40 Guns to Apache Pass (1967) - full transcript

40 GUNS TO APACHE PASS

For years following the Civil War...

the question was whether
Indians or the United States Army...

would control Arizona Territory.

Bands of hostile Apaches
roamed the countryside.

Only the courage and dedication
of a few brave fighting men...

kept the Territory from
being completely overrun.

In the summer of 1869 Cochise,
bold chief of the Chiricahua Apaches...

made a brutal vow to kill every man,
woman and child in southern Arizona.

Many of the settlers in the area had already
felt the fury of Cochise's bloody oath.

A small detail of United
States cavalrymen...



were escorting the survivors to
a hastily-established outpost.

There, the Army was determined
to make a last-ditch stand.

I know how to spell our name.

Go work.

Hey. Hey look.

It's Bruce.

Don't get your hopes up, sis...

when the Captain comes to courting
he don't use to bring a crowd of people.

- Ellen.
- It's good to see you, Bruce.

Is something wrong?

- Your Pa is at the house?
- Yeah.

Let's go talk to him.

From wagon there,
is not the Carter family?

What's left of them, Apaches hit them
this morning, your place will be next.



Sure glad you came to
stand them off, Captain.

We make our stand at Apache Wells.

Oh, you going to have
a hard time talking Pa into leaving.

They all wanted to stay too, the Apaches
made a pretty good argument against it.

Sergeant Walker.

Have some of the men find their wagon.

Pitch it up and bring it to the house.

Captain wait, don't you think
you ought to talk to Pa first?

I think he'll understand.

Pa.

- Captain Coburn.
- Mrs. Malone.

- Cochise is gone on the war path.
- What?

We're escorting the
settlers into Apache Wells.

Well, I didn't ask for any escort.

Neither did they, Cochise sent
his braves to burn them out.

Pa knows how to deal with the Apaches.

There's no dealing with them Mike,
how many guns do you have?

Just this one.

She's never failed me yet.

Look Mr Malone,
our job is to protect you people.

We can't put soldiers at every farm house.

You got to come in where
our strength is concentrated.

- You better listen to him Harry.
- Kate...

We've given ten long years of
hard work to build up this place.

And you'll give your life
if you try to hang onto it.

Cochise made a vow he'd kill
every white man in southern Arizona.

Looks like he's already started.

Now this is no time to argue, not
going to let you stay here and get killed.

Well, I guess it's the only way.

- It'll take me a little while to pack.
- I'm sorry ma'am, we can't wait.

Troopers will bring your wagon around.
Be ready to go when it gets here.

Come on, Ma.

Pick up what you can, kids.

Captain, shall I order
the men to dismount?

Sergeant Walker gives the orders.

I know that sir, but
the men asked me to talk to you.

They're complaining that you're
driving them too hard, they need a rest.

They can rest when
we get back to camp.

I know that, Captain, but
we got to stop somewhere.

There's water, hay for the horses...

we can stand off the Apaches
here as good as any other place.

Bodine, are you
talking command of this outfit?

No, sir.

When I was a sergeant the officers
used to listen to what I had to say.

- Is that why they broke you to Corporal?
- They'll need me again sir.

Maybe they will,
but by God I don't.

If you give me one more bit of trouble
I'll bust you all the way back to private.

Now, mount up.

Yes, sir.

Locking horns with
the Captain again, eh Bodine?

Don't back off for nobody, Sergeant.

Well, that's why you're here.

You and a dozen more like it
that nobody else could handle.

Sergeant, I want to tell you something.

He might break the rest of them
but he won't even make a dent in me.

- Sergeant Walker?
- Yes.

Put a match to it, no use
leaving anything for Cochise.

Captain Coburn drove
the settlers hard all day.

But nightfall and weariness
finally forced a halt.

I want your complete
cooperation tonight.

We're attacked they'll probably
hit the wagons and the horses first.

I want you people to bed down
right up there in those rocks.

There'll be no fires, no noise.
Be ready to move out at daylight.

