It's been quiet at Fort Apache. Boone and O'Hara have organized a fort shooting match and for now are with Rusty looking for targets. Major Swanson tells Rip a shipment of 500 new repeating rifles is on the way to the fort; and Pointed Arrow and his braves have left the Comanche reservation. They have, and they have also intercepted and taken the rifles. An Apache saw the attack and was trying to get to Cochise but the Comanche bring him down.
O'Hara is bragging about his eagle eye and is about to shoot but discovers his rifle isn't loaded. Boone warns Rusty about pointing a rifle at anyone, but Rusty says his gun isn't loaded. Boone relates the story of a soldier, Billy Benson, whose "unloaded" rifle killed a Sioux brave and started a war. While Boone and O'Hara are arguing about showing Rusty the right way to shoot, Rusty fires and hits the bull's eye. Rusty goes off for some personal target shooting when it appears his first bullet hit and killed Temacula, an Apache brave.
Rusty decides he must take the body to the Apache village and confess his accident. But Temacula isn't dead, Chief Omahundra wants to know what happened. Rusty says it is all his fault and he is there to take his punishment.
Boone and O'Hara find Rusty's rifle, and they also find Comanche horse tracks and a knife. Chief Omahundra brings Rusty back to Rip for his punishment. Rip promises that Rusty will face an appropriate military punishment. Rip also tells Chief Omahundra that Pointed Arrow has returned and may have the repeating rifles. Chief Omahundra knows Pointed Arrow has always wanted the Apache hunting grounds. Rip asks that Omahundra keep his people with the peace while the soldiers look for Pointed Arrow. Boone and O'Hara are still looking for Rusty, but Rusty is with Rip and a patrol now looking for Boone and O'Hara. In turn, Boone and O'Hara have found Pointed Arrow and the rifles. As they search the teepees looking for Rusty, they find the store of ammunition which they intend to blow up keeping additional bullets away from the Comanche.
Omahundra finds Rip and tells him Rusty did not shoot Temacula, he awoke and said it was the Comanche who tried to kill him. Rip hopes Omahundra also learns from Rusty who was willing to accept a punishment rather than lie. Omahundra agrees it is good.
When Rip and the troopers hear an explosion, they assume O'Hara and Boone are responsible. O'Hara and Boone are fleeing the angry Comanche when their horses are shot from under them. Using the bodies of their mounts, O'Hara and Boone set up a defense. Rip arrives in time to save then both.
O'Hara and Boone are heroes, and even saved a rifle for Rusty, Rusty no longer has an interest in shooting, bur Rip reminds him of the difference between being careless and using your weapon responsibly. Rusty accepts the gift.
O'Hara is bragging about his eagle eye and is about to shoot but discovers his rifle isn't loaded. Boone warns Rusty about pointing a rifle at anyone, but Rusty says his gun isn't loaded. Boone relates the story of a soldier, Billy Benson, whose "unloaded" rifle killed a Sioux brave and started a war. While Boone and O'Hara are arguing about showing Rusty the right way to shoot, Rusty fires and hits the bull's eye. Rusty goes off for some personal target shooting when it appears his first bullet hit and killed Temacula, an Apache brave.
Rusty decides he must take the body to the Apache village and confess his accident. But Temacula isn't dead, Chief Omahundra wants to know what happened. Rusty says it is all his fault and he is there to take his punishment.
Boone and O'Hara find Rusty's rifle, and they also find Comanche horse tracks and a knife. Chief Omahundra brings Rusty back to Rip for his punishment. Rip promises that Rusty will face an appropriate military punishment. Rip also tells Chief Omahundra that Pointed Arrow has returned and may have the repeating rifles. Chief Omahundra knows Pointed Arrow has always wanted the Apache hunting grounds. Rip asks that Omahundra keep his people with the peace while the soldiers look for Pointed Arrow. Boone and O'Hara are still looking for Rusty, but Rusty is with Rip and a patrol now looking for Boone and O'Hara. In turn, Boone and O'Hara have found Pointed Arrow and the rifles. As they search the teepees looking for Rusty, they find the store of ammunition which they intend to blow up keeping additional bullets away from the Comanche.
Omahundra finds Rip and tells him Rusty did not shoot Temacula, he awoke and said it was the Comanche who tried to kill him. Rip hopes Omahundra also learns from Rusty who was willing to accept a punishment rather than lie. Omahundra agrees it is good.
When Rip and the troopers hear an explosion, they assume O'Hara and Boone are responsible. O'Hara and Boone are fleeing the angry Comanche when their horses are shot from under them. Using the bodies of their mounts, O'Hara and Boone set up a defense. Rip arrives in time to save then both.
O'Hara and Boone are heroes, and even saved a rifle for Rusty, Rusty no longer has an interest in shooting, bur Rip reminds him of the difference between being careless and using your weapon responsibly. Rusty accepts the gift.