 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. Say, have you ever thought about becoming a wild animal trainer? Sure, I have too. But you'd better not get your peas and cues mixed up in that business, or it'll be just too bad. Well, today's story is about a wild animal trainer, and we've named it Sultan King of Beasts. Let's drop over to Ranger Headquarters. It seems like Stumpy's got us entranced with what he's saying. And I'm telling you, young whippersnappers, I ain't never seen a lion as big and as tough as this Sultan. They've got over there at Kitty Land. We'll have to go over and see the old boy. Has he got big teeth, Stumpy? You just stick your arm in his cage and you will find out how big his teeth are. I guess you'll have answers you weren't expecting, Henry. Stumpy, you talked to our friend Flick Martin? Nope, he was busy training some bears at the time. Say, what are we going down there, fellas? What's the matter with right now? Oh, okay. You know, fellas, the Kitty Land is only a year old now, but it's gained statewide popularity already. More than just a fun ground, it has many educational features as well. I'll say, the best I think of a wild animal axe, then the children can see them in their cages too. Well, what do you say we open the door, fellas? Easier to get out that way. Buddy, I'll rock gang around the door waiting for somebody else to open it. Yeah, that shows we were all thinking about something else. Yeah, I know. Sultan, the big lion at Kitty Land. You'd better knock off playing house made to them grizzlies, Paul. Sam tells me that Sultan's got a bad paw. Must have heard it when he was traveling here from the coast. Let's take a look at it. Okay, Flick. You will... You always test those cage doors, don't you? Sure thing. Too bad for all of us. Yeah. Well, let's go over and see Sultan. Say, what's the matter with him? Look, jumpy. Oh, it's nothing. Nothing at all. Okay, but you're acting strange today. Worried about Sultan's bad paw, maybe? Yeah, that's it. I am worried about his bad paw. Hiya, Flick. Paul. Overlook at Sultan's foot. Yeah, which one is it, Sam? It's the right front one. See it now. Notice how he favors his right front paw, even though he doesn't limp. Yeah, I see it. How are you going to examine that pacing cyclone, boss? Uh, get me a rope, Sam. Sure. Sure, all but words. See, boss, that ain't no lion cub in there. He ain't used to be handled that way. You're going to have a battle. I wouldn't do it. Okay, I'm listening. How would you do it? Well, I... I... I don't know. You can't go in there. We can't dope his food because he might refuse to eat food after that. Well, jumping bullfrogs, Flick. I should have kept my mouth shut. I don't know how you're going to do it. I'm sorry. Oh, forget it. Here comes Sam with a rope. Get ready for action. All right, get ready. Now, I'll lay the loop inside the cage on the floor. When he paces back this way, you'll step in it. Then we'll pull his right front leg through the bar so I can treat the injured paw. Here he comes. Closer. Closer. Ready now. Pull the rope inside, boss. Here goes the loop on the floor. You'll stick your arm in there too far. You'll jump on it. Oh, no, Lion's that fast. There. Look out, Flick! Oh! I'll get the die, paw. Something towards Flick's arm open. Tim, I should have managed my arm. I'm going into that cage and take care of that Lion's paw. I'll show him who's boss. Don't go be crazy, boss. That cat will kill you. He's insane with anger now. Do as I say. I don't want to lose a good boss, that's all. Sultan, you and I are going to have this out right now. That's good enough of the bandage, Sam. Get ready to open the cage door. My whip's just over there and I'm going in. Okay. Whenever you're ready now. Open the cage door, Sam. Sure, Flick. I still think you're asking for it. There you are, old boy. Now get back in the corner of your cage like a good fella so I can look at your bad paw. It's coming at you. Not making a sound. Get back here. Back. Back into your corner. Get back there. Go on. Move on. Come on, now. Sam. Get ready to open the cage door. I'm coming for you. You said it, boss. Lock it carefully, Sam. I got it. Don't blame it for changing your mind. I wouldn't have stayed in there either. I... I didn't change my mind, Sam. What do you mean, Flick? Sam changed it for me. I didn't stay in there because... because I'm afraid of him. My mind's made up, Mr. Franks. I'm through. I'll get some other kind of a job. But not training wild animals. Now, Flick, suppose you take a month's vacation and really rest up and then make your decision. You've been working too hard. Five new animals and five months. It's a big order for training. No, I'm sorry, Mr. Franks, but I'm all washed up. I've lost my nerve. Now, now, son, let's not go off the deep end. You're like working for me, don't you? You said it. That's why I feel so badly. I've never had a better boss in my