- We don't have much water, sir.
- I know.

Give the women and children what they
need, save the rest for the horses.

- Get them started Sergeant.
- Yes, sir.

All right, bring your
belongings and come with me.

Look Captain, what about us troopers?
We're just as thirsty as they are.

- We've been riding in the hot sun all day.
- Won't hurt you go one night without water.

- Now look Capt...
- That's all Bodine.

You know, we'd better get
ready to help if there's Indian trouble.

Let's ask the Captain if he'll
lend us a couple of rifles.

You know how I am with guns Mike,
can't hit the broad side of a barn.

Well, if those Apaches
get close you'll learn fast enough.

Any chance those
Apaches will hit tonight Captain?

They don't let me in
on their plans always Mike.

Just try to keep ready.

Doug and I would like to help if
you'd let us have a couple rifles.

I appreciate the offer but I don't
have enough guns to arm my own men.

Well, I guess we'll have to
sharpen up the old axe, eh?

Many battle won with less.

Hey, Mike, Doug?
Come on, give me help.

Here. Ma and Pa went up the hill,
you can take them up, eh?

All right.

Oh.

It's been a long time since we've
been able to talk to each other.

Over a month, Colonel hasn't been
too generous with leave time lately.

Well you won't have
any more excuses.

- I'll be right there at Apache Wells.
- Won't be looking for excuses.

- Come on, I'll walk you.
- I like it right here.

Listen to that lonely sound.

Probably a lonely Apache scout.

You come out here just to
protect me from the Indians?

Not exactly but...

They'd give anything
for a scalp as pretty as that one.

How about you?

Be awful easy, to hand it to you.

Why don't you?

I'm not a very good
bet for a girl like you.

Men in my business, don't
stick around too long.

Your warning comes a bit late, Bruce.

Going up the hill, see you later.

You know that's allthe water we have.

You'd never done that if you weren't
hiding behind those Captain's bars.

I'm not hiding behind anything Bodine.

I fought in this army for ten years
before they pinned these on me.

I don't need them now.

Oh?

You mean you're willing to forget you're
an officer and reckon man to man?

I've tried everything else with you.

I guess that's the
only language you understand.

Captain, Captain Coburn.

Captain, you'll kill him sir.

Pick those horses up,
put guard on the water.

Yes, sir.

Apache Wells, Arizona territory.

Colonel Homer Reed in command of
a troop of cavalry whose assignment...

was to hold the lonely
outpost at any cost...

and to protect the
settlers in the adjacent area.

Nearby families had
already taken refuge here.

Only the most distant ranches
remained to be accounted for.

- Attention.
- At ease.

- That Captain Coburn's outfit?
- No sir, that's the morning patrol.

Captain due back yesterday,
wasn't he, sir?

I'll send a detail
if they don't return by nightfall.

The old man is lost if
Coburn is not around.

Suit me if that stiff
necked Captain never came back.

Bugler, sound assembly.

Take care of your wounded.

The rest of you, hold your
posts, they might come back.

- Good work, Sergeant.
- Thank you, sir.

Captain and me ridden
together for a long time.

Can't lose him this close to home.

The Apaches are
getting bolder every day, Bruce.

- I thought they'd follow you into camp.
- Maybe next time they will.

Getting sick and tire
of having turn tail and

run whenever an Apache
sticks his head up.

When we getting
those new rifles, Colonel?

I've put in requests
at least a dozen times.

Army keeps sending
back excuses instead of rifles.

Give us an impossible
job and no tools to do it with.

How long do you think we could hold
this place against an all-out attack?

Not long with our old worn-out guns.

You think Cochise would risk all
his forces on a frontal assault?

He's smart, Colonel.

When our patrols can't stand
and fight it shows weakness.

He won't be long in taking advantage of it.

Coburn, at least you
got the settlers back

here where our
power is concentrated.

Show them where to
set up camp, will you, captain?

Yes, sir.

Bodine.

Why didn't you pick him up?

I don't know what you talking about.

Stand up when I'm talking to you.

