Bronco brings the body of Reeves, the Apache Indian Agent, to the fort to Maj. Allison Tedrow. Reeves was shot up close and his ledger entries indicate that he was helping the Apache named Char at the time, so naturally Char is suspected as the killer, and this suspicion is augmented when Chief Long Shadow tells Bronco and Tedrow that Char has left the reservation. As the Army by treaty cannot cross the reservation, the Chief and Tedrow agree to send Bronco alone to bring Char back for trial. He needs to bring him back alive or else Long Knife will go on the warpath.
Meanwhile, in town Andy Strudevant (John Anderson), who wants the reservation land, takes advantage of the murder by getting the drunk Royal Washburne named as the Interim Indian Agent, thus creating turmoil among the Apaches to force them off their land - on the other end, Yellow Moon and several braves hope to kill Char to blame the whites to force the Apaches to fight and regain all of their land.
Caught in the middle of this crossfire, Bronco is trying to return with his prisoner ... a task getting harder by the minute.
Carleton Young is excellent as the Major who has a past that clouds his thinking. He was basically left alive at Twist Creek by Long Knife for his bravery - naturally certain folk led by Strudevant - played the excellent John Anderson who plays heels with ease- accuse him not doing his duty because he was saved. Strudevant got his own agenda. There's some complex characterisations, a full loaded plot and well meaning and tense story. No surprise there as the underrated Andre De Toth directs.