In the Days of the Thundering Herd

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• 1914
• 0 hr 48 mins
• Drama, Action & Adventure

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Tom Mingle, a pony express rider, is on his way to the settlement where Sally Madison, the daughter of a settler, has her abode with her brother, Luke, who spends his time dozing and dreaming. The scenes in this picture are laid during the days of '49, when the intrepid frontiersmen battled with the Indians for supremacy and when the scalp of man, woman or child of the white race was the token of an Indian's bravery and right to be called a man. Tom is in haste not only because the carrying of the mails require swiftness, but because he wants to see Sally, his sweetheart. He arrives within a short distance of the village where Sally lives when his attention is attracted by a dust cloud and the thunderous clamor of an approaching buffalo herd. He spurs his horse to reach the village before the herd passes as he does not want to be cut off, but his eagle eye discerns a swiftly moving, girlish figure ruining in front of the madly stampeding buffalo in an endeavor to escape them. Tom dashes in pursuit and after a desperate and breathless struggle, seizes the exhausted girl, and dashes on just ahead of the approaching buffalo. It is not until after this has been accomplished that he recognizes Sally, who rewards his gallantry and bravery with a warmth of affection that makes him all the more in love with her. In the village the story of the rescue is told, but it is considered an incident and of no considerable importance, because the hazards of frontier life are taken as a matter of course. Tom unstraps the mail pouch and there are letters for several of the settlers. Among them is a letter for Luke, Sally's brother. He reads it and with unconcealed fright and dismay, gives the letter to Sally. Tom helps her to read it. The letter is from Sally's father, Col. Madison, who is in the California gold fields. He writes and says that he has "made his strike" and is getting rich; that Sally's mother is very ill and Sally must reach her bedside as speedily as possible. Col. Madison appeals to his son, Luke, saying, "Remember the vow you made to bring Sally to us." He encloses a bag of gold dust. Lazy, shiftless Luke has forgotten his promise. He reiterates the excuses which he has made to Sally before, and declines to take her to the gold fields to join their parents. The exhibition of the bag of gold dust from the California mines, has excited the lust for riches in the breasts of all. Tom declares that he will lead Sally into this new land of promise and other settlers announce a desire to join the party. In a short time arrangements have been completed for the departure from the village of a train of fifty "prairie schooners." At night the wagons are entrained in a circle, while sentries are posted to prevent the approach of war-like Indians. One night while Tom is acting as a sentinel, his instinct warns him of danger. As he stands by the side of a tree, alert and listening, a silent arrow wings its way within an inch of him and buries its head in the tree trunk. An Indian creeps up behind him, springs on him and they engage in a desperate hand to hand struggle until Tom, at last victorious, hurls his assailant over the precipice. He then rushes to the camp and gives the alarm. But the Indians are there in great force. They surround the circle of wagons and dash madly around and around, shooting their bows and arrows until one after another the settlers are shot down. At last only Tom and Sally remain alive. The Indians dash into the camp and proceed to scalp their victims, while Tom and Sally pretend to be dead. Then Chief Swift Wind, who is in command of the war party, notices that the two are alive. They are taken to the camp as prisoners. Chief Swift Wind falls in love with Sally while Starlight, the Chief's sister, becomes enamored of Tom. The Indians having heard great things of the prowess of intrepid Tom, determine to compel him to run the gantlet, a frightful ordeal which consists in compelling the prisoner to dash at full speed between two lines of Indians armed with tomahawks, spears, clubs, etc. If he succeeds in running the gantlet that is passing through the lines of Indians he is permitted to escape. But few prisoners accomplish this. Starlight has hidden horses where Tom can find them and notifies him of this fact before he begins running the gantlet. Tom attempts unsuccessfully to escape and take Sally with him. Their captivity continues for a long period. At times they almost succeed in getting away only to be recaptured. Chief Swift Wind tries to win Sally, while Starlight his sister, falls in love with Tom. Were it not for these conditions both would have been slaughtered long ago. Sally and Tom escape finally to the camp of a band of buffalo hunters, but their camp is attacked by Indians, and it seems as though they are to be "wiped out" by the redskins, until Sally, volunteering as a messenger, makes her way to another large camp of buffalo hunters and brings them to the rescue. In the meantime, Starlight has followed the fortunes of Sally and Tom, and it is with her aid that the massacre of the party is averted. Sally and Tom make their way at last to the gold fields where her father and mother receive her with open arms and gallant Tom is awarded the prize of her hand.