 Ranger of the Woodland! Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, showing rare courage in the face of disaster, in the air, on horseback, or in a screaming squad car. Ranger Bill, his mind alert, already smile, unswerving, loyal to his mission. And all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. You know, fellas and girls, the greatest test in our Christian experience is when we come to a crisis point in our lives. We can read the book of Job and all the rest of the scriptures on testing and faith, but they don't have real meaning until we're put to the test. Then the Lord finds out just how much we really believe in what we read in his book. Christians around us find out too whether we're the salt of the earth or just so much weak tea that soon is washed away. Do we really mean it when we say we trust the Lord no matter what happens? Do we know? Let's get into our story, which we'll look into the point at hand. I like to call it the crisis. Bill, why is Stumpy lagging behind all the time? I don't know, pal. What's that, too? Let's hold up and find out. Where'd you get that name, old timer? She's a compliment, but there's one thing I can't stand and that's a speedy horse. He gets there too soon. Well, what do you fellas lollyganging around for? Let's get going. When we get back from this trip, I'm going to find me an able-bodied two-year-old with some get-up-and-go. Bishes, come on there, boy. Bishes, go. Look out for the branch. Stumpy gets knocked off horse. Come on, let's go. Bishes took off so fast you didn't see the tree branch in your way and whammoed. Whammo was right. We're so many stars. We take you back to doctor after you have head bandage up. Doctor? What do I need a doctor for? Maybe you have slight concussion and better to have doctor take a look and make X-ray. Jerry, I ain't going to no doctor. What's so terrible about that? You've been to doctors before and never fly. I ain't going, that's final. In the trail. Bill, you better make him go to doctor. Let him be, fellas. If he goes now, he'll get so riled up it won't do much good. You're sure it's all right to take the risk? I'll assume the responsibility, fellas. Come on, quit yapping and bandage up the hole in my head before my brains leak out to both of them. I made a mistake here. I'll try again. Thank you, sir. What's the matter, old timer? There's number of machines on the fridge. Can't seem to get the number I want. Maybe you let me try. Go ahead, help yourself. See if you can do any better. What's the number? Right here on this piece of paper. I try. Hold the line just a minute. Stumpy, you call garage? Sure. Did you get them? I had another end of wire. You take phone now. Thanks. Hello, Ed. Is that you, Stumpy? Of course, it's me. Who else? That's right. Only voice like yours around these parts. Never mind the compliments. Did you get my old car fixed? Yeah, you can come down and get it anytime you want. I'll be right down and get it. So long. Car ready? I'm going down to the garage and get it. Maybe you better call the telephone company and tell them to fix that ordinary contraption. Eddie did a pretty good job on the old bus. She ran right along. What sense are you up to? No, that's a fine question for you to be asking me. You're the one that's just broken the law. Me? I broke the law? No, just a minute. What kind of a cop are you turning out to be? Cusing people to break in the law when you know they haven't? Haven't you got anything better to do? You mean to tell me with a straight face that you didn't run that stop sign back there? What stop sign back where? Right there back at the corner. And you did it with me right behind you. Maybe you think friendship blinds me eyes, but I'll tell you that I'll arrest my own mother if she broke the law. Now, let's see your driver's license. All right, all right. Just a minute. Well, come on. What's taking you so long? Would you be printing a new driver's license because you haven't got one? I've got one and you know it. Look through my wallet. You'll find it. Well, take the money out first. Okay. You sure can be a hard man, Rourke. Here. Wait a minute, Stompy Jenkins. Do you mean to tell me you can't find your driver's license? And I can see it from here without even touching your wallet? You can? What do you know? I'm just sticking my hand on the top. Okay, Patrick, write the ticket. Oh, never mind. Huh? What do you mean? Forget it? Don't you understand English? Sure I understand English. Now write the ticket. Cut the blarney and move over. I'm driving you wherever