life. Well, why don't you take your vacation and starting today? We'll cancel the animal stance for a month. Then you can start again. I know you'll think differently after a good rest. A month's vacation with pay sounds good, doesn't it? Oh, it sure does, Mr. Franks. And I appreciate your generous and considerate offer. I know you're trying to help me. I guess it's hard to convince a person how you feel inside. Deep down inside, Mr. Franks, I have a big fear of something, a terrible fear. Where can I get another man who can handle the cats the way you do? And the bears aren't so hard to handle, but the cats are a different story. Are you going to leave me in the lurch just like this? Oh, I know this isn't a picnic for either of us. Well, I'll think it over, Mr. Franks. I'll give it lots of thought. Ah, you're talking like you should. Think about that vacation offer, too. It's still good, you know. Oh, thanks, Mr. Franks. I appreciate your kindness. Now, if I could only beat off this fear. Why are you afraid of Sultan? You're not afraid of the other animals. I don't know why I'm afraid of Sultan. Unless it's because he's so untamed and so were the others when I bought him for you, Flick. How can Sultan be so different? Ah, that's a good question. How? I don't know that there's something inside Sultan's make-up that just makes me scared. Boy, Flick and Flick put those lions, tigers, and pampers through their paces. I'm sure he has good control of them. Come on. I had some crack. I used to hold like you, Lee. Had a girl like you, Lee. Had a girl. Up there now. There he is. Oh, Flick has perfect control of animals at all times. Yeah, I should say, he has. There's one thing I miss. What's that, Bill? That big lion they recently acquired. Sultan. I've never seen that old boy. He's not here. That's for sure. Well, I see that the first second they come in here, but I don't want to say anything. Let me get over there. None of my business wife, Flick, ain't working him with the rest animals. I ain't no lion tamer. I couldn't even tame a pole cat. Say nothing about a full-grown, oversized, genuine male African lion. Sam Polk, take him back to their cage. I'll take him and send Sultan in. I don't want to talk to the fellows about it anyhow. Is that Sultan roaring, Flick? Hell, that's Sultan. He wants to get a workout. But he's a tough character to handle. Hey, that is we shorter notice. He didn't have him in here with the rest of the critters. Well, I don't want to have a cat fight, Stumpy. Sultan's too unpamed, and he might tangle with Raja, my big tiger. Then the fatter'd be in the fire for sure. Those cats cost too much money, time and effort to let them destroy one another. You really love those animals, don't you? Yeah, just as much as you fellows love the animals of the forest. So I love the animals of the jungle. Say, Bill, you're carrying a .45, aren't you? Why, yeah, sure. Why, Flick? Look, give me six bullets for one of my revolvers. I'll leave one full of blanks and one loaded with live ammunition. One loaded? Oh, sure. Here you are. Thanks. But why the real bullets? Well, I suppose you might as well know I'm afraid of that big cat. Really afraid of him. Well, I want this gun loaded with real bullets in case he gets scent of my fear. You mean he can smell fear? Sure can, well, all animals can smell the fear scent given out by human beings. This only enrages them, makes them more dangerous. How about that? Could you shoot Sultan if you really love him? Yeah, I could. It comes to a showdown as to whether it's his life or mine. But why are you afraid of Sultan? I don't know. I really haven't been able to put my finger on it. Well, I have to give Sultan his work out. Sam, Paul, send Sultan in. Sultan's in a nasty mood again, Mr. Jefferson. Flick's ordered. No. Man, did you see that? Sultan didn't jump, but he turned on Flick. He's ready to fight. Funny thing, Flick's not training Sultan any different from the others. That lion's just plain ordinary. Hey, here comes Flick out of the arena. Why's he got his head down in his face here? He's embarrassed. Let him be. You ready to call it a day, Flick? Yeah. I'm glad that's over. The reason I'm glad is this. Remember when I hollered for Sultan to jump and fire the pistol like I always do? By some means or other, he was able to pivot about instead of jumping. He lashed out at my face with his paw and just raised my cheek. Take a look. Great, Scott, that was her. Whoa, three gashes right across your face from one cheek across your nose and under the other cheek. Oh, dear, narrow escape was really narrow, wasn't it, Sonny? You and look so good without a face. The truth is, how was I? I think Sultan's out to get me. Come, we're walking back to headquarters, Bill. I thought I might, though. I just can't get Flick Martin off my mind. I know what you mean, poor fella. How can we help him? That's the puzzle. We're agreed that he needs help, but how? This is a