Duel at Diablo Page #3

I put out a lot of money for what's

in that wagon. I want to get it to Concho!

I didn't invite you, Grange!

If you're so anxious to go there,

hoist your butt on your wagon and go!

You think I'm crazy?

Corporal Harrington!

You busting with things to say, too, Toller?

I don't like it any more than Grange,

but you're the cock-a-doodle-doo here...

So, I'm stuck.

Then?

I just finished

busting you another gut-twister. Mark it.

Yes, sir?

Corporal, you'll carry a dispatch

to Colonel Foster at Fort Concho...

And don't stop on the way.

Not to eat, not to sleep. Understand?

Yes, sir.

Pick him out

the two fastest mounts we've got.

In future, Grange...

When I'm having a private conversation,

you keep the hell away from me.

Like right now.

Jess, get a solid meal under your belt.

I want you to ride out

to keep track of Chata.

That'll leave you without a scout.

Chata could find you before I find him.

I'll take care of myself.

You take care of yourself.

There's a man in Concho

I've got to see before I die.

Grange.

Yeah?

If we should tangle with Chata...

He'll have to leave his families unguarded.

There's a chance

we could get to your wife...

Get her out.

Well, she's where she wants to be...

So, let her be.

Mrs. Grange!

Ellen Grange!

What the...

Get your pencil ready.

Them horses all you worry about?

Yeah. I got ten more to bust.

Then my worries are over.

You can still lose your skin out here, too.

Not if I can help it.

Sir...

There's fresh pony tracks

leading across our trail

into that canyon.

Soldier boy, you found your Apaches.

We proceed, sir?

Tell the men we'll advance at the ready.

Yes, sir.

Toller...

Do you remember the Ojo Caliente fight?

You got an arrow in your backside

and I pulled you to cover.

I remember.

I have to lead the column.

Somebody's got to find out

if Chata's up there.

And if I get killed, you'll know.

That's right.

I see.

Hold your fire! Re-form in twos!

Come on, you ain't paid for yet!

Get those wagons to the rocks!

Form a company front behind the wagons,

Sergeant, and do that about turn!

Yes, sir.

-Let's get you mounted.

-Leave me be!

Don't give me no orders, McAllister!

O'Brien!

Form company front behind the wagons.

About turn!

Fire!

About turn!

Your leg's broke.

I know.

Sir, there's 16 dead...

And there's some more men that's hurt

so bad they can't be of much use...

And the cook wagon's lost.

I know, Sergeant.

-All our grub, sir.

-And all the water. I know, Sergeant!

Chata's got us pinned down here.

As long as he keeps us pinned down...

Until Colonel Foster shows up

it'll have been worth it.

Won't it, Sergeant?

Yes, sir.

Tell the men that the water they've got

in their canteen

will have to last them

until the reinforcements arrive.

Any man who uses his up

will just have to drink his own sweat.

-Yes, sir.

-And, Sergeant...

-Fine job for your first Apache fight.

-Thank you, sir.

Well?

Find shade for the wounded and see

that everything's done that can be done.

Yes, sir.

The worst casualty is that cook wagon.

That Chata, he dealt the cards,

played us, and took the first hand cold.

I've still got an ace card up my sleeve.

Harrington?

Aye.

Don't look!

Look the other way.

It's Corporal Harrington.

Come on, let's go.

That's where Scotty is holed up.

We gotta get to those rocks

before Chata can cut us off.

When I give you the word,

you get going full out!

Here, I'll take the boy.

You've both got a better chance

of making it if I take him.

What are you doing?

Chata won't take a chance

on his men shooting his own grandson.

Now!

Lieutenant, look!

Prepare to fire!

Fire!

Gimme here. You're scaring the kid.

You're standing up now!

Yeah, you're standing up!

What'd you bring that here for?

That's her son.

Sorry, ma'am...

I didn't mean to...

Scotty, Harrington didn't make it.

He was tortured before he died.

Probably told Chata everything he knew.

So Chata knows...

I'm waiting here for reinforcements

that aren't going to arrive?

He also knows

what you got in those wagons.

He wants that ammunition and the glory.

And he gets both by wiping us out...

Which makes him

bigger than ever with the Apaches.

Jess.

We've got to break out and find water.

Where?

There's only two places

between here and Concho.

One of them's where Chata left his families,

20 miles inside those hills.

With those wagons,

you'll never outrun him.

And the other place?

Diablo Canyon.

Just a half a mile

from where Chata's sitting.

But Diablo is a box canyon.

There's only one way in.

I spotted four or five Apaches

just inside the rocks.

That's all he'll need to hold you out.

What's next...

General?

-How old is he, ma'am?

-Four months.

He don't favor his mother, that's for sure.

That's yours?

Yes.

You didn't tell me that...

Why?

After the way you acted?

So you ran off the first chance you got

to get back to this...

Half-breed bastard!

-Come off it, Grange.

-You stay out of this, Toller!

-That's just a little baby you're...

-You keep your mouth shut or...

You were saying?

Pick it up.

Be careful, Grange.

I told you to pick it up.

You got another one in your holster,

use that one, or back water.

You two can play games some other time.

Right now,

we can't spare either one of you.

You ought to play poker, Grange.

You got natural luck.

Lt. McAllister would like to see you two.

Look, we set out at dark

with the wagons for Concho.

Chata's not likely to follow us

till he's sure we're not just trying

to feint him out of the canyon.

He'll just scout us, knowing he can

catch us easy enough when he's ready.

After a couple of hours...

I'll shift direction...

Strike straight

for where he's left his families.

His scouts will race back to report it.

Chata will have to come out to stop us.

Only by then,

I'll have changed direction again.

Circling back to Diablo Canyon...

Getting there before

Chata realizes what's happened.

You might make general one day.

Except he'll probably leave some men

in the entrance to that canyon.

Just in case.

That's something you'll have to take

care of before you set out for Concho.

You and the four best men I've got left.

Toller?

He's not under my orders.

But I'm thirsty, too.

And I'm getting thirstier.

Troopers, mount up! We're moving out!

Dress on the wagons!

Let's move it!

Flank the first armor wagon!

White, Hopkins,

flank the second armor wagon.

It's time now, Mrs. Grange.

Avery, Miller, flank the freighter's wagon.

Bugler, drive point behind the Lieutenant!

-Help me mount, Sergeant.

-Sir, are you sure you're able?

-I give the orders.

-Yes, sir.

Here.

As far as I'm concerned,

your job's done when you report to Concho.

If Clay Dean's there...

I'll not take it bad

if you don't return with Colonel Foster.

Scotty.

Keep an eye on Ellen Grange

and her boy, will you?

You've got no luck, Jess.

She's already married.

"Welcome to your gory bed...

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