That's your man.
Draw your pay, mister.
You wanted him broken, didn't you?
Yes, but not ruined.
Now get out of here!
Mr. Marshal?
Ever heard of a J.W. Grant?
He needs you. Urgent.
My husband!
Hurry!
Please, hurry!
Get out of here!
Baby!
I'm Joe Grant. Thank you for coming, Mr. Ehrengard.
Got your telegram, Mr. Grant.
It's a pleasure, Mr. Sharp.
Yeah, me too, Lizzie.
Mr. Grant.
I'm your local bank representative.
As per your instructions, this box contains...
Thank you for coming, Mr. Fardan.
The receipt, Mr. Grant.
Exactly $100,000 in gold coins.
Not a coin larger than the $50 piece.
That's an unusual request, if I may say so...
Thank you. Move out!
Slow freight ahead, Mr. Grant.
Sidetrack it.
You really should count the money.
Didn't you count it?
Yes, of course, but...
Thank you.
Henry Rico Fardan.
Virginia Military Academy, Philippine campaign...
...Cuba with Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
Married a Mexican woman. No children. Wife deceased.
Joined Pancho Villa as weapons expert and tactician.
Your hair was darker then.
My heart was lighter then.
Left Villa's forces June, 1915.
A year of wildcatting and gold prospecting.
Results negative.
Now demonstrating automatic weapons.
Salary: $40 a week.
Hans Ehrengard.
Ex-cavalryman, cattle boss...
...wrangler, bull-whacker, packmaster.
Jacob Sharp.
Specialist with rifle, rope and longbow.
Most dependable scout and tracker in the territory.
Any objections to working with a Negro?
What's the job, Mr. Grant?
How well do you know him?
Well enough.
What's your feeling toward him?
I have the highest respect for him...
...as a soldier.
Last week...
...your "respected soldier" kidnapped my wife.
His ransom note.
Your job...
...a mission of mercy.
Raza.
Captain Jesus Raza.
Jesus!
What a name for the bloodiest cutthroat in Mexico.
Mrs. Grant is a prisoner about 100 miles across this desert.
A hellhole.
For Raza, a fortress.
He was born in that desert.
He and his men know every ravine...
...every rock, every barranca.
It'd take a battalion at least a month.
But...
...a few daring men...
...specialists...
...led by you...
...could do it in one bold, swift stroke.
Why not?
You're fluent in Spanish.
You know the terrain. You know Raza. How he thinks, how he reacts.
I know you can do it.
I don't think so.
$1000 a man going in.
If you bring her back safe and sound...
...another $9000 for each of you.
How many men does Raza have?
Pasqual?
Last month? 150 maybe.
Now...
If I were you, Mr. Grant, I'd pay the ransom.
There it is.
$100,000 in gold coins...
...as requested by Raza.
Will that guarantee she won't be killed anyway?
You know Raza!
Say we were lucky enough to get there.
How do we get your wife out safely?
Gentlemen...
...I don't know where else to turn.
What we really need is an equalizer.
Name it.
A dynamiter.
A man with a delicate touch to blow out a candle...
...without putting a dent in the candleholder.
Who would that be?
Him.
Hooper.
Have that man at the train where we pick up the horses.
Where is he?
Not far from here.
Get the details.
In jail.
Yeah. He says that...
...$700 will bail him out.
But is he dependable?
Can he be trusted?
I trust him.
Then you've got him.
Rico, buddy.
- I don't deserve you. - I agree.
I understand getting into a crap game...
...and losing $700 you didn't have...
...but how'd you lose your pants?
In a lady's bedroom.
Trying to raise the cash. Almost had it made too.
You realize people are the only animals who make love face to face?
He's all yours.
Thanks.
Again.
You could have telegraphed the money yesterday...
...and saved yourself a trip.
Yesterday I didn't have the money.
What's the proposition?
You won't lose your pants.
Your life maybe...
...but what's that?
Hardly anything at all.
Nice animals.
Picked especially by Senor Ortega.
You can depend on them.
This one is Mrs. Grant's favorite.
Bred for speed.
You'll need a lot more than that for this job.
I'm afraid you'll have to make them do.
Mr. Grant...
...I can make them go...
...but I can't make them do.
