 Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the Guardian of the Forest, Ranger Bill, pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. Boys and girls, have you ever been in a submarine, or have you ever gotten inside a diver's suit and gone down into the depths of the sea? I suppose not. After all, most of us are land lovers, lake sailors at the best. But what would you do if you knew that a submarine was stuck at the bottom of the ocean, and meanwhile the crew was suffocating? Well, you'd try to get them out, of course, but the big question would be how to do it. Well, let's find out what Bill and the Rangers did in such a situation as that. Keep your ears glued to the radio for the story of 20 fathoms under the sea. This blue oil really burns up the rails. I wonder how fast we're going, Bill. I don't know, Henry. There's a stretch of track ahead where the engineer pushes her up to 93. Wow, 93 miles an hour. Oh, that's plenty fast in any man's book. Yep. Just a little faster and I can run at high speed. Oh, yeah. Hey, say, Bill, do we have to eat the fish we catch in this trip? Well, that all depends on what kind of fish we catch, pal. Some ocean fish aren't edible, of course. Probably some of them. Oh, I don't like fish that much. Not ocean fish, anyhow. A brook trout, yeah. But not even too much of them. You don't know what's good for you, Henry. Fish good brain food make you plenty smart. Oh, I don't believe that, Gray Wolf. Besides, even if it is true, there must be other kinds of brain food. Well, there sure is. What other kinds, Stumpy? Noodle soup. Oh, Stumpy. You walked right into that one, pal, with both eyes open. Eh, about two. I just wanted to show you, young fellas, that I'm still furkin'. Well, you seem to know Ben Benson pretty well. How come? Well, Ben's an old salvage man, Gray Wolf. He's brought up some historic wrecks on the bottom of the sea in his time, including several maroon submarines. I got to know him when I was in the Navy. Oh, is he retired now, Bill? Well, yeah, sort of forced retirement, you might say, Henry. What do you mean by that? You see, Ben's son was accidentally killed during the salvage operation. Ben always felt he himself was responsible. So he quit the salvage game and bought himself a power launch to take fishing parties out on him. Well, rather sad ending for the old gent. Does he show his sorrow, Bill? No, not as a rule. He has times when he's very quiet, though, and he looks out to sea. I feel sorry for old Ben. It was served to the dining car. First call for dinner, dining car, four cars, four cars. Hey, that's what I've been waiting to hear all day. Let's go before my stomach leaves my body and goes by itself. Come on, fellas, let's head for the chalk wagon before they run out of food. Then we can get ready to get off the train. It stops on this side of the bay at Harbor City and it crosses over to the main station. Let us out right at the sign that says Ben Benson, Debbie. Sure, mister, any way you say. This waterfront sure looks quaint, Bill. All the launch skippers along here must be old sea dogs, huh? That's right, Bill. Most of these men are retired seamen. I guess here's some mighty tall sea yarn spun around these wharfs. That'll be $2.50, mister. All right. Are you your friend? No, that's all right. Oh, thanks, mister. Come on, pal, let's go. You want to keep the cab standing any longer than necessary? Sure, Bill, sure. I've got my big feet tangled around the bank. There, non-available. Hey, there's old Ben coming down the dock now. He looked like a real sea dog. Him still walk with roller ship. You and he'll make good friends, Gray Wolf. Hello, Ben. Good to see you again. Well, Bill, how are you? It does my sorely eyes good to see you again. Thanks, Ben, the same to you. Ben, I want you to meet three of my rangers. They're also my closest friends. Henry Scott, Gray Wolf, and Stumpy Jenkins. fellas, I'd like you to meet Ben Benson. Oh, hi, Ben. Howdy there, Ben. Well, it's mighty fine to meet you fellas. I see you have old men in the woods in your service, too, Bill. Stumpy's got quite a bit of moss on his north side. Sure, we got old men in the woods. What do you see dogs think? You ain't got no lease on old age? Just because you're preserved in salt water, I noticed quite a few barnacles in your hall, you old woes. Hey, Bill, maybe we better go home. It's all right, pal. I've got a twinkle in their eyes. They're talking to each other like ducks to water. Glad to have you, old boy, the old muskrat. I don't suppose you've ever been in anything larger than a robo. Nope, and I stay out of them as much as I can. I get all the water I want in the bathtub. Oh, you're all right, Stumpy. Yeah, you ain't so bad yourself, Ben. Well, come on aboard the swordfish, fellas. You ain't no sense standing on the dock when you can stand on the decks of the best seagull and launch your float. When we shove off our fishing grounds, Ben? Right at some down there, Wolf. We'll be where