-The Indian demonstration
isn't over, is it?
Did we miss it?
-There isn't going to be
any Indian demonstration.
Our Junior Pathfinder
chief hurt himself.
-Mr. Abernathy?
-He was putting a totem
pole in the department store
window for the demonstration,
and he hurt his back.
Now, how am I going to get to be
a First Class Pathfinder if we
don't do that demonstration?
-Well, there is an
assistant chief?
-He got poison oak on
our field trip last week.
-He's not sick in bed, is he?
-No.
The doctor just won't
let him wear any clothes.
-I guess that would keep him
out of any demonstration.
-Especially in a
department store window.
-Jeepers, it sure would
be great if someone just
offered to take Mr.
Abernathy's place,
like some Pathfinder's father.
Wouldn't it, Dad?
-I'm-- I'm sure there
are a lot of fathers
who'd be happy to help, Dennis.
It's just that--
well, there aren't
many of them who have
Mr. Abernathy's knowhow.
-Jeepers, Dad, all this
father'd have to do
would be to help me to
light the victory torch.
-Well, how do you do that?
-Well, he just
has to make a fire
by rubbing two sticks together.
-Uh, those fathers are
pretty scarce, son.
Besides, I've got a meeting
at the office this afternoon.
-We do have an honorary chief.
Maybe I'll go next
door and ask him.
-Not Mr. Wilson.
-Mr. Abernathy made
him an honorary chief
when he camped out with me
on Pine Ridge that one time.
-Well, I'd like to help, Alice.
But honestly sometimes I have
trouble lighting matches.
[theme music]
-(CHUCKLING) Martha, just
look at this mailbox.
Solid brass.
See what it says?
Member, Pioneer Club.
-But George--
-Oh, I know that only
members are supposed
to buy these mailboxes,
but I'll be a member soon.
-Mrs. Schooner had good news?
-Yes.
She's coming by this
morning with Mr. Judd.
He's the membership chairman.
And if he's impressed, I'm
sure to be made a member.
-I know how important
the club is to you, dear.
But is it so important that you
had to buy the mailbox first?
-It's not just the
honor of belonging.
The Pioneer Club
gives to every member
the free use of a mountain
cabin for the whole summer.
-Free?
-Just think of all the
money we'll be saving.
We're not only
gaining a mailbox,
but we're getting practically
a free summer vacation with it.
-Even so, I think you
should have waiting.
-Oh, now don't
you worry, Martha.
I've made sure that
Mr. Judd is going
to be favorably impressed.
The Pioneer Club's main
interest is county history.
Look at that-- my great
uncle, Jeremiah Wilson,
a prominent early settler.
I'll just show Mr.
Judd that we Wilsons
are part of this
county's history.
-Well, he's very impressive.
Where did you find him?
-I borrowed him from
cousin Fillmore.
-Fillmore?
-Yes, you remember.
He fireproofed our attic.
My, isn't he a
distinguished-looking
gentleman?
Now, let's see.
Where can we put him where
he won't look borrowed?
-You find a good place, dear.
I have to get back to my dishes.
-Hi, Mr. Wilson.
-Dennis, I approve of your
interest in the Indians,
but this sneaking up
behind people is too much.
-You want to see some
arrowheads I found?
-No, thank you, Dennis.
I'm very busy.
-Boy, he must have
a nice mother.
He got his picture
taken, and he didn't even
have to comb his
hair or anything.
-My great uncle was
a leader, Dennis.
-We Pathfinders
sure need a leader.
Mr. Abernathy can't be in our
Indian demonstration today.
You can take his place.
-Oh.
Oh joy.
But no thank you, Dennis.
-You're the only chief
we've got left, Mr. Wilson.
-Well, an honorary chief
isn't supposed to do anything.
That's the honor of it.
-Boy, wait'll I grow up and
somebody asks me to be chief.
Maybe that's why the Indians
had so much trouble, Mr. Wilson.
Too many honorary chiefs.
-Hi, Dennis.
Your mother said I
could find you here.
-So what?
-Can I be in your demonstration?
-It's all off.
We don't have a chief.
-How about me?
Princess Margaret
of the Pathfinders.
-A girl chief?