$100,000 for a wife?
She must be a lot of woman.
Certain women have a way of changing some boys into men.
And some men back into boys.
That's a woman worth saving.
Where're we going?
The Painted Mountains.
That's right.
You want us to go back to Mexico?
This time strictly for cash.
What's the deal?
$10,000 per man for 9 days work.
More money than we ever realized out of all of our...
...crazy silver, gold and oil schemes put together.
No detours.
I made us a contract.
All the way.
They know who took the woman?
Raza.
Our Raza?
A kidnapper?
Grant's got the ransom note to prove it.
Well, I'll be damned.
Most of us are.
Last week Mrs. Grant went riding.
Across the border.
She was born in Mexico.
I suppose she got lonely for it.
By the time we were alarmed...
...the note of ransom arrived.
You'll want to know how she looks.
Those were taken 4 years ago...
...on our wedding day.
I guess I'm not much good without her.
Not any more.
Where in the hacienda would they be keeping Mrs. Grant?
I'd only be guessing.
That's one thing we have to know.
What goat keeper?
By name, Padilla.
Eduardo Padilla.
He was devoted to Mrs. Grant.
Twice each day he brought her goat's milk.
It was almost a ritual.
By this...
...he will know you have my blessing.
Like myself...
...he would give his life for the senora.
When you cross under that bridge, you're in Mexico.
You'll leave as soon as it's dark.
It's safer to travel by night and rest by day.
Bring her back to me.
Please.
I know. We've been following the same tracks.
Mexicans.
- How many horses? - Eight. More likely ten.
- How long ago? - Couple of hours.
Which way they headed?
Same as us. South.
Only circling.
Now, why should they circle?
Raza's men?
Why not?
This far north of the hacienda?
That's a good question.
Could be anybody.
Even friendly.
Could be.
Jake, shag them for a while, look them over.
But just look.
We'll make camp at the mouth of Dead Man's Canyon.
Here, by the Painted Hills.
I'll find you.
You know something?
Me and Raza are the two most corruptible bums I know.
We'd do most anything for money.
And have.
But not kidnapping. That's not our trade.
Why did Raza pick Grant's wife to kidnap?
Company. Eight. Next bend up ahead.
Last night you saw tracks for ten.
That's right.
- Any cover? - Both sides.
Cut out your two horses and the dynamite mule.
Maybe they're just passing through.
If so, they'll ride at us in single file...
...the leader in front, and they'll palaver.
If it's trouble, they'll come at us in a group.
No one in front.
If the leader takes his hat off with his left hand...
...and passes it across him to cover his gun hand...
...let go fast.
Bill, you take the point.
They got bolt-action rifles.
Same setup as Durango?
Why not?
Good morning!
Boss, you got lost?
Just looking for a place to camp.
What you got in those packs, gold?
You got more gold in your teeth.
It's very dangerous around here.
That so?
Sure! Many bandidos hide in these mountains.
Very bad hombres.
They steal from anybody. Especially gringos.
In that case, we better keep moving.
Go with God.
That makes ten!
That's right!
Shoot the horse!
Shoot him!
Bury them deep.
Nine more of their horses are still left.
You going to shoot them, too?
I guess we'll have to. We can't spare the food and water.
You can turn them loose.
What's so funny?
People.
We just killed ten men. Nobody bats an eye.
But when it comes to one of God's most stupid animals...
But harmless.
Nothing's harmless in this desert unless it's dead.
Want to face another pack of Raza's men? Turn them loose.
They'll head south, back to their camp.
They'll head for the water. North to the river.
Suppose they follow us? What then?
Then shoot them.
All right. Cut them loose.
God almighty.
I've known heat before, but this is...
I hate the desert.
It's got no...
...pity.
Did he take his salt?
I'll see that he gets some.
Let him sleep.
You too.
How they taking it?
They'll be all right.
You better scout ahead tonight.
Now, beyond that ridge...
...20 miles of salt flats, then 10 more of sand.
220 degrees south by southwest, our next layover.
Coyote Pass.
The Cemetery of Nameless Men.
We buried some fine friends there.
And some fine enemies.
That was one hell of a fine battle.
Outnumbered, outgunned, and still we held that pass.
Yeah, but who cares now?
