The Big Trail

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1

Hello. Hello.

I wonder what's holding them up.

Don't worry about that, Father.

We'll be going soon.

John, did you feed them hounds?

Yes, Grandpa, yes.

All right.

Now tighten her up, Son.

She'll take us

where we're going.

Yes, but where

are we going?

Now, Ma, they're thrashin' that

matter out over there now.

Pa, they made you the leader.

Why don't you say

where to go?

I'm only leader of

the Missourians, Daughter.

There are families here from every

state in the Union, I reckon.

Can't be waitin' on

'em forever, Dad.

No, Son.

They're holding a powwow

over there now.

I'll just step over and see

what they got to say.

Well, bless our wild heart.

If it ain't Breck Coleman.

How are you, Zeke?

Where at you been hidin' yourself

for the last year, boy?

Been down Santa Fe way, Zeke.

Just drifted in.

And here's Windy Bill.

Looks like you've

wintered through

in good shape.

Well, Coleman, most times I

winter through in fair shape.

This year, when the first grass

showed, I'd only put on 60 pounds.

Say, Bascom, he maybe could

tell us of a likely

stretch of country.

Breck, could you sight us to a second

Missouri anywheres out yonder?

Sure. But it's a long,

tough pull from here.

2,500 mile the way

you'd have to go.

No, it's too far off.

No place is too far

if it's what we want.

This is a land

beyond Oregon.

There ain't no land

beyond Oregon, mister.

West of Oregon comes the ocean,

way it's been told to me.

This stretch is

north of Oregon.

How many people

settled on it now?

It's Indian country.

Except for the trappers, never a

white man has left his track there.

Only one trading post

in that whole country.

Who owns it?

A Missouri trapper owns it.

Hey, mister, will you tell me this...

Hey, hey, there.

Since you all

elected me the he-coon

of this outfit,

let me do the talking.

It's everything a Missourian's

heart could crave.

There's two snow-capped mountain

ranges with peaks lost in the sky.

And between them ranges, men,

is a great valley.

Lakes and streams everywhere.

Fish, you ask, and game?

There's salmon

swarmin' up them rivers

thicker than blackbirds

in a cane patch.

Friend, will you undertake

to lead us to that valley?

I'd like nothin'

better, men...

But our trails fork here.

I've got

business that calls me

back down

the road Santa Fe way.

What business do

you follow, friend?

I'm a trapper.

Well, surely there's

fur aplenty

out in that land

beyond Oregon.

Plenty.

But I gotta kill me

a pair of skunks,

back apiece on

the road to Santa Fe.

Hey, wait, wait. Friend, how

do you find that valley?

Wellmore here is

sending a bull train clear

through to old Tom Williams's

trading post.

First time

it's ever been tried.

String along behind them and, if they

make it through, you'll find your valley.

And tell that great white

mountain hello for me.

Good-bye, Zeke.

Well, thanks, boy.

Hey!

Hey, maybe he fed us a fairy tale.

Now don't be a pig,

you know.

Howdy, Mrs. Riggs.

Land's sakes!

Well, you sure look fine,

Mother Riggs.

It's a long time

since I've seen you.

You know, you always was

a great hand to wander.

Yeah, I ramble around.

And how are

the little twins?

Little? My lands!

Them girls has grown

since you seen 'em last.

No!

Mm-hmm.

They in the house?

Mildred is. Elise went down

to watch the boat come in.

I reckon I'll saunter in

and surprise Mildred.

Oh, you sure will

surprise them.

Well, Breck, I sure am

glad to see you.

Well, you certainly

have doubled in size

since last I set

eyes on you, Mildred.

You just must see Elise.

I'll surely see

her before I leave.

There's the

Peensie Bell whistling now.

Ooh, look at the crowd.

Oh, look.

Okay. I guess it is

important to have everything ready.

I have everything ready.

Well, Miss Cameron, we be

landin' in a few minutes.

Got all your

outfit together?

Most everything's ready,

Captain Hollister.

Listen, why don't you give up

this plan and turn back?

Why, there's no place

to turn back to.

Why, there isn't a home in all the South

that wouldn't welcome the daughter

of Colonel Cameron.

True. But we can hardly

become perpetual visitors.

It's a tough

proposition, girl,

this pioneer life in

a savage wilderness.

We realize that,

Captain Hollister,

but we must keep

the family together.

Honey Girl wants to stay with

her sister Ruth, doesn't she?

Yes, I do.

And our brother Dave's

almost a man grown.

Ruth is right, Captain. The Cameron

tribe must stick together.

Say, you're

just the fella I want to see.

I want to play some more

of that shell game.

Have you got

any more money?

Oh, sure I got some money.

Where'd you get that?

From my mother-in-law.

She lend it to me,

but she don't know it.

Here, I'll meet you below deck.

Get along.

Don't forget.

I wait there for you.

Are you still determined

to be a sturdy pioneer?

Quite determined,

Mr. Thorpe.

I've told you about

my plantation in Louisiana.

It must be wonderful.

Miss Cameron, those lands

and servants are yours,

if you'll take me with them.

Why, I do thank you. But as I've

said before, it's quite impossible.

Good-bye, Mr. Thorpe.

Now, if I win,

I'm going to keep it.

But if I lose, I give

my mother-in-law half.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

Here we are again.

Hello, Thorpe.

Well, Gussie, you want to see the

elusive little ball under the shells.

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