you're going. I said write the ticket. You don't have to be kind to me. I did wrong, so make out the ticket. I'll pay the fine. Are you going to move over in the seat, all right, all right, I'm doing it. Just because I'm so curious is what you're up to. Follow us, Mike. I'm driving Stompy's car. Well, where to? Range your headquarters. Aye, and that's where we'll be heading. I'm up to you anyway, Rourke. I'm certain that you're going blind, old timer. What? Why, you're crazy as a loon, old friend. Well, let's find out. What's there to find out? Whether I'm crazy as a loon or you're going blind. Thanks for bringing him to the office, Pat. Oh, that's all right, Bill. I was glad to do it. I ain't going to no eye, doctor. He needs to go to a head doctor for a roof job. How would you get that one? Never you mind. And I ain't going, that's for certain. Well, I guess I'll have to write that ticket after all. You're too easy, Pat. Anyone who runs the stop sign should go to jail. You agree, Bill? I sure do. Oh, look at me. I don't need 20-20 vision to see that. Not a friend left in the world. That's what they all say when they're cornered. Mind you, you're old grizzly bear. You get those eyes checked. Or else. Well, I've got to get back to me job. Might tweak an outside in the squad car. Don't just stand there. Looks so disturbed. Chew me out. Let's go see the doctor's stump here. Not one bit of lip out of yours. I'll suspend you from the service. What is the failing in your side stump? A couple of months, I reckon. That is where it's been real bad. Okay, that's all from now, old time. Fix me up real good. I can't see anything at all. That's only temporary because of the drops I put in your eyes to relax the muscles. I'm sorry, I'm not a good person. I'm not a good person. I'm not a good person. I'm not a good person. I'm not a good person. Relax the muscles. They'll see that you get home safely. Fine, kettle of fish, this is. Who wants a blind old man around to lead like a puppy on a leash? Don't pay any attention to him, Doc. I'm not. You get used to this sort of thing after you've been in this game as long as I have. Well, what's the verdict, Doc? I'm going blind as a bat. What haven't you noticed? Nobody said you were stumpy. You have cataracts nearly covering each eye. I'll remove them and you'll have almost perfect sight again. With glasses. Remove the cataracts? How? Surgery. Surgery? Oh, no, you know, nobody touches my eyes. You don't have to make a decision now. Think it over. You'd be surprised how many people have cataracts removed. The operation is delicate but successful. I don't care what other people have done. Just because they're crazy, you don't mean I am too. I'll go blind first. Chump on catfish. You don't think stumpy really meant it when he said he'd rather be blind, do you, Bill? No, I don't really think so, pal. The doctor's verdict was a shock to him as it would be to most folks. Ah, that's right. He sees things different in a few days. I sure hope so. I can't believe he'd be serious about going blind if he knew he had a good chance to regain almost normal sight. I feel sorry for Oldtimer. Yeah, so do I, but don't let him know it. Although there's one thing I'm very disturbed about. He'd drive a car. We're not able to see very well. Yeah. Could have been very serious. I suppose he killed someone. Yeah. The Lord sure must have put Pat right behind Stumpy's car so he'd see the Oldtimer drive through the stop sign. You're right there, Henry. I'm surprised at Stumpy for doing that. We're gonna have a long talk about it. Were you serious about suspending him from the service if he didn't get medical help? What would you do if you were in my shoes, pal? Yeah, I see your point. Well, then you must have been suspicious. Sure I was. Remember when his horse lagged behind the other day on the trail? Yeah, I wonder about that. Horse C-Ride, not loafer. Exactly. He was trying to watch out for low branches. That's why he got knocked off his horse when he speeded up. Oh, sure. Stumpy was trying to cover up. See, that fit in with trouble. He had to dial a phone the other day. My call repairman, he said, phone OK. Stumpy of hard time to see, dial face. He blamed it on a bad phone? Not right. And those are the things that disturbed me, fellas. He was trying to cover up. That's the same thing as lying and being deceitful. And for a mature Christian and an experienced ranger, well, he just doesn't add up. But he was only trying to keep others from noticing it. Was he, pal? What do you mean? Sure he was. Perhaps. Or