the big fish are at dawn. Mr. Jones, I gave the order to surface this craft. What are we waiting for? Well, the engine room isn't responding, Captain Nagel. We've sounded the surfacing signal twice. Well, are they sleeping back there? I'll get them on the intercom. Let me have your headphones, Sannel. Hello, engine room. What's the trouble down there? Can't you hear the signals? Well, what did they say, Mr. Jones? What? Are you sure? No, no, stand by while I tell the captain. Skipper, the ballast tank pumps have broken down and refused to work. A vast servicing and standby. I'm going after. Keep those headphones on for my orders, Jones. Aye, aye, sir. Well, Mr. Antonio, what's it look like inside the pump? It looks bad, sir. The main rod's broken clean and tune it. It tore the cylinder to shreds. Can you fix it? I sure can, Skipper, but with those garges in the cylinder wall, I doubt if I can get enough compression to handle the ballast tanks. What caused the break, Mr. Antonio? Weren't these pumps inspected before we put to sea? They certainly were, sir. I inspected them myself. See what I can do with the pumps. Very well. Report to me on the bridge when they're repairing. Aye, aye, sir. Now hear this. Attention all hands. Now hear this. The captain's going to speak to the crew. All right, man. Put your fears in your sea bags and listen to me. Most of you are green submariners, but I've gone through this before, and so have your trainers, Jones, McLaughlin, Antonio, Savage, Boyd, Prince, and the torpedomen. They've gone through the same experience, and they're still alive. Let's not get panicky. Remember an old axiom. He who loses his head may lose his life. Stand by for further announcement from the boss. Now hear this, man. The captain will inspect the ship at 1400. Mr. Jones, I want you to keep the crew busy. Keep them working so hard they won't have time to get panicky. That's a direct order. After you inspect the ship, what should I have them do, sir? Clean it again? That's right, Mr. Jones. Even if they have to do it with toothbrushes, your job is to keep the men busy. Let Mr. Antonio and his men worry about the pumps. Mind if I join you, Ben? Huh? Oh, Lord, of course not, Bill. So you're sitting out here from the cabin window, and I join your fellowship with the sea in the quiet of the night. Well, our fellow will do anything for this, just to see it himself. But he's a good listener, Bill. Yes, Ben. The sea never tells any secrets, either. He just listens, keeps the confidence of his sailors, hides their thoughts in the deepest waters. But yes, it's the sea that's kept me on an evil hill since Frank died. Whenever I get depressed, I put out the sea and have a long talk with the Lord. I don't know if I'm right, but the Lord seems so much near out here. Ben, when are you going to stop beating yourself for Frank's death? I don't know, Bill. I'll keep hearing his last words. He kept calling for oxygen. Just can't seem to get them blasphial moments out of my mind. But it was an accident, Ben. You couldn't help it if his lines fouled in the sunken wreck. Why put yourself on a shelf away from everybody? The world needs some good salvage men like you. That's the way I want it, Bill. How can men put confidence in a salvage man who let his own son die under the water? I just couldn't have men depending on me for advice and guidance below the water. King Fathom's down is an awful place to be trapped by an old fool who doesn't know what he's been doing, Bill. 15 Fathoms is an intolerable place for it to happen. No, I'm sorry, Ben. I didn't intend to get you all riled up. I guess I'll turn you into a... Wait a minute, Bill. Yes, Ben? It's done me good to get some of this awful chest. I know what you understand. Sure, Ben. I understand. Grab him, Greywell, before he falls overboard. We got him. No sense for us to fish for fish and then we prove... That's the reel now, sonny, before you run out of line. Take a couple of turns on your reel at a time and give it a slack, haven't it? Hey, there's a fish. He just jumped out of the water. Wow! He came to small for a reel, sonny. Maybe his mother didn't feed him when he was young. You fellas help Henry get his fish, you boy. Oh, Ben's upset about something. I want to find out what it is. You go ahead, Bill. Henry got fish pretty well in hand now. Ben, are you feeling all right? Sure, but why? Do I look sick there? No, but you're acting strangely. What's wrong? I don't know, Bill. I just have a feeling that there's something going on under these waters. Huh? What do you mean, Ben? I can't explain it, Bill. I just got a feeling that there's trouble under this part of the sea. What do you say we stop fishing for a while and cruise around? Perhaps we can spot something wrong. Oh, sure. I'll tell the fellas to haul in their lines and you can get underway. I'll hear this. All hands, man your stations. The captain's going to try to surface the ship again. Quid-a-master, sound the surfacing