 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 remember the old days of the riverboats when they had a big paddle wheel on the stern to push them along over the shallow parts of the river some folks call them the good old days but really the rivers and shallow lakes haven't changed much since those good old days and they're still shallow in many parts and the shifting sand and mud bars still are a menace to navigation so we've still got river boats in some parts of the country our story today concerns the small river boats that take tourists from Naughty Pine up to Mirror Lake and the King's Islands say I hear the whistle of a riverboat right now so we bring you the adventure of the floating death trap Cougan handles his boat like it was a canoe look at the waves coming into the dock Jim yeah stumpy and if you ask me some day he's gonna take the dock along with him and he Cougan's too sure of himself that'll cover his ain't up to the shenanigans he tries to pull hey why don't you two rivermen bury the hatchet can be some honest competitors get along with each other not the way he works it I keep my boat in good shape but I can't cut prices the way he does hey yo howdy Cougan don't you think it could be more careful when you pull up to the dock we all gotta use it you know if your shirt on Jim Gunderson I ain't never damaged it yet but it won't be long that's what the monkey said when he got his tail caught in the moon machine yeah while you grabbed a lot Jim Gunderson seems to me you always got a chip on your shoulder well if I have you got a two before on yours what are you gonna stop cutting tourist fares on me that's all in the game Jim my boy you can't take it then you should quit the river boats and retire yeah I'd like that maybe you'd like to sell your old tub to Andy Cougan hey look who's talking about a tub well that's scow yours of constant dainter on the river I don't see how any tourist in his right mind would he even travel on it now see here you young whippersnappers I ain't got time to spend here if you're gonna keep scrapping and spitting at each other I'll be seeing you some other time wait a minute you old grizzly bear go along with you and get my license renewed by your boss so I can run Jim Gunderson out of business this year that's what you think you all river rat you'll run your business into a sandbar behind dry before you know it then I'll buy that old garbage scow yours and fix it up yeah that'll be the day when the moon turns the green cheese you'll be able to buy Andy Cougan out I'll be back as soon as I get this year's license and run you off the river here's my check for $100 to pay from a license you give me that piece of paper I'll be on my way not bothering you anymore this year Andy this year it's going to be different I can only renew your license if you fix up your boat what did you say am I hearing things I don't think there's any trouble with your hearing Andy I said I can't renew your license to carry tourists until some of the hazards are removed on your boat I'll give you a freight license but not a passenger license you won't give me a license to take folks up to Mirror Lake Andy bills told you you can't have a license this year until you get your boat fixed when I ask for your advice then you can talk Henry Scott oh now Bill Jefferson give me one good reason why you won't give me a license to carry passengers just one good reason all right Andy I can give you one good reason your stacks need repair and if that isn't enough I can give you a dozen other reasons all right keep talking I'm waiting to hear some more of your Riverwash Andy I'd remind you that our inspections aren't Riverwash now here's the list of serious defects we found on your boat stern wheel needs stacks leak deck planks need wheelhouse boiler can wipe why you're putting me out of business you rejected my whole boat I had to Andy why my boat's no worse than it was last year I wasn't here last year to give out licenses but this year I'm responsible and I say I'm inspecting the boat the stacks are a fire hazard and the boiler is a threat to human life I can't allow our tourists to ride on your boat I don't even want you to carry freight because you're endangering your own life by riding on that craft I'll take care of Andy Cougan and I don't need your sympathy did you give license to Jim Gunderson yes I did if you want to know Andy he keeps his boat in good repair and while it's none of my business it's my opinion you will never do the business he does unless you make your boat safer and more attractive price cutting will get you nowhere Andy so you're taking sides with Jim Gunderson now I get the picture you two are in cahoots trying to run me out of business how much is he paying you for this Bill Jefferson now listen here Andy I can understand you're being hot under the collar about this but you make one crack that I'm using this job for personal profit and you'll really be in trouble and I know only one thing Bill Jefferson things are getting pretty bad when the Rangers take sides to running on this man out of business so Jim Gunderson you think that you and the Ranger can put me out of business I what I had nothing to do well you don't know Andy Cougan when he fights tooth and nail for his rights and I've been on this river 20 years and I ain't leaving for no scheme and rascals now understand Andy we're behind John no Rangers gonna run you off the river that's right Gunderson either now why don't you don't get creative yours Andy and buy a new stand hey Jim are you gonna let him call your crook and get away with it crock I dare you to call me a crook Andy Cougan and we'll see what happens and you do about it Jim Gunderson I say you're a crook to your face and you're on the range even size jump let's take them on we ain't got time they're taking us on here they come have you in jail knock it off what seemed to be trouble here why you fight like wildcats maybe you know Tim yes I know just a slight disagreement of opinion that's all I hate to see what you fellas would do if you had a big one it'll be all right now tell me I think we got the disagreement of straight down now what happened to Andy you all wet you said a ranger he's all wet more ways than why you tell him believe me I'm not through with you yet well whenever you're ready for more let us know will you you fellas better not start more fist