Or even remembers?
Take that ruckus this morning.
A year ago, those men would have been fighting federales...
...instead of trying to ragpick a couple of passing gringos.
We were lucky.
We were also stiffed.
They had us spotted back where we picked up their trail.
Why did they wait?
Why circle us and sucker us into this hairy spot?
All right, you're leery about the setup too. So?
Amigo.
3 days ride from Coyote Pass is another graveyard.
With one big difference:
Instead of dead heroes, they buried gold bullion.
Two million dollars in Spanish gold...
...melted down into big beautiful bars...
...and waiting for us with open arms.
And we don't have to fight Raza to get it.
That couldn't be the reason you took this job.
- Can you think of a better reason? - Our word.
We gave our word to bring the woman back.
My word to Grant ain't worth a plugged nickel.
You gave your word to me.
Drink?
Thanks.
Yeah, takes getting used to.
Broiling by day.
Freezing at night.
Alkali dust choking every hole in your body.
How does anybody live here long enough to get used to it?
Men tempered like steel.
A tough breed.
Men who've learned how to endure.
Like you and Dolworth?
Men like Raza.
I wonder how long that's been there.
About an hour or so.
Dolworth put it there.
A cross like that means everything's all clear.
An upside-down cross means danger.
Could've been put there by anybody.
That's the idea.
Dolworth?
How many more?
Three.
No guns.
- We that close to Raza? - Could be.
Where are your friends, amigo?
Don't I know you?
From here you look like me.
Why you come to this place?
You'll laugh at me.
It is not proper to laugh at a man...
...who is about to die.
I came because I'm crazy about your tequila.
And I like your women.
See? You laugh.
I'm going to ask again.
Where are your friends?
I told you. I always travel alone.
It is a sacrilege to die...
...with a lie in your teeth.
See?
Those horses...
...and six more come back to us.
But where are the men who ride them?
I don't think you kill ten men by yourself, cuate.
Hold it!
Alto!
I wouldn't do that.
My friend would die of a terrible headache.
And so would you.
So wouldn't it be more sensible if we both kept our heads?
Put down your gun.
Well, now, if I did that...
...how do I know that you would still be friendly?
Do I got to kill you to prove I like you?
Your gun, mister.
That a boy!
You have to get over this nasty habit of losing your pants.
It's not dignified.
It's drafty too.
Don't worry.
This time I'll do it.
This time we need them.
You all right?
Makes you wonder how we ever beat the Indians.
Thanks.
Interesting pass.
It's a beaut. You should see it from upside down.
If we had to hightail it out of here in a hurry...
...that doorway could save us a few hours.
It'd be the same shortcut for Raza.
Not if you rig it so we could slam that door in his face.
I'll take the first watch.
If it isn't hot, it's cold.
If it isn't cold, it's raining.
How bad is that horse?
Not too good. No bottom.
We could all do with a rest.
A shave would be a relief too.
So would a bath.
Might as well throw in a woman.
Any size, any age, any color.
Any woman.
Mister "D"?
Whatever got a loving man like you...
...in the dynamite business?
Well, now, I'll tell you.
I was born with a powerful passion to create.
I can't write, I can't paint...
...can't make up a song.
So you explode things.
That's how the world was born.
Biggest damn explosion you ever saw.
Dynamite in the hands of a fool means death.
In this case it could mean life.
Ours.
If we're lucky enough to get back to this rattrap...
...it might be touch and go.
Now all you got to do is light this fuse.
You got ten seconds to run like hell.
And then, dynamite, not faith...
...will move that mountain into this pass.
Peace, brother.
That track is the main line to Mexico City.
According to this...
...Grant's railroad spur branches off about 3 miles up.
Beyond those hills...
...the hacienda.
Supply train.
Government troops.
Look here.
Justice.
Shut up.
The men on that train are colorados.
Expert marksmen.
Also expert at torture.
A couple of years ago they burned and looted a town of 3000 people.
When they finished, 40 were left.
Fardan's wife was one of the lucky 40.
"Why are you a revolutionary?" They asked her.
"To rid the world of scum like you," she said.
They stripped her naked...
...ran her through the cactus till her flesh was...
The other 39 rebels watched her die...
...and did nothing.
