Patsy Ruth Miller

Film For Big Stakes

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013143/

Patsy Ruth sets up the frightening episode:

One day on location there was a scene in which the heavies kidnapped me and tied me to a tree—probably a Yucca—out on the lone prairie. Then the villains ride off, setting fire to the underbrush...Before the fire could reach me, Tom would come tearing in, cut me loose with one sweep of his knife, swing me up on the saddle behind him, and go galloping off...

But, as often happens when shooting a stunt, something goes terribly wrong as the camera grinds away:

The only flaw in the plan was that the bad guy who tied me was not a quick learner; he didn't catch on how to tie a slip knot in one easy lesson, and he tied a real knot—a true Gordian knot. My struggle (acting) to free myself only made the knot tighter. Then the wind shifted a little, and my frantic struggle was no longer acting; I was getting too warm; the fire was uncomfortably close. The director and crew thought I was just hamming it up a bit, I suppose.

Unaware of the looming danger, Tom Mix, the classic white hat good guy, rides to the rescue:

He pulled Tony to a rearing halt then, wielding the knife with a flourish, pretended to cut the rope while really pulling on the loose end as in the rehearsal. But instead of falling free, the rope just got tighter; it would have taken three hands to untie it, and Tom barely had one. His left hand holding the reins, he was having all he could do to keep Tony from bolting. Horses have a terrific fear of fire. They panic and Tony was no exception.

By now, Mix understands that the stunt has gone bad and he is no longer acting. Keep in mind, Mix is mounted on his horse as he deals with the life-threatening situation:

Tom reacted quickly and with great presence of mind. Realizing that if he slashed the rope he would probably slash me, he slid the knife under the rope where it bound my shoulders. I scrunched my arms back to give him some leeway, and he sawed through it in a matter of seconds. It was a great feat of horsemanship and quick thinking. As soon as I was free, I reached up, he grabbed me, and somehow I was in the saddle behind him clinging like a limpet, and we were galloping off to safety...