was he doing the worst thing he could possibly do? Well, I don't understand. He was lying to himself, trying to fool himself and convince himself that he wasn't losing his sight. That's the worst thing a man can do to himself and to the Lord. Remember what Jesus said to his disciples when they were in the boat and a storm hit the Sea of Galilee? You mean where Peter woke the Lord out of a sound sleep and told him about the storm and feared they'd all drown? Well, I don't recall the exact words, but the Lord questioned them on their faith. His exact words to the disciples were, how is it that you have no faith? Easy, buddy. So then, fellas, they can't horse me around. Easy, boys there. Oh, easy, buddy. There you go. There you go. Bye. Come on, pal, we're a little late this morning. I'll drop you off at school. Okay. I'll be right there. Now, I'll get it. Hello, Jefferson residents. Blackie's gone? Okay, Gray Wolf, we're leaving right now. Goodbye. What's with Blackie? Blackie's not in the stable and neither is Stumpy's saddle or his gear. Uh-oh. Uh-oh is right. Come on, shake a leg. Boy, there sure doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the old boy's sight this morning. Ah, you speak truth, there. Oh, boy. An old fox is sure covering his trail to perfection. If it's hard to follow now, what'll it be when we get up in the high country and on hard ground? That's the whole point. We just waste our time. Let's go back to the office, fellas. Yeah, but... It'll be all right, pal. We'll just have to wait until he gets over the shock of his eye condition. But what if he gets himself into a jam? There's no chance we'll have to take. The way Stumpy's covering his trail tells us he definitely doesn't want company. I'm awful sorry, Bill. I'm burning him. What wrong? Are you sick? What's the matter, young fella? It's my pa, Bill. He's rattler-bit. Rattler-bit? You need the doctor, not us, lad. No, the doc ain't to home, Bill. I come here. I don't... I don't feel so good. It's pa, though. He's terrible, rattler. I got him. Henry, get the big first aid kit and lice it through my saddle. I'll carry Barney into the office. You can bring him around. Gray Wolf, you try and find the doc. Get an intern at the hospital. I'll ride Storm and head across country. Storm can make it faster than a car by using the shortcut. All right, let's get with it. No. This is Nate's place. He's got blacksmith equipment. You see? Barney's going for the doc. Here, handle the holder. Oh, that's good. Now you'll find some razor blades. Well, I run out to my horse and get this snake bite kit. They get some water to cook it on the stove and some clean cloth for bandages. And hurry up. Just a second. I'll get you a cup in it. Outside of it. You must be the one who's bloody... I'll put some sense into it. Like the Lord gave me to use. Look to make sure. Come on, big boy. You're good and warmed up now. Give it all you got. Come on, Storm. Faster, boy. Faster. Man's life depends on us getting there as soon as we can. Come on. Well, that's not news. I figured that sometime back. Radler bite plenty bad, especially where Nate is. Big diamond-backed rattlesnake carried big lot of poison. I sure hope so, Sally Girl. I sure hope so. Let's say it'll give him more of a fighting chance than he had. How's Nate, doc? He'll make it, Bill. That was really a close one. Yeah, sure was. I'm real pleased to hear the good news. Well, Stumpy saved his life. Maybe so. Killed him, too. What do you mean by that? Look at me. Cut finger on his hand to burn fingers on another. Shimbone. When all this happened because I can't see so good. If that girl hadn't been here to see for me in the tight places, Nate would have died. Yes, you're right. Sally told me about what happened. Not to tattle, but to help. I sure ain't proud of myself. I can tell you that much. The Lord must be real disturbed with me. I don't understand. It's pretty simple, doc. I'm supposed to be a mature Christian. And yet I'm all shook up about having eye surgery. That is, I was all shook up. Come to a crisis in my life and I fall flat on my face. Well, let's get the operation done as soon as you can, doc. And Bill, I've got something to say to you, too. All right, go ahead, old friend. The next time I come face to face with a crisis, I won't embarrass you or the Lord. I'll act like a grown-up Christian. Yes, I believe the old timer will do just that. And when you come face to face with a crisis, you'll be sure you act like a grown-up Christian, too. See you next week for more adventure with...