- You heard me call.
- With all that shooting?

I didn't hear nothing.

That beating the Captain gave
you didn't teach you much, did it?

Oh, I haven't, I haven't forgotten
anything about that Sergeant.

- He did a pretty good job on you.
- Yeah.

You...

Anybody else want to take a look, eh?

Anybody else want to take a look?
Look, good look.

Anybody else down here?
Come on, look at it.

Don't think that this gives
Captain Coburn the whip hand.

Oh, I'm going to be a
good soldier from now on.

Every time that Captain rides out of
this camp I'll be right behind him.

He catches a bullet I
want to make sure he's dead.

Malone's old rifle had finally failed him.

Ironically, an Apache bullet had
caught him just as safety seemed assured.

He's dead, I thought we'd made it but...

He was laying dead on that
seat when we got in.

If we joined the Army...

could we get some rifles, Captain?

I see that you get guns some way.

Good, because we're ready to fight.

Stand at ease.

Colonel Reed had fired off
an angry demand to his home base.

After two weeks of anxious
waiting, a reply finally came.

All right, what is it?

A shipment of those new lever
action rifles just came in from back east.

- They're sending you 40 of them.
- When do we get them?

You'll have to meet them
beyond the Chiricahua mountains.

They hired some
scouts to bring them that far.

Figured you fellas were the best
of us to sneak them past Cochise.

They sure give us the tough end of it.

It's up to you, Bruce.

- We'll get them through.
- Going to have your hands full.

Those mountains are
crawling with Apaches.

Three different bunches
of them gave me a run.

I had to come around here,
through the Apache pass to get by them.

May as well back the same way.

Keep your eyes open, the guns will be
here at Hatchet Rock tomorrow noon.

Hatchet Rock.

Might as well keep it
Captain, might come in handy.

Thank you.

You've done a good job,
the rest is up to us now.

- Better get some rest.
- Thank you, sir.

Well Bruce, the Army finally
came through, 40 repeating rifles.

That will improve our
chances against Cochise.

Improve them?

Trade our old single-shots
for those lever actions...

we hold off all the
Apache in this territory.

We'll have to bring them in first.

I'll get some men
together right now sir.

Take as many men as you need,
I don't want to be left shorthanded...

but take enough troopers
to get the job done.

We'll sneak out of here after dark,
Apache won't know we've gone.

- Oh, Captain.
- Yes, sir?

That last mission you were on...

there's a rumor that you
beat up one of the men.

Colonel, you know how rumors
get started on a small post like this.

This is a serious matter, Captain.

I'll overlook it this
time, but from now on try...

Baby them a little more?

Captain...

there are two ways
to get men through a door...

you can kick them through
or you can lead them through.

That's right sir, but
wind up the same place anyway.

Take a look out there, Colonel.

It's not exactly the
cream of the crop...

yet we're expected to make
soldiers out of all of them.

I know, it's a ragtag bunch
they sent us to fight Indians...

but this mission is vital Bruce.

We can't afford any
trouble in the ranks.

I don't expect any trouble, sir.

Sir...

With the Captain's permission,
I'd like to go along on this one.

You sure got a sixth sense for
something big, haven't you Sergeant?

Well sir, been around long
enough to get these stripes here,

I'm bound to know if something is going on.

I see.

It's the rifles, isn't it sir?

Yes it is, let's just
keep it between the two of us.

The less the men know,
the less the Apache

can get out of them in
case they're captured.

Attention.

I need ten men for a mission...

a very important one
and it's very dangerous.

I'm asking for volunteers.

Come on Doug.

What's the matter with you, Fuller?

What about you, Higgins?

Thank you men, we'll leave tonight.

Check your equipment,
take care of your horses.

Dismissed.

- Captain?
- What is it Sergeant?

You said this was an
important mission but...

It is.

You sure haven't got the
best men riding with us.

Those two green Malone
boys it's their first time out.

Bodine, he's always trouble.

He'll do, Sergeant.

