I get mighty sick and tired o' your thickheadedness!" "You know doggone well who I'm a-prayin' for!" "I think I've had enough!" "That ol' chief oughtta send men out here to do a man's work." "You can come out now, girls!" "Doggone, if Clay ain't done some trading' with them Injuns they won't soon forget!" "We aren't outta the woods yet, Tobias." "And maybe you'll be glad to do a little smart trading before we're through." "Do ya think he's alright?" "If you're thinkin' about Clay, ma'am, you can make your mind easy." "Ain't Injun born yet that can take him in measure." "Jason!" "The last one must've been waiting for me." "Come on." "Ol' Tobias'll take care of ya." "Get right down there." "Let me have a look at that arm." "Let me help 'em, Tobias." "Please." "Alright, Miss Amy." "I'll help ya, ma'am." "Here, son." "Here." "This all seems a sin and a shame to me." "All God's children murdering' each other like this." "And all for what?" "For nothing'!" "There's room here plenty for all of us!" "Now maybe you'll listen to me, Clay." "There's no need for anyone to get hurt -- not even Luke." "If we act like civilized people." "Can't you see he's hurt defending us -- all of us?" "Can't you stop your bickering even now?" "At least, Daniel, he had the gumption to go out and do something, not just talk." "I'm through talking." "From now on, I'm going to start doing." "Remember your wound." "You've had enough excitement for one night." "Yes, ma'am." "Hey, Lon!" "You shouldn't be moving around with that wound!" "I'm practically as good as new." "I was in good hands, you know." "Yes'm?" "Would you round the folks up for breakfast, Lon?" "Anybody that's hungry, you better hurry up!" "It's not gonna last long -- hurry!" "Here's something for Cordie, Ruben." "Thank ya, Miss Amy." "I'd like to say a little blessing', if Foster was around." "Where is Foster?" "Foster!" "His horse is missin' over there." "That fool must've taken off in the night." "There ya go." "Any man figures he can buy his way through life  ain't nothin' but a Comanche arrow that's gonna teach 'em any better." "I'm goin' after that doggone fool." "You as big a doggone fool as he is." "That's all I got to say." "What about the rest o' these folks?" "His life's worth risking' theirs?" "You'll be alright, Tobias, even if ya can't see as far as ya claim ya used to." "If I'm not back in an hour, start packin' up and head out!" "Brother Tobias!" "You take your hat off, please?" "I'd like to say a little blessing'." "Dear Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us duly grateful." "Amen." "Amen." "Jason!" "Go on, but you're gonna find out that women and rifles don't mix." "Tell your friends to stay right where they are." "And you tell your chief that this rifle is trained on his heart." "One flick to the finger and he dies." "I'm glad you came, Clay." "I made a deal here with the chief." "He gets everything on the wagon." "We get back our horses, and safe passage." "Don't be a fool, Foster." "You can't make a deal with what ain't yours!" "You get over here." "I can't hold 'em off all day." "Chief tell this one here he accept gift of rifle." "Let your people go in peace." "But you, Chief of White Man, you must say whether this one speaks truth." "Or forked tongue." "I'm willing to sacrifice all my goods." "The least you can do is give up the guns." "Why, I'll even pay you for them." "You won't lose a thing." "There's a lot more a man can lose, Foster, besides his rifles or money." "Jason, you've got to give 'em those rifles." "If you don't, they'll kill me, do ya hear?" "They'll kill me." "Foster, if I give 'em these rifles, maybe they will let ya go." "But once they get 'em, they gonna attack that wagon as sure as shooting." "If it were Tobias and me, it wouldn't be no problem." "But I can't speak for Cordie and Ruben, and Lon and Preach." "Miss Amy." "Not with them at the wagon and you here." "Tell your chief I'll go back to the wagon, and talk it over with the others." "It's for them to decide now." "What about me?" "I made the offer in the first place." "You stay!" "When we get rifle, you go free." "Miss Cordie..." "I think I'm gonna be pretty busy when we start over that passe  so I brought ya somethin' here." "For your baby boy." "The Shanghai ran off and the cattle all died  that morning the last piece of bacon was fried." "'Fore I got discouraged and Betsy got mad  and the dog peaked his tail and looked wondrously sad." "Thank you, Tobias, very much!" "You won't leave without him?" "Had no business leaving', Amy." "Not after Clay told 'em to stay." "I didn't mean Daniel -- he went on his own accord." "I was thinking of..." "Jason?" "You don't have to spell it out." "Miss Amy, he was thinkin' o' you." "That's why he went after Foster." "He thought that's the way you wanted it." "Miss Cordie." "Ain't no use for you to carry on so." "Ain't like it was your man that was missin'." "And, now, I'd bet my last red cent Jason ain't gonna be missin' long." "Not unless