fight it not good somebody may get hurt bad better behave yourselves boys we'll have to put you in cages like monkeys see you later so that's the story mr. banker you think that Bill Jefferson and Jim or scheming to put me out of business no I wouldn't go for that idea at all Andy no why not the evidence points that way well because I have known both men for years had many business dealings with them personally and through the bank there was honest as a man could be and I'd be careful about accusing people that way if I were you Andy you could be taken to court and sued could yep unless you're hankering for lawsuit you can't go around talking about folks that way now maybe I have been wrong talking the way I did but what am I gonna do Bill won't let me stay in business and I won't be able to pay back the loan I have from your bank well Andy let me talk with Bill will you he's a good friend of mine perhaps I can change his mind that is providing one thing what's that mr. banker is your boat in pretty fair shape or is it as bad as Bill sensitive well some of the things he says are true but well I don't think they're as bad as he says they are the stacks leak a little sure but they're not a fire hazard boiler's been repaired a lot of times but it's not gonna blow up I'm not crazy enough to make things dangerous for myself well let me talk to Bill see what can be done why are you so hard on Andy surely his boat couldn't have deteriorated this much from last year well last year I wasn't responsible for boat inspection Ed but I understand that the license was given him on his promise that he'd have the boat repaired the truth is he spent only a nominal amount of money and the repairs were only temporary I see he didn't tell me that Bill to me it's a clear case of neglect and cheap maintenance to cut down costs and of course sooner or later that method is more expensive in the long run the cars catch up with you yes but Bill here's the problem and he's got a loan with my bank and how can he pay it off if you don't issue him a passenger license so he can make a living well that's his business of course but one way would be to sell his boat for what it's worth sure he could do that but he wouldn't have any money to live on until he got started in another business or got a job for himself well he wouldn't be the first one who had to do it in I'm sorry but neither you or anybody else can make me issue a permit for operating would I believe to be a death trap I refuse to bear the responsibility for the lives of people who would be traveling on that boat surely you can understand my position in this head I don't think I can this time Bill I think you're too hard if anything did happen Andy would be held responsible not you I don't agree with you there and well if you won't help Andy I will okay Ed not your privilege personally I'm more than willing to help him if you'll only help himself mr. mayor I wish you would persuade Bill to be more lenient and Andy's case after all Andy's an old-timer around here been a river man for 20 years I think he deserves something better than being shut off like this well I don't know Ed of course I'll be glad to talk with Bill I kind of agree with you in a way still it would be bad publicity for our town if there was a tragedy will you go with me this afternoon to talk with Bill yes Ed I will thanks mr. mayor I'll need all the support I can get bills are tough enough opponent for half a dozen like me will you give me a hand with this problem you know Bill pretty well don't you sure we all know Bill pretty well I'll be glad to go with you this afternoon that I think maybe bills out of line on this thanks Bob the mayor will be there too three o'clock this afternoon at Bill's office you hold a lot of influence in the community how about throwing in with us and try to influence Bill to change his mind well I don't know son we could sell Andy's boat to get back the money we let him yes but in that case Andy wouldn't have anything to tide him over until he gets set up again maybe you're right I'll go along and see what I can do come all the big wakes are not he pine president I'm right in man sit down thank you Bill hey you fellas look like you buried your last friend why the long faces many a true word spoken in a justice don't be here Henry a razzle some chairs will you boy I sure be all here thanks well gentlemen what's the nature of your visit it's been a long time since all the towns VIPs were together at Ranger headquarters it's about you're refusing to grant a license to Andy Coogan Bill as I said before I think you're wrong I think you're stretching some fine technical points and Bill I'm go ahead dad we've come along with my boy to find out just why you're being so harsh with old Andy Coogan far as I'm concerned Bill I'm sort of half and half on this problem I wouldn't want trying to do occur and ruin the city's name for tourist trade but I don't like to see Andy put out of business either if we can help it I'd like to know if you would reconsider Bob what do you have to say well Bill we're old friends but this time I think you're wrong there's suddenly cut off on man's lively hood when he's been in business here and naughty pine for years is well I think it's unnecessary gentlemen I can appreciate and understand your concern for Andy Coogan far be it from me to cut off a man's business but now I suppose you're going to be coldly analytical Bill well I guess I am and I think I ought to be where human lives are in danger don't you well you should go slow anyway sure I agree with that Bill wins a first round Grey Wolf fight not over yet gentlemen I'm not going to itemize the faults we found with Andy Stern Wheeler I think you're all familiar with them as it is that's right Bill no sense code over that again Mr. Mayor would you issue a safety sticker to a man whose car had faulty brakes well no I guess I wouldn't Bill and if you did issue the safety sticker for a faulty car the driver ran somebody down who would be to blame well why the driver of course only the driver well in a measure I would be responsible to sure since I issued the safety sticker in the first place score winning round two for Bill you make clean sweeper that now gentlemen by the mayor's own admission he's answered your question suppose the Stern Wheeler caught fire from the leaky stacks or the boiler exploded and lives were lost who