Ep 9. The Value of a King

Daniel Boone is an American adventure television series that aired in the 1960s. The show follows the real-life adventures of Daniel Boone, a frontiersman and explorer who helped settle the region around the Cumberland Gap in Kentucky. Season 4 episode 9, titled "The Value of a King," sees Boone and his colleagues embroiled in a tense political situation when a group of Native Americans offer to trade a valuable ruby for the release of their imprisoned king.

The episode opens with Boone and his friends surveying land around the Cumberland River. Suddenly, they're approached by a group of Native Americans who are searching for their leader, King Raven. They explain that Raven has been imprisoned by a rival tribe, and they offer a valuable ruby as ransom for his release. Boone and his colleagues agree to help, and they travel to the nearby tribe to negotiate for Raven's release.

At the rival tribe's camp, Boone and his team meet with their leader, Chief Keokuk. Keokuk initially refuses to release Raven, stating that he's a valuable prisoner and his tribe wants to keep him. However, Boone reminds Keokuk that Raven is a fellow Native American and that his freedom is worth more than the ruby. Boone's words seem to strike a chord with Keokuk, who agrees to release Raven in exchange for the ruby.

Boone and his friends then devise a plan to rescue Raven from the rival tribe's camp. Using their knowledge of the area, they launch a surprise attack on the guards and manage to free Raven without any casualties. As they make their escape, however, they're pursued by Keokuk and his men, who want to claim the ruby for themselves.

The rest of the episode sees Boone and his friends trying to evade Keokuk and his men as they make their way back to the Native American camp. Along the way, they face numerous obstacles, including treacherous terrain and hostile wildlife. Despite these challenges, Boone and his team manage to reach the camp and reunite Raven with his people. Raven thanks Boone for his help and offers him the ruby as a token of his appreciation, but Boone declines, stating that he values Raven's freedom far more than any material possession.

"The Value of a King" is a gripping episode of Daniel Boone that showcases the show's signature blend of action, adventure, and political intrigue. The episode explores themes of loyalty, honor, and diplomacy as Boone and his colleagues navigate a complex situation with high stakes. Fans of the show will appreciate the dynamic characters, thrilling action scenes, and moral quandaries that make Daniel Boone such a beloved classic of American television.