That's silly.
-All right, I'll
start as a squaw.
-We don't want any
squaws, Margaret.
-If I'm not your
squaw, when we grow up,
who'll take care
of our children?
-I'll get a babysitter.
No, you go on home, Margaret.
Because that's where squaws are
supposed to be. [inaudible].
Margaret.
[doorbell]
-Mrs. Schooner.
-Mr. Wilson.
I'm sure I don't have
to tell you who this is.
-Why, of course not.
I know a pioneer when I see one.
Mr. Judd.
-Well, you appear a likely
candidate yourself, Wilson.
But I must point out that
having lived a long time
doesn't qualify one
for the Pioneer Club.
-Oh, I quite understand.
-Mr. Wilson really belongs
in our club, Mr. Judd.
He has distinguished forbearers.
-As a matter of fact, my
great uncle Jeremiah Wilson
was one of the county's
early statesmen.
-Well, that's
Jeremiah, all right.
You're related to him?
-I'm his only great nephew.
-There's something very
odd about you, Wilson.
Most people would hide the
photo of the black sheep
of the family.
But you have it out here
where everyone can see it.
-Black sheep?
Jeremiah?
-He was the worst surveyor
this county has ever known.
As a matter of fact, if they
hadn't double-checked his maps,
our county seat would have
been built in the next county.
-Jeremiah?
-I'm sure Mr.
Wilson's forbearers
weren't all black sheep.
-Oh, no.
Of course not.
There was, uh-- uh--
oh, why don't you
sit down, Mrs. Schooner,
and be comfortable?
-Thank you, Mr. Wilson.
-Well, Mr. Wilson, we
take a very dim view
of non-members who buy
their mailboxes prematurely.
-Oh, dear.
-Oh, Mr. Judd, I hadn't
planned to use it ever,
unless I became a member.
-But anyone with the effrontery
to buy a mailbox, clearly
stamped, Member, Pioneer
Club, without the right,
without the justification,
without-- you
didn't tell me you were
interested in Indians?
-Indians?
-Indians are Mr. Judd's
main interest in life.
Why, if he had his way,
everybody would be Indians.
-Wonderful.
That's fine.
That's fine.
Oh, my.
Arrowheads.
Oh, my.
If they could talk, what
stories they could tell, eh?
This one in particular.
If-- if-- oh, I
don't think I've ever
seen one with those markings.
-Oh, it just takes
knowing where to dig.
-Mr. Wilson is always so modest.
I'll bet he knows a
lot about Indians.
-I would just give
anything I own
to have had personal
contact with the Indians.
Did you have some, Wilson?
-Oh.
Well, I did spend a little time
with some when I was younger.
-Oh, this is very interesting.
Oh, I'd like to take these and--
and show them to our expert.
-You'd like to take them?
-Well, surely you
intend to donate
your findings to
the club, don't you?
-Oh, I'm sure Mr. Wilson does.
-Well--
-I told you he was modest.
I'll bet he learned bowing
and arrowing and everything.
-Mr. Wilson, you are
going to be permitted
to do the Pioneer Club
a tremendous service.
-Oh, anything I could do would
be my pleasure, Mr. Judd.
-Thank you for
volunteering like that.
The demonstration takes
place in about two hours.
But you have to
drop by and pick up
your outfit from Mr. Abernathy.
-I beg your pard--
a demonstration?
-Yes.
It's the Junior Pathfinder
Indian demonstration.
We're sponsoring them, you know.
Oh, aren't we lucky
to get him to fill
Abernathy's place as chief.
-Fill his pl-- oh, you mean
what Dennis was talking about?
-Oh, yes.
It'll be simple for an
old Indian-lover like you.
You simply rub the
two sticks together,
make the fire that
lights the victory torch.
-Rub the two sticks together?
-Yes.
I want you to know
that the Pioneer
Club will not forget this.
Oh, I'll meet you down
at the department store,
because Barton's has donated
his whole front window.
Oh come, Mrs.--
-You're as good as in.
The arrowheads did it.
Goodbye.
-See you soon.
[nervous chuckling]
-Me?
Indian chief in a
department store window?
Oh-- oh-- Martha!