signals. Mr. Jones, tell the chief engineer to report continuously what happens in the engine room. Aye-aye, Skipper. Mr. Antonio wants to talk to you. Use my headphones, sir. Very well. Yes, Antonio, what's wrong? There's no use, captain. I can't get enough pressure in the pump because of the damaged cylinder. Can't you replace the cylinder? I don't have an extra cylinder, sir. If I get out of this one alive, I will handle. Captain, the ship's listing to the port side. If she lays over any more, we'll get chlorine. Cut your engines, Mr. Antonio. Cut them now. I'd better check the storage batteries to make sure they didn't spill. We can't have any chlorine gas now. Very well. Let me know how you make out. Mr. Jones, release the distress float. Force some oil and debris out of a torpedo tube. We'll have to hope and pray that somebody sees our cry for help. I said it won't be long before we've completed our 500th flight across the Pacific. That's right, Bob. We've flown everything from the King of Siam to a plain load of penguins. Hey, Bob, what's that oil slick down there? Where? I don't see it. Just a minute. I'll circle around. We'll cut down our speed. I see it, man. There's a subdistress float down there. And there's some debris down there too. A subdistress float? Yeah, a pig boat's down there. And it's in trouble. Head for the field, now radio the naval base. Point, banging, sure no eye-cook. This is a wonderful breakfast. No second to motion, pal. There you do the job of Brown. Too bad me can't eat more. Me willing, but stomachs say it had enough. Yes, sir! More of it! We interrupt this program to bring you an important news bulletin. A trans-oceanic passenger plane reported sighted a Navy subdistress float 25 miles off the coast. About opposite the famous Ten-Fathom Shallow's Fishing Ground. Don't talk about saltfish. Think very far from where we were fishing. Keep tuned to this station for more news about the distressed sub. We'll interrupt this program as soon as we find out more from the Navy. Ben, you were right when you had that feeling of trouble under the sea. Ben had that feeling? I sure did, son. That's why we stopped fishing and cruised around a while. They must have released the distressed boy after we left. You think Navy can handle this well? They have plenty of good salvage equipment. That's right, Draywolf. They've got specialists for that kind of work. We've also got the latest submarine rescue gear. They can handle it, all right. So it gives you a clear feeling when you find out that we were having a good time while right under us a tough situation was developing. How deep is it out there, Ben? Twenty fathoms, stumpy. The ocean bed suddenly drops after the ten fathom showers. A hundred and twenty feet of water, eh? I'm sure, Ben. I'm not stuck down there in that sub. How much more oxygen have we got, Mr. Antonio? About ten hours of play, Skipper. That's all. If you stop the men from working, we might be able to stretch the twelve hours. That's right, Skipper. The men wouldn't need so much oxygen if they were resting. I appreciate your counsel, gentlemen, but I'm the captain of the ship. Don't want a sub full of maniacs, so keep them busy. If you're sure that help will come, the fishing board or plane will see our distress boy and that oil slick. What do we do if they don't see our distress signaler or they don't recognize what it means? Mr. Jones, we've got ten hours to think up an answer to that question. I wonder when they're going to broadcast more news in the sub. You'll be patient, sonny. Things like news take time. Maybe so, but just to seem it would be good to hear news. Make quiet, fellas. The music's stopped. Perhaps I've got another bulletin. We have news about the sunken submarine. Navy spokesmen are rushing salvage ships to the scene of the disaster. The ships won't arrive until tomorrow morning as they're with the fleet on maneuvers. The submarine that's distressed is an old-type ship used only for training purposes. Stay tuned to this station for more news on the submarine disaster. Turn that noise box off, Henry. Sure, Bill. What's he doing here? Plenty. Those salvage ships aren't going to arrive in time. The old-style salms haven't that much supply of oxygen. I'm going ashore and find a telephone. Ben wants to know where I'm at. Tell him anything. Anything but what I'm actually doing. Commander Bill speaking. Oh yes, Mr. Jefferson. I've read about you from time to time. What can I do for you? I'm going to arrive in time to help the men trapped in the sub, are they? Well, I don't exactly know about that. This is off the record, Commander. Maybe I can help the lads trapped in the sub. You're sure I'm not going on record? Positive. That's a promise. All right. For obvious reasons, we couldn't tell the newsmen that the rescue ships wouldn't get there in time. A mistake was made in letting all the salvage ships go with the fleet. Whenever the training sub is operating, there is supposed to be a salvage ship