Devil's Doorway Page #4

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and spit him out.

A couple of sheep herders down at

the waterhole, they're driving stakes.

It will save yourself a lot of grieve,

if you just get out of here.

My lawyer tells me this is land in the public

domain and I have the right to homestead it.

- I've already told you once.

- We can't let the sheep die?!

That's your luck out.

- Don't come any further.

- Anytime you're ready.

If you want that kid of yours

out here alive, move!

What's it gonna take

to teach you, guys?!

And I want to remind you that Mr. Poole

fought long and gallantly for his country.

He certainly earned the right to live.

If the citizens of Medicine Bow

show confidence in this man

and help him by giving him the guarantee

to be sure of just a portion of his land,

I'm sure he'll not be unreasonable

about the rest of it.

As it is, he has every right

to be suspicious.

The law says an Indian got

no more rights than a dog.

That's the law

I've sworn to enforce.

I'll do my best, even so I knew

Lance Poole since childhood.

He has always been a good boy, he

never made any trouble for nobody.

He's just trying to

hang on to his land.

As soon as he fights, I got to

go out and try to stop him.

A Marshall, I reckon, should

not mix up in any politics

but I feel pretty bad the way things are and

there's nothing saying the law can't be changed.

- Give me the pen.

- One moment! Please, Miss Masters!

There's one thing that concerns me. If we sign

and the government entitles the Indian his land,

can you guarantee that he will

live in peace with his neighbors?

- Not to go to savagery?

- Of course.

Well, in that case, I'll be

delighted to sign your petition.

Coolan! Coolan! That Indian just

shot one, the MacDougall kid.

This must be some mistake!

Rod, I'm sorry about what happened.

So am I.

- Well, I guess nothing can stop it now.

- What do you mean? Stop what?

A fight. We're at the end of our rope. We

got to make a move. We just can't take anymore.

Hello.

I just came from the sheep camp shepherd. - You're

worried about them. -They have a right to live.

- It's just as terrifying for them to be

without a home as it is for you. - Alright.

- I'm afraid. They can only endure so much,

then they'll fight. - That's their choice.

- Lance, can't you see if they'd fight

you'll be destroyed? - What can I do?

Give in an inch.

Make a few concessions.

Lance, they're coming west all the time.

This is a question of survival for you.

The Land Office refused our petition.

Orri, I want to ask you a question.

- Will you be honest?

- I'll try.

Do you believe in your heart that

they have a right to my land?

Answer me, Orri.

I believe they are human beings and

that everyone has the right to live.

- You didn't answer me. - What can they do?!

- Do you think they have a right to my land?

Yes, yes! To a part of it anyway!

- Let me explain, Lance. Just...

- Never mind, Orri. I understand.

It's hard to explain how an

Indian feels about the earth.

It's the pumping of our bloods.

It's the love we got to have.

My father said the earth is our mother.

I was raised in this valley

and now I'm part of it, like...

Like the mountains, and the hills,

deer, pine trees and the wind.

Deep in my heart I know

that I belong here.

If we lose it now, we

might as well all be dead.

Don't feel bad, Orri.

You've tried to see it my way.

You've been a good lawyer.

I'll ride home with you.

Marshall, you've solved

as long as you can.

You've deliberately ignored your duties as

a peace officer and a servant to the people.

The Indian's petition has been denied.

Are you going to give these men the homestead

protection they're entitled to or you aren't you?

- I guess I ain't got much choice.

- All right.

Some of you get the sheep moving,

and the rest come along with me.

- You notice how pretty the

mountains look today? - Yeah.

I've always wanted to die with my boots off, in

bed with people standing around, crying over me.

Don't come any closer, Zeke!

Don't!

You wouldn't hurt me, Lance.

They'll never be any closer as that.

Bring all the sheep!

Gentlemen, in my hand I hold the

telegram from the Governor of Wyoming,

appointing me temporary the U.S. Marshall.

I need hardly remind you of

the purpose of our assembling.

Who could blame us if we dangle Poole and

his Indians from the telegraph poles as

...a warning to other redskins?

The volunteers of this expedition will have first

choice in the homesteading of Sweet Meadows.

Commanding Officer of Fort Laramie.

Temporary U.S. Marshall forming

posse to attack Sweet Meadows.

Strong possibility that Indians of

State reservation hiding there.

To prevent mass violence, urgently

request present here Federal troops

to deal with the situation.

Please reply immediately.

How can I fight without a gun?

I can shoot a shovel.

- You'll get a gun soon enough.

- I hope so.

- We'll be ready by sundown.

- Good. They probably will hit at night.

- Indians aren't supposed to fight at night.

- You'll need sleep.

We'll need more than that.

All right, men! Let's go!

Don't hurry! Take your time.

- Is that the answer?

- No, that's a call from Rock Springs.

This is it! It's from Fort Laramie.

The Indians have build themselves a good

defense. They probably got about 18 guns.

If we get them from all three sides,

each group will face about six Indians.

It shouldn't be difficult. It'll be

dark in 20 minutes. We'll wait.

All right, men! It's dark enough.

Let's get this over with!

Wait! I have news!

- You should be glad to hear this!

- It can wait. We have work to do.

Jenkins, you take 12 men

and encircle to the north.

I see no need for you men to get all shot up

when the U.S. cavalry is willing to do the job.

What's cavalry got to do with this?

I'm dispatching immediately Troop B,

to dispose uprising Medicine Bow Indians.

Signed:

Major B. Haskins, Commanding Officer.

This is a local problem and the solution

lies entirely under my authority as Marshall.

Of course, Mr. Coolan.

I was just thinking of your men.

The trained soldiers are

willing to do the job!

I think you're right. There's still some

work we can do before the troops get here.

We can soften up the Indian a little.

He... seems to favor dynamite.

- What's the lady lawyer doing?

- It's hard to tell.

Coolan will make a move soon.

- Not yet.

- When?

Now!

Red Rock!

Get them out of here!

- Back to the reservation! Go on!

- Why, Lance?

If they are not here, I might have

a chance to save this place.

They brought all the trouble here.

Send them back to the reservation!

If you want to save their lives,

why don't you say so?

- They haven't got a chance. Tell them anything,

just get them started. - You know they won't go.

- Do as I say!

- All right, but they won't go.

They won't go.

All right.

If they want to stay,

they're set on dying.

Let's make it count!

Let's go after them!

Hey, Ed!

Ed, you're there?

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