Springfield Rifle Page #3

Wait here.

You stay with him.

Good evening.

How come?

- He helped us break.

- Let him tell it.

We shared the same cell, we were gonna

share the same appointment in the morning.

So we shared the same breakout.

- Where's Elm?

- Last time we saw him...

Let him tell it.

I guess he's looking for a horse,

I borrowed his.

Why did you come out here with them?

Well, we just naturally all ran

in the same direction.

You didn't have to run, major.

Once you were off military property

they couldn't touch you and you know it.

Why did you come here?

- Hadn't been for him, we couldn't make it.

- That's right.

You've got 20 miles to cover tonight.

Kind of late, can't we bunk here?

No, the Army's wise

to your little secret now.

This ranch and the town's

off limits to you both.

Water your horses and get going.

Talk.

Well, I came out here to ask you for a job.

Of course, I didn't know it was you.

If I had, I'd ask you for it in town.

So you want a job.

Well, I wouldn't have gone

to all this trouble if I didn't.

What kind of trouble?

Soon as I heard they got raiders...

...I got arrested

and thrown in the cell with them.

None of them seem to stay

in jail too long before.

Well, if you don't wanna hire me, just forget

all about it, and I'll mosey on back to town.

You can't go back, major. Not now.

You're either in or you're through.

Where's Sims and Mizzell?

I'm gonna fix those...

Kearny.

I told you never to run a horse like that.

Look at him. Where'd you get him?

Rented him in town from the blacksmith.

What's so funny?

That's one thing

they got plenty of, is horses.

- And you had to rent one.

- What's he doing here?

I don't know yet.

Rub down those animals

and hit the bunk.

His too?

It's your horse.

Unless you're making him a present of it.

Come along with me, major.

All right, Mr. McCool.

Pick yourself a horse.

And use this outfit.

- Any one?

- Suit yourself.

I'll take the black.

You ain't giving it to him.

You got one horse you can ride,

do you want another you can't?

Morning, Mr. McCool.

How do you like it?

What Yankees wouldn't give...

...to know about this.

It's a wonderful hideout, but you can't

keep these horses here forever.

You joined up just in time

to get the answer to that one, major.

Those horses represent five raids.

There's close to 1000 head

down there.

We're gonna drive them

over the mountains.

From there on, they don't go north,

they go south.

For the right price too.

All right, Pete, stir them up.

Follow me, major.

Come on, Rebs, stir it up!

This ain't no cotillion.

Come on, boys, pack and saddle up.

We're heading south.

Money in the sock, boys.

When I say move, I mean move!

He knows how to handle

those kind real well.

They're no-goods,

deserters and freebooters.

But the boys in gray,

they're patriots like you, major.

Those Southern gentlemen

are great fighters.

There isn't anything they won't tackle.

What's to keep them from breaking out

and going it alone?

After all, there's no corner

on the raiding business these days.

Maybe not,

but there's knowing where to raid.

They're ready.

Men, this is the major that got himself

cashiered out of the Yankee Army...

...for having Southern sympathy

which they couldn't prove.

Now, he'll have a chance to prove them.

- Come on, boy.

- Ride by twos.

Major Kearny? My name's Jim Randolph.

Ex-major, please, Mr. Randolph.

Nice to have you with us, sir.

- You're from Virginia, I hear.

- That's right. You?

South Carolina.

You know, sir,

I had you in my sights once.

Used to ride with Stand Watie.

And now, I'm right glad I missed you.

Well, I'm glad you did too.

How come you left that outfit

for this one?

Some of us were sent over here

to join McCool.

I reckon horses are almost

more important than men these days.

- All the rest of you from Stand Watie?

- Oh, no, sir. They come from all over.

Some had their commands smashed up,

drifted out here.

They're all fine folk. Not like Elm's trash.

Aren't there enough of us to work alone?

Do we need big Pete Elm?

No, but we need McCool.

Without him, we'd never know which way

the Yankees were sending their herds.

We ask him how he gets his information,

he just laughs at us.

McCool likes Elm, so that's it.

Sims! Mizzell!

You two still here?

Hightail it over that hill

and roust out the commission boys.

And no drinks. If they're ready for us,

get back here pronto.

You know we've got a feeding problem.

Quicker you get back,

quicker we get rid of it.

We can't sell them dead horses.

Now, get going.

Where's he sending them?

South Fork. Bear Creek.

Some of our people are down there.

They pay off McCool

and take the herd from there.

May I borrow your mirror

when you're finished with it?

I've quite finished, Mr. Kearny.

It's yours.

Why, thank you, sir.

McCool, think I can cut

our feeding problem in half.

See that hill up there? Mizzell?

Post yourself on top

and wait for Sims' signal.

- What signal?

- Let him talk.

Sims, when you get to South Fork,

if everything's all right...

...shine your mirror steady at Mizzell's

position like this for a half a minute.

We'll move the herd on down.

If there's something wrong...

...flick it like this. We'll stay put

till we get your go-ahead signal.

Was that clear?

This means "come on down,"

this means "stay where you are."

Right. Save all that time

riding back and telling us.

- Go ahead, men.

- Any questions?

What if it snows?

I'll send the major down.

He can teach you another trick.

Come on.

Kind of used to giving orders, aren't you?

What's worse, I'm used to being obeyed.

Well, don't overstep yourself, major.

Don't ever ride that horse again.

Easy, boy, now.

Put it away.

Let them fight.

Make him throw away

that Arkansas toothpick, Mr. McCool.

I said, let them fight.

Now you won't ride my horse,

or any other horse, for a while.

It worked, boys.

Mr. Kearny, you're right. It worked.

He gave me the signal to go ahead.

All right, boys, let's move!

Payday's just around the corner. Let's go!

Let's go!

Let's go.

Get going.

Let's go.

Well, they're all yours,

Mr. Commissioner.

One thousand head to take down

to the old Mississippi.

Nine hundred and eighty-four

by actual count, Mr. McCool.

And here, I already have

the money for them.

I was instructed to tell you, gentlemen,

that if you keep these horses coming...

...any offensive the Yankees

might try to start will be smashed.

We'll keep them coming

as long as this good hard cash holds up.

The Army doesn't approve of horses

from an outfit that hires a man like Kearny.

I don't care what the Army approves.

I'm a civilian. A neutral civilian.

I hire who I want. Come on.

What's going on here, captain?

That rancher McCool has hired

the escaped prisoner Kearny.

- He ought to be back in the guardhouse.

- I don't approve any more than you do.

But neither do I approve of the way

you had him arrested. You started the fight.

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