The Beast of Hollow Mountain

Deep in the back-country of Mexico, there rises a grim

and mysterious mountain, which is said to be hollow.

Its interior has never been explored, because at its base

lies an impassable swamp.

The superstitious link the hollow mountain and the swamp

and their folk legends as places of evil, great evil.

They tell of a strange animal from the dawn of creation that inhabits the area,

coming forth to prowl and pillage only in time of drought.

They tell of men and cattle disappearing without trace.

But perhaps these are only tales, tales told by simple people.

Looks like there's been a big struggle around here.

Cattle tracks go all directions.

Sí!

No one has dared to come this far.

Let's turn back.

You're too superstitious, Penwell.

You're afraid of your own shadow.

Not my shadow, señor.

It's the shadow of that cursed mountain.

All right, you stay here with the horses.

Pilleby, keep all those tracks.

I'm going to take off this way.

Bernard!

You all right?

I think so.

That was a close one.

The holy hand of the good God saved you though, Felipe.

Give Jimmy's lariat a little credit too, will you?

Give me a hand to brush off.

Sure.

Felipe!

Come here!

Take a look at that.

I told you.

The curse of that mountain attacks them.

Don't be a fool.

Somebody's pretty smart.

That steer was forced into that quicksand.

Why?

To make us believe that's where all our missing cattle have disappeared.

You're right.

Rustlers. Just what I figured.

And I know who'd have pinned this one on.

Nah, take it easy, Felipe.

Enrique Rios!

Who else would have riders in this country?

Start thinking with your head instead of your gun.

I'll go into town and have a talk with the Alcalde.

He'll give us some straight answers.

I don't think you'll get anywhere with him, Jimmy.

Well, we'll see.

You better go to the El Rancho and dry out.

Hasta luego.

Hasta luego.

- Buenos días! - Buenos días.

You're not mad at me, are you?

Your father is not a drunkard.

He drinks to forget your mommy who is in heaven.

I think I better go back there and forget her for another little while.

No, Papa.

Let's go home now.

The horse, he's tired.

Only the horse is tired.

But not little Panchito.

Okay, Sonny.

Let's go.

Don't worry son, he's only shaken up a bit.

You know that's a lousy way I get off the horse.

What happened, Pancho?

Nothing.

Nothing?

Why did you leave the house?

El señorita Sarita...

It was like this.

It's always like this. Always tequila.

Never a thought for your son.

Panchito, take your father back to the house.

Sí, señorita.

Come on, Papa.

And see that he stays there.

Yes, señorita.

Thank you, Señor.

That's all right, amigo.

Thank you very much, Señor Jimmy.

You saved his life.

He'd better be more careful.

Next time, he might not be so lucky.

Did he work for you?

Yes.

He's been drinking ever since his wife died.

I feel the little boy is my responsibility.

Oh, I understand.

I, uh, was on my way to see your father.

Oh, he's at the house.

I'll walk there with you.

Well, thank you.

Thank you gusta Margarita!

Sí, señorita.

Buenas dias.

Buenas dias.

Welcome, Señor.

This is a pleasant surprise.

Well, thank you.

Uh-huh.

I will leave you to talk.

Excuse me, Señor.

Certainly.

Yes, dear.

Sit down. Sit down.

Gracias.

It's been a long time since you have honored my house.

Well, I've been busy putting a string of cattle together, Don Pedro.

Mm-hmm.

I have heard of your success.

Up till now, yes.

But three times during the last month, we've had cattle either lost or stolen.

Thank you.

Stolen?

Sí.

Of all the cattle missing, we've only found one.

Drowned in the swamps.

Well, maybe that's your answer.

That swamp is a very mysterious and sinister place.

I don't buy those superstitions, Don Pedro.

I'm looking for a factual answer.

Steers don't jump in the swamps.

Margarita.

Don Enrique.

Is it true that the Americano and Sarita came here together?

Sí, Señor. Down there.

The drought is shrinking the swamp again this year, from what the natives tell me.

I know. I've been there.

Whenever that happens, there are always

strange tales of men and animals disappearing.

Speaking of disappearing, why don't you disappear back to

Texas, where you came from.

Enrique.

Jimmy is a guest.

Forgive me.

But he is also unwelcome.

You were warned not to try ranching here when

you first came south with that crazy Felipe.

And now you're trying to... I don't want any trouble with you.

But as I told you before, Felipe and I own that land.

We're going to continue to run cattle or raise horseradish

or anything else we want to without any advice from you.

And undersell me and every rancher in the country?

We sell our cattle at the government price.

Leave the black market and the running brand to the likes of you.

Are you calling me a crook?

Gentlemen!

Bloody my health!

Sorry, Don Pedro.

What is it?

The men are gone.

What? Not a word?

No, they left a few.

The curse of the Hollow Mountain is reaching out again.

We quit.

Superstitious fools.

Yeah, somebody sure put the fear of something in them.

What do we do? We can't run the ranch without help.

That's what our friends figured.

I'll ride to the village at the other end of the valley.

There, maybe we can find someone who will work for us.

Now what?

Good morning, Mr. Jimmy.

Good morning, Mr. Felipe.

Good morning.

What are you doing here?

I'm milking the cows.

And I am feeding the ducks.

Come here.

How long have you been here?

Before the sun came up.

Yes.

Yes, when all your men were going away.

You will need us now.

Me and Panchito.

No one has to go to work.

Come on papa.

Now wait a minute.

Don't we get the job?

No, Pancho. You drink too much.

What about me?

No, you're too small.

No. I'm already seven.

And I will never have another drink.

Yes, he promised me.

And I will be responsible for my father.

Well, that's different.

If señor Panchito will be responsible for señor

Pancho, I think we might give him a chance.

No.

Why not?

If Panchito backs up his father and I back up

Panchito, and you back me up, how can we lose?

A kid and a tequila hound to help run the ranch.

Normally for the bug house.

Thank you.