Just watched.
What were Americans doing in a Mexican revolution, anyway?
Maybe there's only one revolution.
Since the beginning.
The good guys against the bad guys.
The question is:
Who are the good guys?
How about 60 horses, 4 burros?
Two machine guns from the train.
Keep those horses quiet.
Beautiful.
That Mrs. Grant?
That is a soldier.
Lieutenant "S¨ª, S¨ª" Chiquita.
Now, there's a woman worth a ransom.
She never says no.
Before you blow a gasket...
...think you can blow the water tower?
How do you want it?
Like it was hit with a French 75. Blow it to hell and gone.
Mrs. Grant could be there.
Seems like the only likely place.
The trouble is we got to be dead sure.
When we make our move we won't have time for guessing games.
Coming through the gate.
Anybody see any cows?
It's a cinch that milk didn't come from the breast of a tin can.
Our friend the goat keeper.
Friends of Senor Ortega.
The milk that you brought to the hacienda this morning.
Who was that for?
Who drinks it?
Many people.
Anybody special?
The lady.
Senora Grant.
Does she live in that room?
You're sure?
You have seen her?
I know her from the time she was born.
Her mother was dry.
She was raised...
...on the milk of my goats.
- Is she well? - Very well.
Considering...
We have come to help her.
Raza has to expect one of two things:
A messenger with a ransom, or an attack from the federales.
We've got to make him think...
...that we're the Mexican army.
The four of us?
A whole battalion.
How do the federales start an attack?
Artillery.
This is our battery of field guns.
First you hit them here. French 75s.
Then here, here, here, here, carefully avoiding that. Mrs. Grant.
When they run to defend the walls...
We slip in and rescue Little Red Riding Hood.
We can't fight our way in.
Diversion is our only chance.
Well?
Rico, buddy, I got one of my feelings.
Something dicey about this setup. Let's pull out of here.
If you can deliver this dynamite...
...with split-second timing...
...we can pull this job off.
Mister "D"?
I guess we just got to get lucky.
Jacob...
...this stick of dynamite weighs exactly four ounces.
If you taped that to one of your arrows...
...how far could you shoot it?
And hit the mark.
I don't like it.
We get it wrong?
Relax.
The stuff you're handling is safe.
These beaded sticks are the tricky ones.
It's the heat.
Makes them sweat.
Nitro.
When they're dry and cool, they're safe and obedient.
We'll leave these sweaty ones behind.
Ventilate them...
...cool them.
Then maybe they'll behave.
Right now I don't know whether it's me or the dynamite...
...that's doing all that sweating.
Four men against so many.
How will you save the senora?
I don't know yet.
When will it happen?
Tomorrow, maybe the next day.
Not before?
There's much to prepare.
Speak plainly, senor.
Am I your prisoner?
I want to help the senora.
- But you make me feel unworthy. - Trouble!
Show us if you're worthy.
Go greet them.
And remember:
I speak your language.
They found the men we buried in the canyon.
Am I worthy?
If I were you, Jacob...
...I wouldn't use any of these for firewood.
Excuse me.
I am ready to leave.
Shall I tell the senora of your coming?
She might behave differently.
I understand.
By tomorrow, God willing...
...the senora will be safe.
Until later, then.
So you let him go.
They expect him to bring the milk.
To hell with the milk.
What more does he have to do to prove himself?
He proved nothing.
He knew if he said a wrong word, he'd catch a bullet.
What were we supposed to do? Watch him all night and all day?
When we go to do the job, do we take him with us?
Tie him up?
Or do you plan to kill him?
You know, I wouldn't put that past you.
I don't like it.
All right.
We do the job tonight as planned.
This fuse will burn for ten seconds.
Three seconds for flight of arrow?
About.
That means once you light the fuse...
...you've got 7 seconds to find your target and shoot.
Clear.
Start shooting as soon as the water tower blows.
These are your targets.
That's your position.
I have 4:17.
4:20.
4:24.
Set them at 4:30.
We should have an hour before dawn. How much time do you need?
I'll be ready by five o'clock.
This fuse will burn for half-hour exactly.
Fireworks start at 5:30 sharp.
Any questions?
That machine gun over the lady's room.
My job. Anything else?
Let's go to work.