- Have them ready after chow.
- Yes, sir.

They're proud to be riding with you Bruce.

Glad to have them,
make good soldiers.

Watch out for both of them,
especially Doug.

Mike can take care of himself but Doug...

he'll need help at first.

I'll keep an eye on him.

I guess it's because I'm older but
they seem like such boys to me.

They'll be men when we come back.

Ma, they're waiting
for us to start, we got to go.

Goodbye Ma.

Boy, take care of Doug, eh?

- Goodbye sis.
- Bye.

- Goodbye sis.
- Take care.

Everybody here is counting on you Bruce.
You've got to get those rifles through.

We'll do our best sir.

Under the cover of darkness,
Captain Coburn

moved out with his little
band of volunteers.

Everything depended on his
success in reaching the rendezvous...

with the supply wagon and the 40 rifles.

Coburn led his men deep into
the Chiricahua mountains.

When they reached Apache Pass...

the Captain sensed that hostile eyes
were watching from the high rocks.

- Hide a people on that now, sir.
- Apache can hide in a badger hole.

Hold up here a couple of minutes,
I want to take a look in there.

Yes, sir.

Apaches wouldn't take on
this many soldiers would they Mike?

You're not scared, are you?

- A little, aren't you?
- Of course not.

That's what we joined up for,
to get a crack at them.

I think I can shoot once but...

wonder if I'll be able
to reload the thing

with a bunch of Indians
hollering down on me.

You'll do fine.

Come on, just remember
we'll be fighting them side by side.

Hooo.

All right, two men dismount
and take cover.

He signaled someone
up there before I got him.

That means they
know we're coming.

Look a little pale boys.

I thought you wanted to
see them butchered.

Leave those two kids with the horses.

Assign a rearguard and
the rest of you come with me.

Yes, sir.

- Malone brothers, stay with the horses.
- Yes, sir.

- Bodine.
- Yes, Sergeant?

You, you, post the
rearguard and cover.

Rest of you come with me.

Doug.

- Look, I saw one.
- What? What?

I saw one up there, let's go get him.

But the Sergeant told us to stay here.

But he didn't tell us not to fight.

I'll circle around this way,
you come up the back of him.

Mike?

Come on now, you
got to get your feet wet sometime.

This is as good a place as any.

I'm scared, Mike.
I'm scared.

I never should've joined the Army.

Look, I know how you feel,
everybody is nervous at first.

You'll get over it
once you get into the action.

Well, come on.
Let's go get us an Apache.

Mike. Mike.

Doug, come on Doug.

I'm coming, Mike.

Doug help me, Doug.

Doug, come on help me.

Mike.

Mike.

Where's Mike?

I'll tell you where he is,
the Apaches carried him away.

This kid didn't have enough guts
to help his brother when needed it.

- I can't believe that, Doug.
- It's true.

He just kept calling me.

Couldn't make myself go to him.

I can still hear him.

I can still hear
him calling for help.

Fetch your horses.

On your feet.

Mike.

Mike.

Mike, Mike.

Oh, please, please let
me go, got to help him.

- Mike, please.
- Take it easy, kid.

Let me go, let me go.

- Shut up.
- Mike, Mike.

- Mike, Mike.
- Doug, listen Doug...

Now you listen to me.

Too late to help your brother,
he's dead, you understand that?

He's dead.

Get him on a horse.

The troopers were on the run.

The Captain couldn't
afford to lose one more man.

If those 40 repeating rifles
didn't get back to Apache Wells...

Cochise would massacre
every one of its defenders.

As far as we go Sergeant.

- We going to be here long, Captain?
- I don't think so, why?

Been feeling we've being watched.

Could be right.

Dismount, keep your rifles handy.

We going to go back the
same way we came, sir?

Don't think it makes any
difference how we go back Sergeant.

Get hit again we'll
have to make a run for it.

We left half our men
lying dead back there.

Yes, sir.

Some of the best ones too.

There's only seven of us left
to get them guns through.

Six.

Six men and a worthless, yellow kid.