-I'm not sure this is the
way it works, Mr. Wilson.
I just followed the
diagram in the book.
-Well, I'm pretty sure it
isn't the way it works.
This thing acts as
though it were fireproof.
Fireproof.
Mitchell, would
you say that a man
who knew how to
fireproof material
would know how to
un-fireproof it?
-Un-fireproof it?
-Yes.
You know, make it
combustible, flame up.
-I wouldn't know of
such a man, Mr. Wilson.
-Well, I do.
My cousin Fillmore.
-The one who
fireproofed your attic?
-Yes, he's a chemist.
Now, if I could get
him to put something
on this contraption that
would make it ignite--
-I don't know, Mr. Wilson.
-Well, I'll bet he can.
He's always coming up with
nutty ideas like that.
Why, he probably knows
more about making fire
than even the Indians did.
Come on, Mitchell.
Let's go over to my
house and phone him.
Yes.
Uh-huh.
Oh, that's wonderful, Fillmore.
Uh, cousin Fillmore.
Thanks a million.
Bye.
Well Mitchell, he
says he can fix it.
Isn't that great?
Well, Mitchell,
you do understand
that I'd be letting down
all those people if I didn't
have a little help of some kind.
-Of course, Mr. Wilson.
I-- I imagine if there had
been chemists in those days,
the Indians would have
been steady customers.
[doorbell]
-Oh, that must be Dennis
with your costume.
-Mr. Judd.
-Oh, Wilson, I thought
it might save time
if I drove you down
to the demonstration.
-Oh, but I have a little
errand to do first.
Why don't you just
go ahead without me?
-Errand?
This is no time for errands.
The show must go on.
-But Mr. Mitchell's young son
isn't here with my costume yet.
-Well, we can pick
that up on the way.
Hello, Mitchell.
-Oh, how are you, Mr. Judd?
-Oh, I'm just great now.
You have no idea what it
means to the Pioneer Club
to have a man who actually lived
for a year with the Indians
take over for us.
-I'll be right there.
Mitchell-- oh, you better
run the errand for me.
I'll give you cousin
Fillmore's address.
It's right down the street
from the department store.
-Come on, Wilson.
-Coming, Mr. Judd.
You better hurry.
-Mr. Wilson, just one
thing before you go.
Not that I doubt you,
but did you really
live with the
Indians for a year?
-I had two Indian roommates my
first year in junior college.
Why I never bothered to
learn fire-making from them
I'll never know.
Yes, coming, Mr. Judd.
-Don't worry, Mrs. Wilson.
Henry's gone to
get something that
will make things work
all right for Mr. Wilson.
-I hope so.
When he left the
house, he didn't
look like an Indian chief.
He looked more like Custer
going to his last stand.
-How long will this
stuff stay on, Dennis?
-Oh, you don't have
to worry, Tommy.
Mr. Abernathy said
that it'll last a week,
unless your mother makes
you wash your face.
-Knowing my mom, that's
the way it'll happen.
-Hot chocolate, Mr. Wilson?
Courtesy of the Pioneer Club.
Good for what ails you.
-Oh.
Well, it's not good for
what ails me, Mrs. Schooner.
-Oh.
Have you seen
Henry Mitchell yet?
-Were you expecting him?
-If he doesn't appear before
I go into that window,
oh, I'll be a
disgrace to everybody,
including the Indians.
-Oh dear.
I'll keep an eye out for him.
-Yes.
Do that.
Please.
-Well, we're ready to
get started, Wilson.
Why, you haven't got
your w*r paint on.
-Oh.
Well, all I do, Mr.
Judd, is make the fire.
-Oh, not without your
w*r paint, you don't.
These Pioneer Club
demonstrations
are going to be authentic.
-Did you say these
demonstrations?
-We're going to take this
show all over the county.
-All over the county with me?
-We are going to put the
Pioneer Club on the map.
So you be prepared.
Until Abernathy gets well,
your Saturdays are taken.
And then after that,
we'll have you dig up
some more of those
splendid arrowheads.
Now, come on.
-Arrowheads.
-Come on, we need some
w*r paint for the chief.
-OK.
-May I have that
chair please, son?
Will you put it on?
