U.S. Marshal Steve Martin arrives in the small town of Wild River, assigned to bring a halt to the numerous stagecoach holdups by an outlaw gang headed by a part-Indian known as The Hawk. An expert with a bow and arrow, The Hawk kills Wild River's sheriffs as soon as they are elected, leaving his gang free to terrorize the townspeople at will. Soon after reaching Wild River, Steve assumes his secret identity of The Durango Kid and comes to the rescue of acting sheriff Jack Mahoney after the murder of Jack's father by The Hawk. The Durango Kid then overpowers The Hawk and turns him over to Jack for arrest. Back in town, Steve, who has not revealed that he is a marshal, intentionally behaves suspiciously and is soon arrested by Jack. Once in jail, Steve gains The Hawk's confidence by staging their escape. The Hawk then invites Steve to join the gang and he accepts, with the intention of learning the identities of the gang members and the location of the stolen stagecoach loot. Steve's plan is nearly upset by his affable but bumbling friend, photographer Smiley Burnette. When Steve learns of The Hawk's next raid, he sends Smiley to inform Jack of the plan. Steve slips away and, returning as The Durango Kid, intercepts the gang, kills The Hawk and helps Jack capture the rest of the gang. With the stolen money returned, Steve leaves Wild River.