As Americans move westward to California in the mid 1800's, the days of the old Spanish Dons and their vast ranchos are numbered. One such landowner is Don Jose Vargas, who bemoans the loss of his way of life.
Roy Rogers is like a second son to Don Jose, but his integrity is threatened when he defends a band of white settlers who are accused of stealing gold earned in the sale of Vargas' cattle by his foreman Sujarto (Jack LaRue). Gabby Hayes is the leader of the settlers, traveling with his niece Jean (Lynne Roberts as Mary Hart). When Roy and Gabby team up to discover the bandits' hideout, they recover the gold only long enough to be framed for the robbery. Brought to Don Jose's estate, they are imprisoned in the Don's cellar, and under grim circumstances, Roy gets Gabby to join him in a duet of "We're Not Coming Out to the Dance Tonight".
Things go from bad to worse when the Don's daughter Rita (Katherine DeMille) insists that her father heed a plea from Gabby's niece to hear Roy's side of the story. As the Don is about to free Roy and Gabby, he's murdered by Sujarto, who frames Roy for the killing. Ultimately though, the good guys escape, with Roy literally chasing Sujarto down into the Pacific Ocean.
In the closing scene, Roy has joined the settlers, and is presumably ready to settle down with the pretty Jean. Gabby's trusted mutt, sporting whiskers resembling Gabby's own, acknowledges his approval by hiding under the covered wagon.
Roy Rogers is like a second son to Don Jose, but his integrity is threatened when he defends a band of white settlers who are accused of stealing gold earned in the sale of Vargas' cattle by his foreman Sujarto (Jack LaRue). Gabby Hayes is the leader of the settlers, traveling with his niece Jean (Lynne Roberts as Mary Hart). When Roy and Gabby team up to discover the bandits' hideout, they recover the gold only long enough to be framed for the robbery. Brought to Don Jose's estate, they are imprisoned in the Don's cellar, and under grim circumstances, Roy gets Gabby to join him in a duet of "We're Not Coming Out to the Dance Tonight".
Things go from bad to worse when the Don's daughter Rita (Katherine DeMille) insists that her father heed a plea from Gabby's niece to hear Roy's side of the story. As the Don is about to free Roy and Gabby, he's murdered by Sujarto, who frames Roy for the killing. Ultimately though, the good guys escape, with Roy literally chasing Sujarto down into the Pacific Ocean.
In the closing scene, Roy has joined the settlers, and is presumably ready to settle down with the pretty Jean. Gabby's trusted mutt, sporting whiskers resembling Gabby's own, acknowledges his approval by hiding under the covered wagon.