Don't be too hard on him Captain.

Remember that was his
first time under fire.

It's no excuse, I got
no use for a coward, Sergeant.

Yes sir.

Bodine?

- When we going to get out of here?
- When I say so.

Come on now, we got
a couple of pretty good horses.

And make us seen new
country, what are we waiting for?

I still got something
to settle with that Captain.

Well, you better get it
settled but I don't intend to ride...

back to that death trap of Apache Wells.

I promise you one thing Barret,
we'll never go back with this outfit.

Hold your fire.

Glad you're here Captain,
I didn't aim to wait long.

- Kind of jumpy, aren't you?
- There's good reason.

We come within a ace of tangling with
a herd of Apache about an hour ago.

- Chiricahuas?
- No, there's Tontos.

There's wearing war paint,
seem known where they're going.

- Join Cochise.
- That's my guess.

We're shorthanded, we'd be
glad to have you ride with us.

Not on your life.

My contract with the army called for me to
bring this wagon right here and no further.

I value my head too much to
travel into Chiricahua country with...

old Cochise on the
war path like he is.

You've got a point there.
Army doesn't give us any such choice.

- That's your problem Captain.
- Mind if we take off now?

All right gather around, men.

This is what we came for.

40 repeating rifles.

No other gun of its kind
in southern Arizona.

Now, with these the Indians could wipe
out every white man in this territory.

Got to get them through to
Apache Wells and we will.

Else there'll be seven more
dead troopers lying in these hills.

Now, if we are overrun...

the last man alive light this fuse...

stay with this wagon
until it's blown to hell.

Are there any questions?

Good.

Sergeant, want me to take the team?

Sure, go ahead Bodine.

Hey, I thought you said we weren't
going to go back with this outfit.

You just relax Barrett, just relax.
There's been a change of plans.

Didn't tell you to stop, Bodine.

Captain, it's a long pull up
that hill, the horses are winded.

All right, dismount.
We'll rest here for a minute.

Good shot, Barrett.
Come on, tie him up.

Now, the rest of you keep those
rifles pointing right up in the air.

Me and Barrett are
taking off with these rifles.

Don't worry, we're not hogs.

These guns are worth
plenty, we might need some help.

Come on now, the Captain didn't offer you
anything when he asked you to volunteer.

You go along with me
and I'll make you rich.

You do that and you'll sign the death
warrant of everybody at Apache Wells.

Don't you worry about that, these
guns will make us king of the mountain.

Higgins, what about you?
I know you like money.

Come on, you never
have another chance like

this as long as you stick
with that uniform.

Eight dollars a month
don't pile up very fast.

I knew you see it my way,
move Forward?

Oh, that's right here, you got to...

rather have the Captain
chew your tail out every day...

or you waiting for the Apaches
to come along and finish the job, eh?

You'll be running
the rest of your life Fuller.

You've to change your name and
hide your face where ever you go.

How long you think he's
been called Fuller?

That's right, I changed
my name to get into the Army.

- I sure don't mind changing it to get out.
- Right, right.

And when we get to where we're going, which

is Mexico, as soon as
we cross that border...

you can just call yourself Lucky when those

senoritas start swarming
all over you, eh?

Kid, how about making it unanimous?

Oh, come on now.

You sure you don't
want to face your folks

right after letting
your brother get killed?

What about them?

- We can't just leave them here to die.
- Ah, don't worry about it.

We'll let them loose
before we leave.

They'll make their
way back all right.

Come on kid, you
coming with us or not?

All right, as long as
you're letting them go.

Pack those rifles on the team,
we're heading across country.

I'd offer to take you with us
Sergeant, but you might slow us down.

Damn you, Bodine.

Well, Captain...

You've been top dog for a long time.

You know there's an old
saying, every dog has his day.

And I'm doing the barking now.

I thought that uniform
would do something

for any man that wore it,
even you Bodine.

Well, it did something for me.

- It got me what I've been waiting for.
- A chance to turn traitor?