there's more Comanches out there in them hills than I think." "Ruben?" "Ruben!" "Cordie!" "Cordie, is it?" "I'm afraid it is my time now." "Oh, I didn't want it to be yet." "I..." "This isn't the first baby that was ever born." "Certainly not gonna be the last." "They've been born by the thousands, with no doctors anywhere near." "I just wanted him to be born when..." "when there wasn't so much to do." "When ya didn't have so much on your mind." "I wanted 'em to be a pure pleasure to you, Ruben." "Not a hindrance." "Honey, everything's gonna be alright." "You just wait and see." "And Cordie, I'll tell you what..." "We'll name 'em Clay!" "Don't you worry, Ruben." "I'll take good care of her." "Thank you, Miss Amy." "Can't we get a-movin', Tobias?" "There may still be time to reach ol' Doc Hawkins." "I reckon the hour's up, Ruben." "You can start anytime you want to." "I wish that boy Clay was here." "Hope nothin' happened to 'em." "What are you doin', Amy, counting' your linens at a time like this?" "We'll need clean things for swaddling clothes." "Oh, I couldn't let you use them pretty things." "Well, we've got lots of..." "There's no better way to use them, Cordie." "Not that I can think of, anyway." "Thank you." "Are you alright, Cordie?" "Is there anything I can do?" "I'm just fine, Amy." "You know, I thought I was gonna be afraid." "Scared to death." "But I'm not." "I feel just wonderful." "Hope you know how I feel someday." "With the right man." "Good to see you, boy." "I wasn't fretting' about ya one might, like some folks I know." "Foster made a deal." "He'll turn over the rifles in return for safe passage." "I've come back to see what they wanna do." "Jason, you're joshing'." "Or else you been out in the sun too long." "Now since when did you start askin' tenderfeet what to do and what not to do where Comanches is concerned?" "I don't joke about things like Indians and rifles, Tobias." "There's thirty or forty braves covering' that passe, maybe more." "If it was just up to you and me, there'd be no question." "We'd fight!" "But too many people here think that Foster's right." "I'm not gonna make them risk their lives for my rifles." "Since when did you start gettin' scared o' Injuns?" "They're my rifles, Tobias." "If I wanna give 'em to the Indians, I gotta right to." "Every man's gotta right." "A man's got duties, too." "First time I ever knowed ya to put your rights in front o' your duties!" "Now, hold on, Tobias!" "You ain't got no call to talk to Clay that way!" "He's only doin' what everybody said he oughtta done long time ago..." "Trade these rifles o' his for these precious lives." "Preacher, you don't know..." "I believe Preacher's right, Tobias." "Before Foster left, he said..." "What happened to Foster, Clay?" "Injuns." "They're holding 'em til they get the rifles." "Yeah." "That's all the more reason Clay's right." "If we don't give 'em them rifles, Foster's a goner!" "I'd say good riddance to 'em!" "This'd be the first time I ever knowed a man putting' a Kentucky rifle in the hands of a Comanche." "And if ya put enough of 'em in the hands o' them Comanches, they'll take scalp from here to St. Louis!" "You're wrong, Tobias." "I know you're wrong!" "He isn't wrong." "And every one of us knows it deep down inside." "I'm sure nobody wants to die." "I don't." "You don't, Ruben." "Neither do any of our friends up ahead in the wagon train." "But you can't buy your freedom the way you buy your pork, at so many Kentucky rifles per pound." "Jason, a little while ago I thought I hated you." "I didn't hate you " " I envied you." "You knew what was right and you had the courage to do it." "Maybe, without even realizing it, I may have loved you." "Now when I realize that you were right all the time..." "That we can't put rifles in the hands of men who will use them wrongfully..." "To kill our friends, people we haven't seen before!" "People who aren't even born yet, like Cordie's baby." "You say let's do it." "What kind of a man are you anyway?" "Miss Amy, he knows what's right!" "If you pardon me, ma'am, you just kinda twisted his thinking' cap." "All he thinks is you want Foster, and if Foster's what you want, Foster's what you'll get, if he has to sell his soul to the devil." "That's all." "Well, Ruben." "Let's take a vote." "You wanna give them heathens them Kentucks or don't ya?" "Lon!" "What about Lon?" "Preacher?" "Tobias, I'm a man o' peace." "And I think that one human soul is worth ten thousand o' them rifles o' his." "So I think maybe he's right in tryin' to make a trade." "If that's the way you want it, that's the way it's gonna be." "Good boy." "Jason!" "They're wrong, I'm sure of it now." "What can we do?" "They're entitled to speak their piece." "And I told the Comanches I'd stick to their word." "I never heard o' such foolishness!" "First, I think you're goin' balmy over Miss Amy " "I'm sorry." "I declare, if I don't think Jason's been out in the sun too long." "I'm sorry, Mr. Tobias, I had to..." "Thanks for