-Sure.
-Yes, but be-- do it in a
hurry, will you, please?
-OK.
-Because we're late.
-Take it easy now, Dennis.
-My pop says that after this,
you ought to get lots of offers
to stand in front
of cigar stores.
-Cigar stores-- your father--
-Sit still, Mr. Wilson.
-Well, Wilson, when does
the show get underway?
-Oh, Chief Dooley,
well, nothing's
going to happen here to be of
concern to the fire department.
-All right.
Straighten feathers, everyone.
Oh, that's enough w*r
paint, because we just
must get started.
Now, who pulls the curtain?
-I do, Mr. Judd.
-Oh, good.
-Shouldn't we let
this dry a little?
-Oh, that's quick drying.
Don't worry about that.
All right, Indians,
in your places.
All Indians in their places.
Come on, now.
Chief, would you like to
see this from out front?
-Don't mind if I do.
I always enjoy being at
a fire before it starts.
-I don't see Mr. Mitchell.
I even looked out front for him.
-Oh, good.
Isn't that good?
Huh?
Dooley, you are going to see
life in an Indian village
as it actually existed.
[applause]
-Margaret, what
are you doing here?
-Mr. Judd said I
could be a squaw.
-Well, you just stay out
of the victory dance.
-How could I dance with the
little one to take care of?
-Boy, if the Pathfinders
are letting girls in,
I'm going to desert
and become a cowboy.
-I don't think you realize
the time problem here,
cousin Fillmore.
-You can't hurry
science, young man.
-Isn't there's some way we
can speed up the process?
-Well, if you're in
that much of a hurry.
-If I don't get it
over there in time,
Mr. Wilson's going to
look pretty foolish.
-I'm sure it wouldn't
be the first time.
-What are they doing now?
-Oh, they're drying
and stretching
the skins for the
cold, hard winter.
-Better get ready, Mr. Wilson.
We're starting
the victory dance.
-Oh, no.
Dennis.
I-- oh!
-You're here.
-Oh, and high time.
-Cousin Fillmore
guarantees satisfaction.
-Thank you, Mitchell.
You've saved my life.
-I'll go watch it
from out front.
-Mr. Wilson, I'll
just bet you're
going to be the
star of our show.
-Oh.
-Mission accomplished?
-Pony Express to the rescue.
-Look at Mr. Wilson
sitting there,
just like Sitting Bull himself.
-Yes, he does rise to
the occasion, doesn't he?
-Now, watch carefully, chief.
First, you'll notice
a tiny little spark,
and then another, and then
the nicest little fire
you ever saw.
Huh?
-Boy, Mr. Wilson, you
sure learned how fast.
-You call that
Indian fire-making?
-Well, Wilson said he
knew all about Indians.
-Yeah, he's an expert all right.
You'll be lucky if he doesn't
burn down the building.
I've got to turn in the alarm.
-Oh, George Wilson,
get out of there.
[alarm]
-Boy.
Boy, I'll bet even
the Indians never
had a demonstration like this.
-All right, kids.
Everybody get back from here.
-Oh, I assure you, Chief, this
was as much a surprise to me
as it was to you.
-Judd, if your club's planning
any more of these things,
forget it.
-Oh, we're going
to tour the county.
-Oh yeah?
After I turn in
my report, you'll
be lucky if you're
permitted to start
a fire in your own fireplace.
-Oh, dear.
This would have been
such a nice start.
[coughing]
-Oh, Mr. Wilson.
-Wilson, you told me you
knew what you were doing.
-Oh, well, you see, Mr. Judd--
-I see only one thing,
that this demonstration
is a mess and a failure
and the fire department
is threatening to
cancel all the others.
And I have you to thank for it.
-Oh, dear.
I suppose he's
really angry at me.
-Oh, it looks that way.
-Oh, do you mean--
you think-- do you--
-Oh, Mr. Wilson, I'm
afraid your chances
of becoming a member
of the Pioneer Club
just went up in smoke.
-Smoke?
Oh, good grief.
-The morning paper
isn't really bad, dear.
-Well, then why
did Crinky call me
and ask all those
silly questions?
What does the headline say?
-Fire department
averts disaster.