Well, I guess it's all
in the way you look at it.

See, the uniform I
started out in was Grey.

When I was captured at
Shiloh they gave me a choice...

to rot in a stinking
Yankee prison camp...

or join you Blue
Coats fighting Indians.

You see Captain Sir,
I'm sort of a galvanized Yankee.

I don't have too much
respect for this blue outfit.

I don't imagine you had too
much loyalty for the Grey one.

Want to tell you something, Captain.

Changing uniforms is
taught me one lesson.

A man only owes one loyalty...

to himself.

Come on Bodine,
we're ready to go.

All right head on out,
I'll be with you in a minute.

- Higgins, pick up that loose stuff.
- All right.

It's your idea, Captain.

You ordered the last
man to stay with the wagon...

till was blown to hell.

You're the last man.

See you in hell Captain, Sir.

Sergeant...

Sergeant, can you hear me?

Yes sir...

I can hear you.

I can see too.

Listen I, my rope is tied to the
wagon but I don't think yours is.

You roll away from here?

I'm sorry sir, I,
I can't make it.

A long way to Apache Wells
Sergeant, think you can make it?

I sure don't want to stay here, sir.

You're going to have to rest.

Now, don't you go passing out on me.

I won't pass out on you
Captain, just keep talking to me.

I don't know why you don't go
ahead and leave me here anyway. I'm...

I'm slowing you down.

I know how determined
you are to get those guns.

Now, you listen to me,

we'll make it back together
or we won't make it at all.

You got more guts than
any man I ever knew.

Must've been bred in you.

Not exactly.

Actually, I come from a
long line of losers, Sergeant.

Matter of fact my family motto was...

At first you don't succeed give up.

You sure switched that
around somewhere.

I tried to, when I was nine
years old, I'll never forget that...

big, old kid knocked me down, I
just lay there and thought it'd be safer...

till he kicked me.

Well, something must've
popped inside of me because I...

got up and fought back for the
first time in my life and liked it.

- Did you whip him?
- No.

No, he beat the tar out of me.

But, I learn something though.

We all going to die someday.

It's better to die fighting than
lying with your face in the dirt.

That sort of spirit sure made
a hell of a soldier out of you.

Yeah, I knew I wanted
the Army when I was 15.

Ran away from home to join up.

Clawed and scratched my way through
the ranks till I was a top cat like you.

Of course, my background, hadn't
been for the war, I'd never made Officer.

I won these bars fighting in the field.

There's going to be
a star there someday Captain.

Won't be anything there
if I don't get those rifles back.

- Yes sir.
- Come on.

I'm sorry, Captain.

Look like I'm going
to have to carry you.

Now look dead, will you?

You couldn't have
found a better decoy.

Here he comes.

Colonel Reed.

Get him to the hospital tent.

- Sergeant Walker, Captain?
- Yes, sir.

The guns and the rest
of the men, where are they?

We lost them, sir.

Step inside, Captain.

- I want to see Captain Coburn.
- Sorry Miss, you can't see him now.

But, I can't...

No, Captain I won't allow
another mission to leave here.

You said yourself the Tonto Apache were
joining Cochise, what does that mean?

Probably means they're
preparing for an all out attack.

Exactly, and they might hit any time.

That's why we've got
to have those rifles.

I need every man here to have even an
outside chance of defending this place.

I can't send half my command off
on some wild goose chase now.

Then give me four men,
I'll get those rifles back.

You had 11 when you lost them.

It mean I can't go, Colonel?

That's exactly what I mean.

You failed once Captain
and put us in deep trouble.

One more failure would
mean certain disaster.

Don't you understand?

We got the fight of our
lives try to hold this place.

You see those people out there?

They were all depending on you.

And they'll all be dead
this time tomorrow,

but by God we'll go
down fighting.

And you're asking me
to send more troopers?

What's the matter with you?

I am relieving you of
your command, Captain.

You'll fight when we're hit...

but you have no further authority here.

If we survive, a court martial...

will decide your future in the
Army, that will be all Captain.

