The Virginian Page #4

They aren't very ambitious. - You are.

I've had lots of chances

and let them slip. But not anymore.

You're the best chance I ever had.

- Please. I'm not the one for you.

You mean I'm not the right one

for you. But I'm going to change.

I didn't mean that.

- I don't aim to stay here.

I'm going to move west some day,

and do what the judge did here.

Find new land in Utah and Nevada.

Sounds fine.

It wouldn't mean anything to me

unless you were with me.

Oon't, please. - Oon't what?

- Spoil this.

These rides have been perfect.

And I want them to go on so.

I know, but you might as well

ask grain to stay green.

This may be enough for you.

It isn't for me.

If I'm going to go on seeing you...

- You're not.

At least not like this. I can

stay away easier than go on like this.

I won't press you for an answer now.

- Listen.

Oo you hear that?

Sounds like a calf.

Maybe it's hurt. You wait here.

Howdy, Virginian. - Hello, Steve.

- What are you doing out here?

Nothing special.

Oon't burn your fingers.

I'm not doing anything, Pappy.

Just putting Trampas' brand on one of

Judge Henry's calves. - It's a stray.

Sure. Following a Box-H cow.

- That's funny. I didn't see her.

Guess my eyes are getting bad.

- Listen, Steve,

we've done a lot of loco things,

but we've never stolen.

So what's a few calves to the judge?

- I'm not sore at you,

but the ranchers are sick of

rustlers trimming down their herds.

They'll send out posses with ropes.

Not for me. I've got a rope

I've been limbering up for years.

I'm talking straight, Steve.

I'm responsible for these cows.

You take life too serious, Virginian.

You'll have to choose: Quit it or take

the consequences. I won't cover you.

Alright. If that's the way you feel,

I'll make it the hard way.

You'd put me in a tough spot

if you didn't. - Can I keep my job?

Sure.

See you later.

- You bet.

What was it? - Calf.

- Was it hurt? - Just lost its mother.

Let's go back another way.

I'll take him.

- Thank you.

There's a letter for you from Vermont.

- It's just family. - Not this one.

It's from Samuel Bennett,

Elm Street, Bennington, Vermont.

Bennett? Isn't that the dude back East

that wanted to marry you? - Oude?

Sam's a very nice boy.

I guess I'll have to say goodbye.

- Goodbye?

I won't see you for quite a while.

We'll be rounding up cattle.

I'll be busy, but at least

it'll keep me from worrying about you.

You think it over.

Next time, give me your answer.

I'll try to tell you when I'm coming.

More likely I'll just show up.

The Virginian's rounding

the south side, Steve's in the north.

Take this blanket, but don't snap it

till they meet on the other side.

They'll stampede at the least sound.

We want to be ready first.

Seen anything prowling around?

- No.

Restless. Can't bed them down tonight.

- Maybe a storm's coming up. - Maybe.

When that herd starts,

there's only one way to stop it.

They'll try to get up front and

turn them. You get in behind, fast.

Cut out as many as you can,

and run them up the ravine.

Ought to get 300 at least.

Get in front and strangle 'em!

Get going!

Cut 'em off!

This has got to stop. They might have

stolen only a hundred cattle,

but we're afraid Steve was lost.

- That's tough, Virginian.

I'd do anything,

but I've got nothing to go on.

Somebody popped a blanket at them.

- Oid anyone see them pop it?

No. - Looks like your boys

fell asleep and some cattle got away.

If I go chasing after every cow

that was lost, I'd never get through.

I'm sorry, Judge.

I'd be glad to act when you

get some proof. Until then, sorry.

I've always been

a faithful servant of the law.

But I'm through backing a sheriff

who refuses to enforce it.

He's been letting cattle thieves go

for 2 years. We got to do something.

I suggest the Virginian head a posse

to run them down. - I'm not sure, sir.

You know this country best.

If we don't make an example of them,

we'll never have peace. Will you go?

Alright, Sir.

Better than herding cattle, isn't it?

- I'm still herding, aren't I?

Oo you think we're sitting

in a New York hotel? - We will be.

Just get these across the line.

200 steers at 50 dollars a head.

- 10,000 dollars.

Not bad, for 3 days' work.

- 1,500 apiece. - Not quite.

You forgot the sheriff.

- What's he done?

Absolutely nothing.

That's worth a slice, isn't it?

Those rocks run for miles.

Anybody following sure will cuss you.

That's what I want.

They'll have to ride plenty to find

tracks. - They'll ride more than that.

We're not taking them across here.

- But this trail is perfect. - Sure.

But we'll take a bath instead.

Get them in the river.

Swim them down to Boulder Creek.

Make sure

they don't leave tracks on the bank.

Not that anyone

will be looking downstream,

but as my sainted mother used to say:

"Always cover your bet. "

Any sign of Steve?

- Boys are still looking for him.

I was in a cattle-run once. They

mowed over a fellow's body all night.

But they found him?

- Yeah.

Never find any tracks there.

- They would take them that way.

We're going to lose a lot of time,

but we have to circle these rocks

till we find the tracks coming out.

Hey, Nebraska. Come here.

Trampas wouldn't take them this way.

It would take him too far north.

That's why he'd do it: Because

we don't expect it. - He's too greedy.

He wouldn't drive them 140 miles

and lose weight. He'd sell 'em fat.

He'd take them south.

- Smart figuring. - There's no tracks.

What if he swam them downstream?

- That's crazy. - It's possible.

That's it. Come on.

Hold it.

See that smoke?

- Yeah.

Come on.

We don't want a fire. - But it's cold.

- Somebody might see you.

Here, quit worrying.

- We should push on.

You want to wear the cattle out.

I'll take a look at our bank account.

- I'll find a soft rock to sleep on.

We're not sleeping till we get rid

of those cows. - Forget it, Shorty.

I can see myself on Broadway,

and all the girls following me.

They say city women go crazy

when they hear the sound of spurs.

Just like catnip to a kitten.

Fire.

Pretty sure of themselves.

Spread out.

Half of you go around the other side.

That moon's awful bright.

- Shut up. And stop frowning.

Play something cheerful.

Not so loud.

Orop 'em!

What do we do?

- Every man for himself.

Get their guns, Baldy.

Where's Trampas and the rest?

Who do you mean?

We are on a hunting trip.

So are we. Tie 'em up.

Hold it there.

The next one counts.

You always could shoot.

- I hoped I wouldn't find you here.

I know. You said

a posse would be out. But don't worry.

I'll dust out of here fast.

You'll let me go, won't you?

I told you to choose, Steve.

The cattle are in the ravine.

Whoever was on lookout ducked.

Hiya, boys.

Haven't seen you since the stampede.

I caught him in the riverbed.

Tie him up?

Thoughtful of you,

building us a fire.

We smelled it halfway across Wyoming.

- I told him. - Told who?

Told me.

Alright, I shouldn't have lit a fire.

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