During a stagecoach holdup, bandit Vaughn (Gig Young) passes a packet of jewels to cohort Lorabelle Larkin (Virginia Grey), who's masquerading as a passenger. While Lorabelle continues on the stage to a nearby fort under the command of Capt. Dempster (Brian Donlevy), Vaughn and his henchmen kill several Navajos in order to steal their horses. The bandits head to the fort to collect Lorabelle and the jewels -- but once there, the vengeful Navajos surround the place and demand Vaughn's surrender.