I said that will be all.

Ellen.

Sorry Ellen, I wanted to tell you myself.

- That make it'll easier for you.
- Easier?

Both my brothers are gone and
you're going to make it easier for me.

How?

You said you'd watch out for them.
You promised to bring them back.

Why didn't you?

Well, I tried. When the Apache hit
I tried to put them in a safe place.

A safe place?

You stand there without a scratch...

yet both my brothers are dead
and you left them in a safe place?

Ellen, the Sergeant tell you?

Doug is not dead, he's alive.

Oh I don't believe you,
they're both dead.

No, they're not.

Well then, where is he?
Where's Doug?

He deserted, but he is alive.

You're lying.

Doug would never desert,
he's too loyal.

Oh, I knew I shouldn't
have let him join the Army.

He wasn't the kind
to make a good soldier.

He was so timid
and didn't like fighting.

Couldn't even stand the sight of blood.

But he'd never
desert Mother and me.

It's true Ellen,
he went with them.

Well then, they forced him to go,
they forced him,

if he's alive I know
he'd be back.

Just as well get that out of
your mind, he's not coming back.

Why?

Because he is a deserter and
if he comes back he'll be shot.

You could, couldn't you?

You could shoot a poor,
frightened boy.

Oh, it's funny how blind
I've been about you.

It's funny I didn't see it long ago
the way that you force your men...

expecting them to be
as strong as you are.

Well, you're cruel Bruce,
cruel and brutal.

The way you beat up
that man coming up here.

You beat his face to a pulp
because he wanted a dipper of water?

Oh, it's funny I didn't see
then how truly heartless you are.

Oh, no wonder Doug ran off, no wonder
they all went, you drove them to it.

- They ran off to get away from you.
- Now, just a minute.

Maybe I did make a mistake,
you might as well hear all of the story.

Doug didn't desert to
get away from me,

could've saved Mike's life,
he didn't do it.

Didn't want to come back and
face you, that's why he deserted.

No, no...

Coburn knew that
because of his failure the

entire camp could be
overrun by the Apaches.

The Colonel had
ordered him confined to post...

but a heavy weight of guilt made
him decide to disobey that order...

and take the gamble of
going alone after the guns.

- Soldier.
- Yes, sir?

Need your sidearm.

- You mind saddling that horse for me?
- Yes, sir.

The Captain hoped to pick up
the track of the rifles by daybreak.

He studied the trail
taken by the deserters.

At least he had a fresh
horse for the search ahead.

- Your pack horse is about to had it.
- No more than me.

Riding all night through
these mountains

- I bet we didn't cover ten miles.
- That's right Fuller,

we didn't run into
any Apache either.

Now look, we'll hole up here,
hide our valuable merchandise.

Keep talking about
how valuable these are.

I'm began to wonder if we're going
to live long enough to cash them in.

Know what your trouble is Higgins,
you don't have any faith in me.

- Yeah, about sums it up.
- Give me a hand, hold up.

You treat all this stuff
with love and care boys.

This here rifle, I'm holding...

is worth a thousand
dollars in pure, raw gold.

Yeah but worth la
one thing, getting is another.

Don't you worry
about that Higgins, I'll get it.

I'll get a thousand dollars
a piece for these rifles, maybe more.

You see boys...

I'm a first class salesman,
a traveling salesman.

This here's my sample case.

- How far you traveling Bodine?
- Oh, not too far.

My best customer is up
in those hills somewhere.

- Cochise?
- That's right boy.

Apache gold is what I'm dealing for.

You said we were going to
sell those guns in Mexico.

What's the matter sonny,
you getting cold feet?

Want to go back?

- To a firing squad?
- I'll be glad to dump these rifles.

We can start making better time.

Our next stop will be Mexico
where all those senoritas hang out.

Yeah, and old Cochise's
next stop will be Apache Wells.

Well...

I'm glad you boys are
beginning to appreciate

just how well I use
this head of mine.

What are you talking about?