coming, Tobias." "Only I gotta ask ya to go back." "They'll need ya more back there at the wagon." "I reckon it don't make much difference where them varmints lift my hair." "Results the same." "Doggone it, Jason, have you gone plum 'loco'?" "Ain't no use chewing' it all over again, Tobias." "I give my word, and who knows?" "Maybe it works." "You've been talkin' more like them tenderfeet everyday." "Tell your chief we give up our rifles." "But tell 'em to give us his word he'll lay down his bows and arrows." "And leave us go in peace." "We keep word." "You go in peace." "Go back to the wagon now and bring the rifles here." "You'll be alright now, Foster." "Ya understand?" "Jason, ya did wrong about these varmints." "You said that we could go in peace!" "Foster!" "You were right, Clay." "They're waiting to ambush." "It's alright, Foster." "Come on, let's get 'em back to the wagon!" "Let's get Amy to take care of 'em." "He's hurt bad, Amy." "He was tryin' to warn us." "Sorry, Amy." "I thought I was doing the right " "Comanches!" "Get Foster on that wagon, quick!" "Get them rifles outta there!" "Leave me here, I'll be alright." "Let 'em come close enough so you don't waste a shot." "Let 'em have it." "Don't get nervous, remember what I told ya." "Give that trigger a slow, smooth, easy squeeze." "Look at ya!" "Ya got your Adam's apple jumping' up and down like a cockroach on a hot stove!" "Simmer down, or you'll choke yourself for sure." "Now, Lon, now is the time to fire!" "I always said that boy was in the wrong business!" "Lon!" "Ya varmint-slinger!" "What's the matter?" "Here!" "Get outta here!" "May be some more of 'em!" "That got it by, hookie-cookie!" "The Indians are gone!" "Yeah, they're gone." "Let's load up some more of them 'Kentucks', 'cause they might come back." "Come on back, you miserable varmints!" "I got some more of these Kentuckys I wanna give ya!" "I'm sorry, Mr. Tobias, but I forgot everything ya told me to do." "Oh, Lon!" "I squeezed and squeezed -- nothin' happened!" "Shut up." "Foster!" "You gone crazy?" "Foster, come back!" "The Lord giveth  and the Lord taketh away." "The Lord taketh away, but the Lord giveth." "Blessed be the Name of the Lord." "Amen." "Well, we best be movin' on, before darkness sets in." "Reckon them Comanches, they've had enough." "But a body can't tell what they'll be up to next." "It could be we ain't gonna see no Injuns for a while, but we're gonna be mighty careful just the same." "Ruben?" "Oh, Ruben!" "You best drive the wagon." "Preacher'll be with ya." "Tobias and Lon'll bring up the rear, and I'll ride point." "Now, we're all tired and thirsty and beat." "And maybe the Comanches'll be figuring' on that, so we'll keep a sharp eye open." "And if we're jumped, ya head for the wagon." "There's plenty of loaded rifles there ready for us." "Shall we gather at the river  the beautiful, the beautiful river  Yes, we'll gather at the river that flows by the throne of God." "White Man." "Rifle." "Speak quick death." "Comanche." "No fight." "White Man." "Go in peace." "Comanches say they're willing to let us go through without a fight." "That ain't the way I'd do it." "I'd get a runnin' start and blast them heathens from here to kingdom come!" "I figured that, Tobias." "I'm thinkin' maybe they got their bellies full and if we start shooting, maybe they don't run." "Some of us gonna get hurt, especially if they're ridin' in that wagon." "Why have we stopped?" "Checking up!" "Everything's just gonna be fine." "Alright now, I'm movin' up!" "Come here, Lon." "Don't you start gettin' trigger-happy with that Kentucky." "Ya ain't supposed to fire til Jason gives the word, do ya hear me?" "Please, Mr. Tobias." "Don't start pickin' on me, please." "I reckon I ain't no more jittery than nobody else." "Get outta here." "I still think that boy's in the wrong business." "Preach, Ruben, we made it!" "Mr. Tobias, it's mighty quiet." "I'm scared." "Don't let them Indians get you, Lon." "Mr. Tobias!" "Oh!" "If I ain't " "Lon, ain't no use adding' to the excitement." "Go on up ahead." "Besides, you could help Jason with the new daughter." "But they started it." "I know it." "But just one of 'em and one of 'em got his dander up." "I really don't think that arrow was shot by an Indian named Ron." "Come on, do me a favor." "Go get Jason, will ya, please?" "But you hurt bad, Mr. Tobias." "I can't leave you." "Nothin' the matter with me, son." "Go, go ahead." "Tobias!" "Jason, looks like you're fixin' to drop ten feet into that valley, into the promised land." "But old Tobias ain't goin' with you." "You remember back then when I told you that rifles and women don't mix?" "Well, it looks like they do." "She's up there waitin' for you." "Pretty soon you'll be takin' her out  where them high mountains reach up and nearly touch God in them big, green trees." "You'll be settin' up a shop, Jason, and you..." "You start makin' these 'Kentucks'." "Ain't it a thing of beauty?" "Why, don't you remember Sweet Betsy...."