would be responsible besides Andy that is I suppose you'd have to bear some of the responsibility for issuing the licenses well gentlemen do we have an argument well as I said before I certainly wouldn't want to pressure you into taking that kind of responsibility I don't know mayor seems to me that Bill could give Andy a time extension to make the repairs tourist trade won't be heavy for another month yet I side with the mayor I don't see why there's any argument left to make Bill do this is like pointing a loaded gun at you tell him big Ed and there's no telling what if they're loaded shooting I ain't gonna let go and hit Bill right between eyeballs no sir if I were Bill I wouldn't issue that there piece of paper either I'm sorry I don't agree with that at all gentlemen I think Andy should get a break and I'm going to do all I can to see that he gets it you can help Andy and hey how's that you sound so sure of yourself Bill I am help Andy get his boat repaired see that he does it and I'll be glad to issue a license but not before good news for you fine Andy what's the good news I fixed up my stern wheeler the way you asked hey that is good news I'm sure glad you came to see things the right way Andy well here's my check bill you make up the receipts and license I'll be getting back to work sure I'll be glad to do that too after I've inspected your boat after you've inspected you mean you don't take my word that the repairs are made well that's not what I mean Andy if you say you made them I believe you what I want to verify is that they were made according to specifications oh specification well let's go down and see it okay Andy my car's outside Jim say Bill did Andy tell you picked up that old tub of his it don't look any different to me that may be the judge of that Jim come on Bill Jim Gunderson don't know what he's talking about here's that's all listen you all skin flat at least I got my boat running on the river so why don't you two fellas bury the hatchet stops quabbling with each other genuine competitors can make business better you know you don't have to cut each other's throats to stay in business nobody can get along with that fellow me I don't even try listen to the man chirp just like a magpie here we'll start with a boiler first bill okay with me well what do you say Bill satisfied inspection okay no Andy I'm sorry to say it isn't what well I fixed up everything the way you wanted it what more do you want one thing I don't want is camouflage I just want honest repairs it'll be good enough to stand up underwear and tear for instance those pieces of tin you wrapped around the leaky stacks they wouldn't last a week what good Jefferson you get off my boat you're here get off now run without a license now get off sure I'll get off Andy but you'd better not run without a license or I'll have to put you under arrest my judgment is that to operate this floating death trap is a menace to everybody on or near it and that's fine range your headquarters Bill Jefferson speaking what do you mean Ed why and he fixed up his boat just as you requested and you turned on his license again what's the matter with you Bill what do you expect of a man now just a minute Ed did you look at the repairs Andy made what that's what I thought take a look they're nothing but camouflage Ed pure camouflage the boat's still in dangerous condition believe me if I thought for one minute you gotta come any Cougars Riverboats on fire what's that hold on Ed hi I said any Cougars Riverboats on fire up in Mirror Lake Henry you get stumpy and gray wolf yeah stand by in the car okay fellas to radio the fire boat I'll call Tom in the fire tower and find out how badly Andy's boat is burning right away did you hear that I sure did take back all I said I'll hang up right now so you can swing into action Tom this is Bill can you see Andy Cougan's boat how badly is it burning Tom looks like the fire is coming from around I can see it pretty well through my glasses good boy keep your radio open your eye on the boat until we get there I'm taking the fire boat so long you'll have to jump out of the jack both move out fast this isn't a stern wheeler I know pal you fellas each man the main nozzle and turn them out I'll start the pumps there's only one sandbar that will stop us turn the nozzles down toward the water and lock them in place what you plan to bill let's turn on fire boat over sandbar with stream from high-pressure nozzles that's the general idea man your station fellas Bill there's Andy's boat ahead on nearly it burned bad give it all you got Matt full speed ahead make sure those nozzles are locked pumps are turned on and they give the word open the valves how close I'll eat the sandbar Henry yeah when the bow passes over the take a hose line go aboard and soak down the upholstery and walls in the cabin fellas drain the water out of the high-pressure gear okay the Lord they're all right here's a motorboat bill Henry you entertain the distinguished guests Stumpy Ray Wolf let's go aboard Andy's boat and take a look I want to be sure the fire's out we're dead right about Andy's boat it was in bad condition well that's all right sorry to Bell and personally you did a fine job of saving the boat from total destruction well he sure did the other Rangers with him Bill will you accept an apology if I don't listen to you this wouldn't have happened thanks for saving my boat from being burned to a crisp maybe saving my life in the bargain fellas you don't have to apologize let's forget it we all have our differences of opinion and that's our privilege well maybe so now I'm really gonna have my boat fixed up in tip-top shape and then I'll be after you for a license and I'll be glad to give it to you Andy so you can run the river with Jim Gunderson yes we can catch me what do you say we bury the hatchet and you'd be good friends huh well that suits me fine here's my five and here's my all's well that ends well as the old saying mill proved that you have to stick by your guns when you know you're right even against all your friends sometimes well see you next week for more adventure with their boys and girls this is Ranger Bill back again for just a third of a minute with an extra word of thanks to you for joining us today hope you'll team up with the Rangers every week at this time when your local station gives us this chance to get together see you then