 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. One of the summer jobs assigned the Rangers is that of water safety patrol on Beaver Lake. Beaver Lake is one of the lakes that resulted from the big tri-mountain power dam. This lake is the favorite summer resort area for the citizens of Naughty Pine, Junction City, Canyon City, and even some of the folks from Central City come up to Beaver Lake. Breathtaking beauty spot, the water is as clear as crystal, and there are mountain ranges all around the lake. Then there's something else breathtaking about Beaver Lake, which we'll find out in our story today. Water Hot Rounds. The villains are coming in pretty close to their swimmers, Byron. You said it, Ben. There isn't much I can do about it. I'm just a lifeguard here and all I have is a rowboat. Well, why don't you call the Water Safety Patrol? Let the Rangers handle it. What good will that do? All the boats look the same, and before Bill and his boys can catch up with them, well, they've beached and are behaving themselves. You mean you ain't gonna call the Rangers? What for? Call them on the average once a day about those water hot rods. What good does it do? None. Well, maybe old Ben better go over and talk to the boys. It's time something was done about this before somebody gets killed. How about mansion, Gus? Yeah, you like it more? It's cool, man. Cool. Man, how many horses is it? Uh, 75. Man, who staid you with a roll? My pop. I talked him into it. When are you gonna skim it? Uh, I think I'll take it out tonight in the moonlight. Yeah, man. Then the Water Safety Patrol won't be around to Pesteris. This is crazy, man. Crazy. Yeah, it goes like crazy too, man. Wait a night and you'll see some real water scooting. Let's show him how to hot rod this tub. Hello, Ben. Your old model A sounds good as new. Yep, she sure does. Then they made this girl, they built him to last. Ain't much for speed, but she sure is dependable. Summer and winter makes no never mind of this old girl. Talking about speed, young fella. That's what old Ben come over here to chin about. Oh, what's on your mind? Them there crazy kids racing around the lake in them suicide boats. Yeah, I know all about them. Well, why don't you do something then? Don't tell me the boss rangers stomping up a tree like a scared cougar. Uh, scared no, uh, up a tree maybe, Ben. You see, there are a few legal angles to this. I say the law ain't no good. It permits them hooligans from there killing swimmers and folks enjoying themselves and robots and the like. The law ought to be changed. I have a point there. I've, uh, worked on this problem for a long time, Ben, and I think I've come up with an answer that might stop this. At least I hope so. Well, it better. I'm going to form a citizens committee and run them young rascals off the lake. She sounds fine. Of course, I put it away carefully according to directions last fall. I know you did. Well, I'm afraid we're going to have a problem on the lake this year with these outboard racers. Oh, some of the boys acting up again? Yeah, some of the citizens are getting hot under their neck bands about it too, and I can't blame them at all. I know you always observed the laws and show the proper courtesy to swimmers and robots, but that's more than I can say about a few of the other teenagers on the lake. Um, old Ben was over to see me a while ago about this. He threatens action if we don't do something about it. He will too. Old Ben carries a lot of weight out here. What do you want me to tell the guys? Tell them I'm going to make it real tough on them if they don't stop harassing swimmers and boats. I might even close the lake to water hot rods for the rest of the summer. Wow! Even for the careful racing boaters? No exceptions. Racing at daytime and book and catches. No log gets the move. Okay. The foolish man out there will wake you too, Bill. Yeah, I've been watching them for quite a while, Grandma. Why a race at Mike in full moon? Well, I'd say that lad's got a new motor, probably a new boat. He's testing it out. Yeah, the landing lights off. Nobody on the lake. Not much we can do about it. That's right. You better not try that jet-propelled racer on the lake during daylight hours, though. He'll be in trouble. I'm not right. So will anybody else in the boat who get in way. Almost before the chickens this morning. How come? Don't you like to see the beautiful lake in the quiet of the early morning hours? Are you feeling all right? Sure, Henry. Why do I look sick? I should talk like it. Or even the fishermen aren't out on the lake yet. In fact, there's only a couple of them stirring around their boats on the dock. I thought you couldn't see this early in the morning. You mean this late at night? I guess it isn't that late. Those are some of the speedboat guys at the launching ramp. That's fine. I want to have a few words with those fellows. We're going to give them something to think about. Is that why you're carrying that sign? Right. What's the sign made up a week ago? I've been waiting for the right psychological moment to nail it up on the launching ramp. And I think this is it. We've got the paint identification numbers on our boats. You can read, can't you guys? You mean you don't know why? Yeah, we know why. Don't forget to read the whole sign, fellas. Especially the part about the size of the letters and the color. You'll register your boats in the log after you put your numbers on. You'll assign them so there's no duplication. The penalty for