It is a beautiful day in Nutwood. Rupert the Bear just walks around when he trips over something and he gets unconcious. What he doesn’t know is that he has gone back in time. Near where he lies rides Buck Cannon around. He is on his way to the High Chaparral. Sudenly he sees to his big amazing the little bear lying. He rides towards him and dismounts.
“Well, look what we have here. A little bear”, says Buck out loud.
He first examines the bear but can’t find anything. Finally Buck picks up Rupert and puts him on his horse Rebel. He mounts on and wants to ride home when he hears shots coming from somewhere. Quickly he rides to a cave. By the fast riding Rupert wakes up and he looks amazed around him. He notices there is danger and he holds tight to the horse. Buck on his turn holds Rupert tight. Arrived at the cave Buck dismounts from his horse and picks then Rupert from it. With a swing the bear comes on the ground and he walks into the cave. Buck hides his horse as good as possible and enters then the cave as well.
“Where am I? What has happened?”, asks Rupert amazed.
Buck sits down and asks,“You are near bij Tucson, Arizona. I am Cannon, Buck Cannon. I found you unconcious and we got shooted at. Who are you?”
“Rupert the Bear sir”, says the bear polite.
“Leave that sir away. Just say Buck”, says Buck laughing.
“Alright then Buck”, says the bear who has come to sit next to him.
The shooting keeps on going in the meantime. Rupert gets a little bit scared. Buck notices that.
He says for that reason,“I am with you. Don’t you worry.”
Finally it is quiet and they come out of the cave. Buck puts Rupert on his horse and mounts on then.
“We go to the ranch where I live”, Buck says calm.
At the High Chaparral everybody waits for the return of Buck. It is already quite late and outside it starts to get dark. John Cannon, the owner of the ranch, wonders where his brother remains.
“Blue, Mano, you are gonna look for him”, John says finally to his son and brother-in-law.
They are leaving and right at that moment Buck comes riding upon the yard. Rupert looks excited at Billy Blue Cannon and Manolito Montoya and they at him.
“Are you finally there Buck Cannon?”, asks Manolito his roommate.
“Don’t you recognize your own roommate ?” is the reaction of Buck.
He dismounts from his horse. He picks Rupert from it and they walk into the house. Manolito and Blue follow him while Perdo puts the horses in the stable.
John and his Mexican wife Victoria look amazed when Buck and Rupert come in.
“Evening John, Victoria. This is Rupert the Bear. Rupert, this is my brother John and my mijn sister-in-law Victoria. The others are Manolito, the brother of Victoria and Blue Boy who is my nephew is”, Buck says calm.
“Welcome at the High Chaparral Rupert. We just wanted to go to the table”, John says to the bear.
Buck refreshes himself a bit.
During diner Rupert lets notice that he isn’t shy. Though he is tired.
“I think our guest is sleepy. Don’t you think so, John?”, asks Buck smiling and teasing his brother.
“I think you are right”, says John looking at Rupert.
This reacts right away with, “I am not sleepy at all.”
“Don’t you two tease him so, John en Buck Cannon! Rupert, watch out for them”, says Victoria at that moment.
Rupert nodds.
After diner the bear tells what has happened to him.
That same day a circus has arrived in Tucson. Owner Dick Miller is not the one who he pretends to be. He acts very nice but isn’t that at all. His circus is not such a great succes and to become that he has set his mind on getting a little bear as a special attraction. During the trip to town he has witnessed how Rupert the Bear was found by Buck Cannon. To get Rupert into his hands Dick offers a reward of $ 500,-- to the one who brings the bear to him. But his reputation has made sure that nobody reacts at his request. Though he sticks to his guns. In the Waterhole Saloon he is not a favourite person, he notices.
The next day Buck and Blue are in the saloon. They are heavily involved in a discussion about the circus which is in town.
Buck claims,“That circus is doing so bad.”
“How come then that they are so well known Uncle Buck?”, asks his nephew curious.
“Well Blue Boy, just because that circus is doing so bad it is well known. There is just no other explanation for it”, answers Buck answers fierce.
