When bounty hunter Ben Brigade (Randolph Scott) finds killer Billy John (James Best) hiding in some rocks along a ridge, he prepares to take Billy to the town of Santa Cruz, where he is wanted for murder. From the hills above, Charlie, one of Billy’s gang, fires at Brigade, prompting the bounty hunter to warn that he will kill Billy unless Charlie desists. Billy then instructs Charlie to notify his brother Frank (Lee Van Cleef), a notorious outlaw, that he has been apprehended by Brigade. After Charlie and the rest of the gang ride off, Brigade takes Billy prisoner and heads for Santa Cruz.