disguising the numbers or changing them after you're registered is a year in jail and a thousand dollar fine. Man, you really want to burn a guy if he makes a mistake, don't you? Changing registry numbers wouldn't be a mistake, my young friend. We'd be done intentionally to throw the blame on someone else. I suppose we can't scoot our boats until we get the numbers on them. You suppose right, young fellow. You better get a can of paint and a brush and to make it easier for you, I brought along numerical and alphabetical stencils. Hey, what you operating here? Sign, paint and store. They're pretty busy, aren't they? Just like ambitious babies. This little stunt of yours ought to make them behave like young gentlemen, eh? Oh, I'll say it should. Hello, Byron. Howdy, young fella. Hi. Well, what's going on here, too? I sure am. But not that I'm here, I can see what Bill's up to. Boy, they should stop the water hot water from scaring people after death. I hope so. Those registry numerals and letters can be seen easily far from shore with the naked on it. And they can be seen anywhere on the lake with field glasses. And they better not come close to the swimming areas or they'll be in hot water. All I have to do is sit there with a pencil and a pad of paper. I'll do it. And we'll pick them up I've checked the legal angles on this and it's okay. In fact, that's why it took Salah to put this into effect. What do you mean? I had the ranger's attorney in Washington give me an opinion. You know, officers of the law to be careful that they're not infringing on the rights of privacy and the right of every American citizen under the Constitution. Hey, you know, that's something I never thought about. A peace officer breaking the law. What? I guess it's possible. Well, all the boats are registered in the book. As soon as that quick drying paint dries they can launch their boats. Good, Henry. Now there's one other thing that bothers me. What? I don't see that new high speed super scooter that was out in the lake last night. I wonder who owns that and when they'll try a daylight run. I've got paint over here, ma'am. Hey, be careful it doesn't run there. Okay, ma'am. Man, is it hot with that respirator on? Man in how? Glad to get it off. See, that bolt looks pretty sharp. Looks cool, all right. A couple of hours we can rub it down with wax and she'll be ready to go. Don't forget the registry numbers. Bill Jefferson means what he says. Yeah, I've been thinking about that. That guy gives me a pain. I got an idea how to beat this registry number strain, though. Yeah? How? I'll show you after I get it rigged up. Come on, let's stencil on the regular number. But I thought you said you had a way to beat it. I have, but we still have to put the right number on. Let's go. Come on, Henry, spill it. All the guys are here. Hey, climb up, you guys. I called you guys together to lay you out, but good. You ain't bought me out, mister. Get that straight. You'd better listen to what I have to say. The lake might be closed to racing both for the rest of the summer. With no guarantee that it'll be allowed next year. Yeah, I don't like the summer. Ah, these tough rangers, they murder me. Hey, don't you ever keep your yaps shut, Gus? Yeah, button it up for a while. This is important to all of us. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's a couple of wise guys in this crowd that make it bad for the rest of us. Bill asked me to pass the word that he'll make it plenty rough on us if this reckless heresy of swimmers doesn't stop right now. Well, I guess we'd better be careful. Bill can be tough when he has to. Well, I'd sure like to know who the guys are that are making it hot for the rest of us. Henry, I suppose you'll get special privileges if the rest of us are kicked off the lake. I will not. Now, she's all set. We can take out for the lake and race. Do you think we ought to? Ah, come on. Don't tell me you're turning chicken, Mo. No, but Bill Jefferson's nobody to fool around with. I've got everything figured out. He'll never catch us. Oh, no. Look at the size of that registry number. A blind man could see it. I got that little problem solved, man. Look at this. Switching numbers? Yeah, cool, ain't it? Yeah, man, but how do you fasten them on? Oh, with these little hooks here. You can hardly see them. Like this. Man, they won't be able to tell who we are. Oh, yes, they will. What do you mean? One set of switch numbers tells them we're Nick, and the other set is Henry Scott's number. That crazy fool, Byron, he'll kill himself. I don't think so. Must be a new boat. Look at it go. Am I looking? He's got that hot rod wide open. He sure has. As long as he stays out there, we can't complain. Yep, I reckon we can. Hey, he's swinging in here to the pier. Chief Punk, he's got to kill somebody. No, you said that he almost hit the end of the pier. Good thing so few were swimming there. Yeah. He missed a couple of them by only about five feet. Did you get his registry number? What do you think I wrote on this piece of paper? Well, let's go get Bill Jefferson. Boss Ranger. Yeah, this buddy. Nick, you're under arrest. Under arrest? What for? Don't play innocent with me, wise guy. Come on, let's go. Well, sure, OK. But I still don't know why you're taking me in. But if you say so, let's go. I'm not fighting the law. Head young man, you in enough trouble now. You're about what? Do you see this slip of paper, wise guy? Sure. It has your registry number on it. It was read off your board by