Blue doesn’t share his opinion and says then,“Maybe that person whom you took home yesterday does belong to that circus.”
“He doesn’t belong to it at all. By the way, what is wrong if I bring home someone? When you do that I treat him like normal or not? Look Blue Boy, there comes the owner. I dare to place a bet that he cannot find a bear”, says Buck.
“What that concerns I agree with you. Let’s say nothing about Rupert”, says Blue.
Dick comes to sit at thier table and says,“Are you from here? I need someone.”
“We are from here. How can we be at service for you sir?”, asks Buck
extremely polite.
“I look for a little bear for my circus. He must serve as a special attraction. I offer you each fivehunderd dollars if you deliver me one”, Dick suggets.
“Will you excuse us for a moment? Then we can discuss it”, says Buck while he gets up and drags his nephew almost along.
“Easy Uncle Buck. What is the matter?”, asks Blue amazed.
“That bloke who just offered us fivehunderd dollars, he wants to have Rupert. But he won’t get him. Come on home Blue Boy”, Buck explains.
Blue nodds.
In all hurry Buck and Blue have rode back to the ranch. In the living room John, Victoria and Manolito are with Rupert.
“What a hurry boys. Is there something?”, asks John amazed.
“In the saloon we ran into Dick Miller of that circus. He offered us each fivehunderd dollar if we brought Rupert to him”, says Buck calm.
“I don’t belong to that circus”, the little bear reacts at once.
“Rupert, we know that and you stay with us. You arew going away from here with Buck”, John says determined.
“You may stay a few days at the Sonora, the ranch of Papa”, says Victoria at that moment.
“We don’t want to jeopardise more people”, Buck tries to say but nobody listens to his arguments.
Finally he gives in and he and Rupert are leaving.
Underway to the Montoya ranch Buck suddenly notices that someone is following them.
“Rupert, I suspect that someone is following us”, says Buck calm but worried.
He rides in a quick tempo ahead until Dick stands on their path.
“So. Now I have you both at the same time in my hands. Dismount and bring that bear to me”, Dick orders.
Buck looks at him and says,“You mustn’t expect that I give him to you because that won’t happen Mister!”
Dick tries to pull the bear from the horse but buck gets pulled off instead. He comes down a bit unlucky but has still enough strength to knock Dick out. Rupert has rode a bit ahead and waits at a safe place for Buck. This one comes soon at the bear, mounts on and they ride ahead to the Montoya Ranch.
Arrived at the Sonora Buck and Rupert get a well receiving by Don Sebastian. In brief Buck tells what the matter is and they may stay a few days. By the fall Buck is a bit crippled which leads to teasings by his little friend.
Despite that everybody watches Rupert very well Dick sees the chance to get hold of him. Because Rupert isn’t at the Sonora Buck returns to the High Chaparral. But Rupert isn’t there either. Buck wants to look for him but John forbids him that.
He says,“Let’s wait a few days. Then you can rest with your foot and maybe he comes here by himself.”
“Maybe that is so, John”, says Buck says with reluctance.
Whatever happens, Rupert doesn’t appear at the ranch in the next days.Everybody gets more worried with each day and Buck worst of all.
Because Rupert is still missing Buck decides to look for him.
After breakfast he says,“I am gonna look for Rupert. It is my fault that he is gone. I never should have left him alone.”
“Buck, it is not your fault. But I do come alog searching”, Manolito says.
“If you like I come along as well, Uncle Buck”, Blue answers then.
“No Blue Boy, you stay here. Come on Mano”, says his Uncle.
When Buck and Manolito are away John says to Blue and Victoria,“I suspect that Buck gets himself into trouble again.”
“That won’t be. Who knows they are home again within the hour”, says Blue.
“Blue, you go to Tucson to see if Rupert is at that circus”, John says to his son.
“Alright pa”, he answers and he also leaves the ranch.
Meanwhile at the circus is Rupert making a plan what the best way is to escape. Suddenly he notices that Dick hasn’t locked his cage and he grabs the chance to escape right away. Quickly he crawls out of the cage and he runs away. Dick comes after him but Rupert is much faster than his chaser. In his hurry he doesn’t see that he bumps up to Blue. He notcies right away that Dick is chasing the bear.