type of job that's different than a regular run of the mill ones. Well, there's one thing for sure. He's got to get his courage back. You've got to help Flick find. Welcome to today's event, and I will bring out Flick Martin and his big cats without further delay. We do not make any more noise than necessary. And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Flick Martin and his black panties. Good thing Bill is here to watch, Flick. You've got old Betsy right here alongside of me. If one of them black restles gets any ideas. I can see Flick nervous. I don't like it. Look at the teeth on that big black filler. Lowering his dentist. He waits to drill out a cavity in that tooth. Come quick. Flick's trouble with Big Panther. Let's go, sonny. Old Betsy's waiting to speak her piece. Come on, Stumpy. Flick's in the fight with the Panther. You ain't just joking, sonny. There, escape door ahead, Stumpy. You better use rifle. Panther's going to get flicked. Other Panthers get restless, too. The door opens so I can get out. Quickly, I can't open Panther much longer. I'll have it open real soon, Flick. Real T.O., black scrappy. Okay, Flick, you come out now. Come on, you black killer. I'm not close. You hurt bad? No. No, just skin raises. You never got that close. Gentlemen, we're sorry we cannot entertain you today with the Wild Animal Act. Dudes and circumstances beyond our control. Let's go to a dressing room, Flick. Yeah, quick. Does what, Flick? My career as a Wild Animal Trainer is over. I'm afraid of even the Panthers now. Listen, Flick, you're not a quitter, are you? You're not going to let those cats call your bluff. What do you mean, bluff? How would you like to get into that arena with them, Flick? I've had just as close calls out on the trail. But I'm not a coward because I'm afraid, am I? Am I, Stumpy? You'll have to answer that question yourself, Sonny. Don't ever forget that God and many other animals, animals are to serve man, not bosom. Whether you've lost your courage, you're not, ain't for me to say. I don't know what I'm doing right now. I really don't want to quit training animals. I love them and I enjoy working with them. And I think they're attached to me. But this crazy fear I have of Sultan has affected me so that I'm becoming afraid of all of them. I tell you what, let's all relax down at the drugstore. Maybe after a soda or something, we'll feel better. Then we can talk. Let's go. Pretty good crowd in here today. Yeah, unusually large. Most of them came in after we did. You know, Henry, I've got a feeling. I've got blood stains. What a two-bit lion's aim. Wait a minute, Flick. So then I backed up and I backed more and sure that I was running for the game to hide a knife. Stumpy, gray wolf, Henry, get Flick out of here. That's an order. Bill, I'm gonna beat that guy's ears and if it's the last thing I do, come on, Flick, you hear order. I won't go. I'll fight my own battles. Go off me. Henry, you take underarm. I take this. Come on. You go off, Flick. You need help. Get going, fellas. I'll take care of this situation. I've never seen Bill so angry on my life. His face is almost purple. Hey, you with the big mouth. Step out here. I'm talking to you there in the corner. Aren't you the one who was just making fun of Flick Martin? That's why. Free country, isn't it? Not for that kind of talk, it isn't. Have you ever been in a cage with wild animals? Have you ever developed a fear complex for no good reason at all? All right. All you folks listen to me. You were just poking fun at a young man who needs help. A lot of help from all of us. You know about Sultan, the new lion over at Kitty Land Park. Not only is Sultan a very beautiful black main lion, but he's extremely ferocious and ornery. He's a real tough guy, almost to the point of being unconquerable. I didn't know about that. That wasn't in the newspapers. It isn't being advertised around either. So let's not make public remarks. Let's go to the arena and encourage Flick when he's working with his animals. Flick's not a failure. He's just got a terrific problem to lick. And he can do it with your help. All right. What do you say? Are you willing? Sure. I asked you to come today, Bill, because somehow you give me courage and confidence. You just sit close to the animal arena while I put the animals through their paces. I'm going to try just one last time. Okay, Flick. It'll help you. I'll be glad to do it. Is that right? Are you going to work Sultan in with the rest of the cats today? Yeah. I'm going to try just once more. Sultan and I just once more. Okay, let's go. Stand by me, fellas. I need your support. We'll be there, young fella. If that Sultan fella gets tough, I'll handle him all right. You're free. How are you going to do that, Stumpy? Well, I'm ready by the tail and swing him around and around until he gets so dizzy in the head, he won't be able to tell right from left. Now, Flick's feeling better already. First