Doesn't even mention you.
Now, don't feel so badly.
You were only trying to make
the demonstration effective.
-Oh, it was effective
all right, Martha.
From now on, I can hire
myself out for th of July
demonstrations.
-After all, you did make
smoke Indian fashion in a way.
-Looked more as though
I were setting off
some kind of secret w*apon.
Cousin Fillmore isn't
a chemist, Martha.
He's a munitions maker.
-Hey, Mr. Wilson!
Hi, Mrs. Wilson.
Hi, Mr. Wilson.
Guess what.
All of us Pathfinders got
our first class badges,
even if we didn't finish
the demonstration.
-That's very nice, Dennis.
-And because you helped
me win my arrowhead,
I'm going to give you those
arrowheads that you borrowed.
-Oh.
Well, thank you, Dennis.
But I don't think I'll
be needing those now.
[doorbell]
-I'll see who that is.
-Oh, good morning,
Mrs. Schooner.
-Good morning.
-Mr. Judd.
-Mr. Judd.
-Mrs. Wilson.
-Mr. Wilson's in
the living room.
I'll go make you some coffee.
-Thank you.
-Thank you very much.
Good morning, Mr. Wilson.
-Good morning.
-You'll never guess
what's happened.
Mr. Judd has just made me the
happiest woman in the world.
-Well, congratulations.
I hope you didn't come here
to ask me to be best man.
-Oh, I don't mean matrimonially.
Goodness no.
I mean historically.
-Mrs. Schooner means
that I have a few words
to say to you about
your arrowheads.
-We just got word
from our expert.
-These turned out to be the
only arrowheads from the Wapaho
tribe ever found in this
part of the country.
And that proves that the
Wapaho did not migrate directly
from Maine to Florida
in a straight line,
as everybody thinks.
No.
They came in a wide curve.
-Oh?
Is that good?
-Good?
That's great.
Now the Pioneer Club
really has something.
Oh, it's better than
any demonstration.
We don't have to go
out about the country.
Oh, no.
We can put these remarkable
arrowheads in exhibit
at the club, and people
will come to see us.
That is, if we still
have the arrowheads.
-You do plan to donate them to
the club, don't you Mr. Wilson?
Now that you're going
to become a member.
-Me?
A member?
After yesterday?
-The Pioneer Club needs
those arrowheads, Mr. Wilson,
to spearhead our new program.
-Well, I'd love to
donate those arrowheads
to the club, Mr. Judd.
-Indians aren't Indian givers
like people say, Mr. Wilson.
-Those arrowheads now
officially belong to our club.
-Thank you, thank you.
Oh, we must hurry.
-Yes.
-I'm sorry we can't
wait for the coffee.
-Thank you, Mr. Wilson.
-I'll explain to Martha.
-Thank you very much.
-We'll put your
name on the exhibit.
-Oh!
Good.
Well-- oh, my mailbox.
Ah.
There it is.
[chuckling] Oh, Martha.
Martha, dear.
I'm a member.
I'm a member.
-Well, where is everybody?
-Oh, they had to go
on club business.
I'm going to put this up right
now where everybody can see it.
-Hey, Mr. Wilson, I've
got the first letter
for your new mailbox.
-A letter for me?
-From Mr. Abernathy.
He wrote it out while I
was over at the hospital
visiting him this morning.
-Heaven's sakes, what has
Abernathy got to say to me?
-Boy, is he impressed.
He heard about what
happened, and he
wants to take smoke-making
lessons from you.
-Smoke-making lessons?
[laughter]
[theme music]
03x27 - Junior Pathfinders Ride Again
Watch/Buy Amazon Merchandise
Follows the Mitchell family – Henry, Alice, and their only child, Dennis, an energetic, trouble-prone, mischievous, but well-meaning boy, who often tangles first with his peace-and-quiet-loving neighbor, George Wilson, a retired salesman, and later with George's brother John, a writer.
Follows the Mitchell family – Henry, Alice, and their only child, Dennis, an energetic, trouble-prone, mischievous, but well-meaning boy, who often tangles first with his peace-and-quiet-loving neighbor, George Wilson, a retired salesman, and later with George's brother John, a writer.