“Come Rupert. Then we go away quick”, says Blue.
He lifts up Rupert on his horse Soapy, mounts on and rides away as quick as he can.
Blue stops until they reach the ranch. John, Buck and Manolito see them coming and they stop the horse of Blue. John lifts Rupert from it.
“He bumped into me. Miller was chasing him”, Blue tells while he dismounts.
“He locked me up in a little cage. When he hadn’t locked it I escaped. He probably will find me again”, Rupert tells in the living room when he has calmed down.
“It is about time that we teach Miller a lesson. Don’t you think so guys?”, asks Buck then.
“You are right Buck. You go with Rupert to Tucson. We go in the saloon and you outside. Make sure that Miller catches him in his eye. As soon as he approaches you, give a sign. I don’t think that he will try anything with four witnesses around”, answers John.
Everyone agrees except Rupert.
He says,“Maybe the whole plan goes wrong and I must remain at the circus.”
“That won’t happen. I stay by you the whole time. Believe me”, says Buck.
After a very long talk the little bear is convinced that it cannot fail and he gives in to get Miller.
Outside the saloon.
“Rupert, you know how much I like you but a life at a ranch is really nothing for a little bear like you. Don’t you think so either?”, asks Buck.
“I think so. I want to stay”, is the comment of Rupert.
Buck explains,“It is heavy work for us and cetainly much too heavy or you. I think that the best thing is the best thing is that I give you to the circus.”
“Buck please. I will do everything for you as long as I don’t have to go back to that awful circus. I will do everything”, the bear beggs.
But Buck asks looking at him,“I don’t believe that. You ran away from that circus so maybe you do that to me as well. I don’t like that sort of jokes. Compendre?”
“I don’t agree. You are not the boss, are you?”, Rupert asks fierce.
Buck answers,“I am when my brother isn’t around. Look there comes Miller. Stay here and I go inside quickly.”
He goes inside and sticks up his left thumb with a smile at his face.
John says to Blue and Manolito,“Time to get some action.”
Outside Buck and Rupert still quarrelling until Dick Miller comes to stand near them.
Buck asks,“You are too little to live at the ranch. Maybe you are better off at a circus. Er sir, could you use this bear?”
“Yes of course sir. Just give him along to me”, says Dick.
Then John and the others come by and he asks his brother,“Why are you sending Rupert away? We had agreed that he would stay. Remember?”
“John, you ain’t gonna tell me that that bear stays with us?”, Buck asks indignant.
“Any objections Uncle Buck? He can keep Victoria company while we are away”, answers his nephew then.
“You keep out of it Blue Boy. This is between your father and me”, Buck reacts.
“You can count on it that Rupert gets a good treatment”, says Dick.
“Here he is”, says Buck while he pushes Rupert his direction.
The following moment Dick Miller walks away with Rupert and hij says,“You go back into the cage.”
Directly after that Buck comes riding by, quickly grabs Rupert tight and asks, “You didn’t really think that you would get Rupert, did you Miller?”
Rupert comes on sit on the horse fast and Buck puts his left arm around him.
Dick says almost yelling to Buck,“Give that bear to me. Now or I will kill you.”
Right at the moment that Dick wants to draw his pistol he sees four revolvers pointig at him.
John says,“Nobody touches my family and certainly no one who puts little innocent bears in a little cage.”
Miller realises that he has been beaten and walks away.
Buck sighs of relief and says,“Let’s go home.”
In a quick tempo they ride home where Victoria waits for them.
Rupert stays at home the first few days to recover from all happenings. He enjoys it very much at the High Chaparral. A few days later Buck rides with Rupert at the spot where the bear was found. Suddenly the horse gets scared from a snake. The animal prances and throws both of his back. Quickly buck draws his revolver and kills the snake. Rupert on the other hand has become unconcious. A moment later he wakes up in Nutwood. He sees that it is dark and he runs quickly home to tell his parents everything.