time he's laughing quite a while. All right, fellas, let's go. That's between us, fellas. I don't like the way Sultan's looking at that big tiger right now. Yeah. Which is just a rajah's got a chip on his shoulder, too. Look, Flick, motion to us. Let's go over by arena. Yeah. What's wrong, Flick? Sultan, get back in there and stay on there. Tell us, get the rest of them chairs out of here. Pull the shoe door open. Sultan, the tiger will bite you in the foot high. Get that tail down. Please hurry. I'll keep it to a part as long as I can. It's no use. I'm going to have to sell Sultan to a zoo and quit the animal training business. I just can't conquer him, that's all. That's not your problem, Flick. What do you mean? I mean, you've got to conquer yourself before you can conquer Sultan. Yeah, how do I go about that? Have you ever come to the one who has all power? You mean... Yes, God. God gave Samson the power to kill a lion with his bare hands. And he kept Daniel safe in the lion's den. Yeah. Yeah, Bill. Bill, I think that's what I need, most of all. I need to know God. Would you tell me how I can do it? It would give me the greatest pleasure in all the world. Flick! Hey, Flick, where are you? Ah, Flick! Excuse me, Bill. Right here, Sam. What's wrong, man? You look scared to death. His saltman... He's working out his cage. He's running loose at the south end of the building. Hey, Jordy! Hey, bitch! Get around the other side with the arrivals! Don't shoot until I say so! Stay away from the lion! Or stay away from the lion! Sure? Get those people back away from here! We're going to try to take Salt in the lion! You ready, Flick? Yeah, I'm ready. That whip... Oh, revolver... Both your revolvers loaded with blanks? What? No, of course not. You know, I always carry one revolver loaded with real bullets, but I'm working with Salt in... Not this time. Here, let me have those real bullets. Put in blanks. Real bullets won't help Flick Martin conquer himself. How about it? Okay, Bill, you win. I'll take the real bullets out now, and I'll give them back to you. I've got some of the best riflemen in the state to cover you. Okay, Bill. Here are the real bullets. Okay. Now I'm ready. Maybe as I'll ever be. Just beat in redless cage bars when I close in for the final attack at the crucial moment. Here goes. We'll be playing for you, sonny! And also be ready with old Betsy here, too! Sultan sees Flick coming after him. Look at him watching Flick. Fellas, the battle is on. Flick versus Salt. Get in your cage and quick! I'm coming up that pile of straw bales after you, and master you, you king of beasts! You see me coming, don't you? What a scene this is! Oh, my blood's almost turned to ice or something. Flick's climbing up the bales of straw and worth Sultan. Sultan's waiting. There isn't much room on top of that stack of straw bales. Sultan's beginning to crotch for attack. He's backing into edge of stack and give him more room to jump. Maybe we should shoot now before Sultan kills Flick. Nobody shoots until I give the word. That's an order. This is Flick's battle. Let's be ready to rattle the cage bars when Flick gives the word. It's almost to the top now! I missed the top, don't I? You're pouring your punches under you for the spring to attack and kill. You're not saying much. You're climbing, marching, waiting. I'll strike first. And now I'm playing your game, Wild King of Beasts. It's an ornary-looking whip. I hope Sultan respects it. Sultan's like his claws in the flex whip. Flickie snatched it right out of his hands. Sultan's gonna spring. To see him tense his body. He'll roar when he does. This is it, fellas! I've got my whip now and you're gonna charge. You're also gonna roar and come at me. When you do, I'll be there first. Kill the cage. Kill the cage. Now I'm Sultan. Damn you! Congratulations, Flick. You came through marvelous. He's enough. We felt watching you two up there. What happened when he charged there? He seems like all of a sudden he seemed to stop in midair. He leaped right off the stack and headed for his cage. Well, I decided that after he got my whip I had to act fast because I knew he was going to charge at any second. So when I saw him tense and began to move slightly toward me I charged him and beat him right on the nose with my pole. He was stunned and surprised and ran for his cage. I would too if some guy beat me on the beak with a broom handle. Yes, sir, I'd get for safety and fast. Well, fellas, I won and that makes me happy. Though exhausted. But tell me again, just why did you take those bullets away from me? Because your biggest enemy was not Sultan. It was yourself. Bullets wouldn't help you conquer yourself. Only you and the Lord could do that. I see. That brings us to where we were left off a half hour ago. Tell me, Bill, how can I know God as you know him? Well, boys and girls, suppose you drop around the ranger station next week for more adventure with RANGER