the chief lifeguard at the swimming beach today. When you hot-rodded your speedboat into within five feet of the swimming pier and raced out again. Now, don't tell me you don't know why we arrested you. I... You better tell truth. We now have much use for liar around here. Well, I don't know what to say except that I didn't do it. And I can prove it. My boat was on the conditioning rack until almost the time you picked me up. Is that so? Yes, sir. That's the honest truth. What do you think about that, Bill? I don't know. Nick, you're a pretty clean-cut lad and I'm going to let you go. But I'm also going to check out your story. Well, thank you very much. Well, I'd like to race my boat, sure. But I wouldn't deliberately try to kill people or break the law. Well, I don't want the lake closed to racing. All right, Nick. You can leave. Yes, sir. Just one question, please. Shoot. How'd my registry number get on another boat? Nick, I wish I knew. But you can be sure of one thing. Yes, sir. I'll find out who switched numbers if it's the last thing I ever do. About a hundred dollars worth of fishing gear at that crazy speedboat. I will get him, too, sooner or later. I just hope he doesn't kill somebody before we get him. Anybody get the number of that boat? Yep. Boy, that's good. Who got it? I did with my telescope. I have a funny feeling about that boat. Let me have the number. We'll pick up the scoundrel. Sure. You won't have to go far to pinch him. Just this walrus face. What time to be each other, compliment. What number is it? Take a look. Not Henry's number. What? Let me see. Why of all the load? Control yourself, pal. Grey Wolf, Stumpy. Close up the lake to speedboat race. Can't we wait a little longer? Maybe we'll find him. You heard the order, men. Sure, Bill. It boats out of water pretty quick and no back talks. Yes, sir. We catch boat in water any time we arrest owner and anybody with him. The lake is closed. Okay, okay. We heard you. Come on, now. Yeah, we better do it all right. We have 24-hour watch on lake. Don't try a race at night. Is your hot rod skimmer youngster? Yes, sir, Ranger. Well, get it out of the lake. Didn't you hear the lake is closed to speedboats? No, no, sir, I didn't. I just came up here yesterday from Canyon City. How about motorboats, Ranger? We ain't closed the lake to slowboats yet. Did you get your boat out of the water, pal? Sure, first thing. Boy, I'd like to get the guy that's responsible for this. There'll probably be ice on the lake before we find out who it is. I don't think so. You got your sinking cap on there, Bill. Yes, Ben. Remember when you and Stumpy were calling each other's sweet names? Sure did, boy. Ben was about to say something about that boat. Yes, that's what I'm referring to. What were you going to say, Ben? Let me think a spell. All brain cells don't turn over so fast nowadays, eh? Sure, if you will, Wallace. Let me think. Hi, guys. It took you long enough. That boat, I'm sure it's the same one that ran into the swimming beach the other day. Are you sure, Ben? Sure, I'm sure. I don't make these things up, you know. Well, how can you tell one of them they're hot rod scooters from another, except my number? They're as much alike as peas in a pod. I know that, but I'm sure it's the same boat. Gentlemen, we're going to set a trap. What do you mean a trap? Gray Wolf, I want you to hold a forest fire drill. Only we don't tell a soul it's a drill until the men get out in the forest. Ah, I'd catch on. Now, sound the regular fire alarm and make like it's the real thing. Let it be known that all rangers have been taken off the lake to fight the fire. Ben, you can gossip that around to the right people so it'll spread to the right ears. Sure will. I know some folks here about it can spread news faster than a telegraph. Stumpy, Ben, Henry and I will meet here tonight after it gets dark. Do you think the hot rodder we want will try to race his boat on the lake tonight? Yep. He can't take the chance on tomorrow night because the forest fire might be out by then. Now, we've got to be very careful that no one sees us after the fire crews leave. Gray Wolf, take him way out in the wilderness so it'll eat up some time. Right, Bill. Henry, you and I are going to borrow an outboard motor. Huh? Where? From Johnny Potosik. No, joking. Why, he's the holder of three speedboat racing titles. Right. He won the titles because he's got the fastest boat and the most powerful motor. I think all we need is the motor. Now, Stumpy should be hiding near the launching platform by now. Yeah. Why, it's hot with these life jackets on. Woo, he ain't joking, Henry. But I guess we need him. Yeah, in case it was smash-up. We don't know what the other guy's going to do once he sees us. Anybody question you, pal, when you put your boat on the trailer and pulled out? No. I told him I was taking it home. There isn't any room to work there now, anyhow. Right. Listen, Ben, look through these night glasses and see if that's the same boat. Yeah, sure it will. Uh-uh, that's it, all right. Let's get him. Fellas, I'm pleased to tell you that the lake is open to racing again. Yes, sir. And we won't let any more wise guys tie us up again, Bill. I'm sure your fellas will see to that. Yeah. Hey, what happened to Gus and Moe? Well, they were convicted by the court, but given a suspended sentence. Now, they've been banned from the lake for five years. Perhaps by that tie they will have grown up. Well, see you next week for more adventure with... Ranger!