Plot

While traveling back to North Fork on the stage after selling their herd, Lucas and Mark are sharing the stage with a Marshal and his prisoner Johnny Cotton. When they stop to water the horses, some of Cotton's friends are lying in wait. Cotton steals the money Lucas got for the cattle and his rifle. He sends Mark on with the stage but tracks the robbers as best he can given that he doesn't have a horse or a weapon.—garykmcd

Lucas and Mark are returning to Northfork via stage after selling their herd. Lucas and another passenger, Johnny Cotton, begin debating the 'rifle instead of a pistol' issue when he finds out the man is a prisoner. While watering the horses Cotton escapes and takes Lucas' money and rifle. Lucas sets off in pursuit, on foot, over some of the roughest country for miles.—tomtrekp

Mark and Lucas return to Northfork on the stage after selling their herd. Mark talks to one of the passengers after he comments on Lucas' fine looking rifle and what the lever action is for. Mark starts bragging on how his paw made the lever and that he's the best shot in the whole world. Johnny Cotton remarks how he saw Lucas at a rifle match and "he's good, almost as good as me." Mark says "That's what you say. I didn't see you in the finals?" Johnny didn't enter the match because "important business came first. If I'd a entered, I'd won." That's when the stagecoach hits a bump and Mark and Lucas see that Johnny is handcuffed to the sheriff. When they stop to stretch their legs, Johnny's gang shows up robbing the coach, and Johnny takes Lucas' cattle money and his rifle. Lucas sends Mark off with the stage and goes on foot after Cotton's gang, their money and his rifle. The outlaw is soon to find out if the rifleman is as good as his reputation!