the rebels' caravan is stopped at a small union outpost. at first, they are allowed to proceed, but after watching the bullion-laden wagons have difficulty moving through the soft dirt, the soldiers become suspicious and attempt to inspect the wagons. the southerners start a firefight, killing the soldiers. in the confusion, bradford escapes. pursued closely by irby and his men, he rides his horse down a steep incline and ends up somersaulting down the hill. the rebels, believing him dead, continue toward texas. bradford returns to the outpost and sends a telegraph to the garrison. major drewery (douglass dumbrille), the garrison commander, arrives with a contingent of cavalry. drewery, who is scornful of bradford as a soldier, does not take his advice and ends up following a false trail, causing the pursuit to fall ever further behind the rebels, who are themselves fighting thirst, privation, and the unforgiving terrain. bradford is able to persuade drewery to allow him to take a small detachment to follow his hunch.