Trampas and Steve skip work to meet Molly in Medicine Bow each trying to impress her as she returns from a trip. She chides the boys for not keeping up with current affairs including the sinking of the Maine. Her comments on how impressive the soldier on a poster appears in a uniform causes Trampas to leave to join the Rough Riders. The Virginian sends Steve to retrieve Trampas but Steve enlists as well. The Virginian then follows to retrieve both men and finds the eastern military men are having trouble with the westerners. Using a polo match minus rules between the easterners and westerners he shows the officers how to gain the men's respect. A conversation with Teddy Roosevelt finds The Virginian a corporal in the Rough Riders. The group is sent to Cuba where the officers further learn how to meld the western background with military tactics.
—Anonymous