here. For the simple reason, it's an old sub. You say you can help, but how? You know Ben Benson? Yes, I know him. He's a fine old man. He used to be a great salvage engineer and sub-rescue man. See, now I get what you're driving at. Then you approve? Well, by all means. I'll give you all the cooperation and men you need. When can you and old Ben start working the sub? I wish we could right now, Commander. I got to talk Ben into it. He's lost self-confidence since the death of his son. Yes, I know. I'm going to talk with him right now. I'll let you know how I make up. And your answer is still no, Ben. Yes, Ben. It's still no. But why? Give me one good reason why. Because I... You know why? Ain't that a good enough reason? No, it isn't. There are 20 men facing certain death because you haven't buried the dead, Ben Benson. What do you mean? I haven't buried the dead. Your son's gone. All the worry and fretting and self-accusation won't bring him back. Besides, it was an accident. But you can do something for 20 men who are still living. Do this for Frank's sake, Ben. It's what he'd want you to do if he were right here beside you. No, Bill. No use. Who could trust a man who would... Stop beating yourself, Ben. I trust you. I'll put on a diving suit and go down and work on the sub if you'll tell me what to do. You... you trust your life in my hands, Bill? Yes. Even in 120 feet of water. What do you say now, Ben? No, Bill. I won't do it. Ben, I always understood that men of the sea had guts and determination. Ben, you're a jellyfish. A disgrace to the memory of your son. That was harsh words, Bill. They cut pretty deep. I'm sorry I had to say them, Ben. I'm thinking of the 20 men more than I'm thinking of you. All right, let's drop it. I'll call the commander and tell him no. Bill, Bill, wait a minute. I've said all I'm going to say, Ben. You're going to call the commander now? Yes. Well, tell him then... I hate it with all that's in me, but... I'll be ready to begin rescue work in two hours. Once this job is over, nobody will ever get me on a salvage mission again. The tide's running out, Bill. You'll drift over to the sub. She lays about a hundred yards, star-stirred. Okay, Ben. Put the diving helmet on, and I'm ready to go. Good boy. The escape hatch is rigged on the winches. When you're ready for it, we'll lure away. As soon as you get the helmet on, let's test the intercom. Be careful, Bill. If you get into trouble hollering, we'll pull you right up. I will, pal. Don't worry about me. Are you sure you're not coming up too fast, or you'll get bends from changing water pressure, Bill? Say hello to David Jones, Bill. Tell him I ain't heard a word from him for so long that that's already moved. Ben, put the helmet on. These guys will keep me here all day. Here you go. How's that, Ben? Yeah, I'll lower the platform into the water. I'll talk to Bill as he's going down. Hello, Bill. Can you hear me? The intercom's working fine. I'm getting a good supply of air. Fine. Let us know when you feel the buoyancy of the water some, and we'll stop the platform, or you can ride it all the way to the bottom. I think I'll ride the platform all the way to the bottom. The oxygen's getting a little thin now, Ben. Okay, we'll step up the pumps. That's just right, Ben. Pass the oxygen hose down, and I'll put it along with me over to the sub. Okay, Bill. You'll find a coupling on the port side of the Conning Tower. Pass the hose on, and we'll force the valve open with air pressure, and give the boys some clean air. Can you hear that? Somebody's outside the sub. You're right, Mr. Jones. It's the rescue diver working on the outside. Take the hammer and answer the signals. It's the rescue diver, all right? Captain, it's happening. We're being rescued. Yes, Mr. Jones. And thank the Lord that somebody's on just first signals. Inform the crew as to what's going on. Oxygen. They're pumping oxygen into the sub. Wait, Mr. Jones. We'll do that for half an hour. Then we'll lower the escape hatch. We'll begin to leave the ship. Ben, you did a great job. In about five hours, we'll have the whole crew out of the sub. It's very easy bringing them out one at a time, but it gets finished eventually. Don't thank me, though, Commander. Thank Bill. Oh, nonsense, Ben. You're the one who has the technical knowledge to make this operation a success. I only did what you told me to do. Ben, what are you going to do now after this is over? Don't ask him, Commander. Just sort a point with him. Rather than a talk about it. Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, look down, fairy Bill. What do you mean, Ben? I mean, I'm not afraid anymore. Oh, that's wonderful, Ben. When did you get free of that fear? When I saw the top of your head piece sink under the wall, but Bill, then I knew I would never be afraid again. And so, once again, we see that one last ounce of courage is all that it takes to turn defeat into victory. Well, we'll see you next week for more adventure with... Rain!