Once Dixon is somewhat recovered, he presents an additional threat, as he has little to lose in trying to gain the upper hand. Festus insists on tending to Dixon, but Ben tells the Deputy that any water he gives Dixon must come from Festus's share. They follow the tracks from the horse to discover Dixon, who is barely alive from dehydration. Festus and Ben soon find the horse Dixon was riding dying in the desert. As the second part of the story begins, Matt and Newly are continuing their mission to find Festus and, hopefully, Gard Dixon, while Festus and Ben Snow continue making their way slowly to the town of Ten Strike.
The Marshal and Newly O'Brien leave Dodge City with the intention of finding Festus and Dixon. He knows Festus went after Dixon, but he also knows Dixon is ruthless and will not be easily captured. Matt Dillon learned that Dixon killed the sheriff in Cottonwood and escaped.
Although he nursed Festus back to health, he has taken Festus prisoner and is forcing him to carry his gold and a supply of water across the desert to the town of Ten Strike. Snow has been living alone in the desert for many years. Snow found Festus after the man Festus was chasing, Gard Dixon, shot him and left him for dead. Entertainment at the Garrison Avenue establishment includes performances by the Ball Orchestra and dancing.Note: This episode is officially listed as "Island in the Desert: Part 2," but the title in the broadcast version is "Island in the Desert Conclusion." Festus Haggen is being treated as a human pack mule by a deranged hermit named Ben Snow. 26, 1909: The Hotel Main offers a Thanksgiving Day feast including lobster Newberg en caisse, Lake Superior whitefish with lemon butter sauce, pomines a la Orsini, Southern-style opossum, calves sweetbreads, a roast stand of prime beef with au jus, roast suckling pig, roast turkey, chestnut stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, steamed potatoes, green garden peas, asparagus tips in Hollandaise sauce, Spanish onions in cream, lettuce and tomato salad, baked apples, hot mince pie, pumpkin pie, English plum pudding with brandy sauce, tutti frutti ice cream, fruitcake, angel food cake, coconut and almond macaroons. 26, 1860: A new ordinance extends the city limits city population is now 1,532.
25, 1909: The Little Rock High School football team defeats Fort Smith 18-5 in “the best high school football contest ever waged in the state,” according to the Fort Smith Times Record. 25, 1939: About 600 Army soldiers from the 4th Cavalry stop in Fort Smith on the way to Camp Robinson in Little Rock from Fort Meade, South Dakota, and camp out overnight on the grounds of the Chamber of Commerce. 25, 1908: The new Belle Point School at Lexington and Dodson avenues is dedicated the school was rebuilt for $53,476 in a new location after a fire destroyed its circa 1885 building at South Ninth and Carnall streets. 24, 1999: The city deeds Andrews Field over for expansion of the U.S. 24, 1897: Burney’s Dyeworks, next to Tung Woo’s Chinese laundry on North Sixth Street, catches fire and receives some damage. 22, 1981: With 35 singers, the Fort Smith Chorale presents its first concert, at First Baptist Church.