The Army is going to be too busy fighting
Cochise to send anybody chasing us.

You already got the Army wiped out
and you ain't even found Cochise yet.

Why now there, you don't go worrying
again Higgins, I won't have to find him.

I get close enough,
his braves will find me.

They probably cut your throat
before you get a chance to talk to him.

Oh no, this is my insurance.

He needs these guns a
lot more than he needs my scalp.

Keep a sharp lookout.

Time enough to let down after we
close this deal and get across the border.

Come on, let's go.

Sonny boy,
you take care of the horses.

Listen, I'm going to go up
there and pick me out a spot.

Won't you all go around the other
side, you know, just, just in case.

Good idea.

The Captain would've given
anything to get a crack at Bodine...

but recovering the guns was
his prime concern now.

Bodine was hurried up
into the mountains...

where Cochise waited
with a party of braves.

Soldier, you are a very brave man...

or a fool.

Neither one, just a hunter...

out after big game.

The hunter was captured
by the game he was seeking.

It's the only way I could
get to see the mighty Cochise.

The Army insults me,
sending an underling to parlay.

Nobody sent me,
I came on my own.

The White Eyes do not let their soldiers
ride alone through the Chiricahuas.

- Nobody gave me permission to come.
- Then you deserter.

If you want to call it that.

A man who turns on his friends
cannot be trusted by his enemies.

We will talk no more.

No, wait a minute, wait a minute.
I'm not asking you to trust me.

- You have more of these?
- 40 rifles, 40,000 in gold.

If you want them.

Show me the rifles.

I am not like your people,
my word can be trusted.

When I see the rifles...

you will get the Apache gold that
means so much to the White Eyes.

Coburn trailed the
deserters back to where they...

stood guard over the
guns waiting for Bodine's return.

Higgins, get away from him,
let me get a shot at him.

- Now, let's go get us an Apache.
- I'm scared Mike, I'm scared.

I never should've joined the Army.

Get out of the way, Higgins.

That's no excuse.
Got no use for a coward Sergeant.

Captain.

Captain.

Get him off me,
get him off of me.

Doug...

Lets get out of here.

That kid.

- I should've known.
- The guns.

- Where are they?
- Now look.

He say, two men ride away,
with horses.

We will follow.

But, if this is a trick,
you, will be the first to die.

Cochise knew he
must keep those rifles

from reaching the
cavalry at Apache Wells.

No use trying outrun them
and dragging these pack horses.

Give me a hand, will you, Doug?

You going to fight them here sir?

Going to try slow them down,
it's up to you to get the rifles on through.

Won't leave you here alone, Captain.

- You're going to obey orders soldier.
- Yes, sir.

Sure feels good fighting
on the right side for a change.

- Come on, help me load these.
- Yes, sir.

- Better get going, hadn't you Doug?
- Yes, sir.

With five guns,
Coburn hoped to buy

enough time for Doug
to get to Apache Wells.

It's Coburn, it's Coburn.

Wait a minute Chief,
it's no trick.

I mean I got the same rifle he has,
I'll get him out of there for you.

I'll get those rifles for you.

- At ease soldier.
- There your rifles, Colonel.

Break them out,
issue one to each man.

Captain Coburn stayed
behind to fight off the Indians sir.

- Alone?
- Yes, sir.

He wouldn't let me stay,

he said it's the only way we
could get the guns through.

- Could still be alive.
- Corporal.

Captain Coburn is in trouble,
I need some volunteers, mount up.

Think you can ride son?

Yes, sir.

Go get him.

Yes, sir.

Bodine was caught between
the Army and hostile Apaches.

All he could do was
try to save his own hide now.

Yes sir, Captain, sir.

Captain Coburn?

Captain Coburn?

Everything is all right, Doug.

Everything is going
to be all right.

Attention.

Forward, ho...

Go ahead, Doug.

Oh Doug.

Good work Captain, for once
I am glad you disobeyed orders.

So am I sir, the boy
made the difference.

Go ahead, Captain.

Ressynch: Kilo