 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. Hear that sound? Pretty mysterious and scariest. When I heard it for the first time, I couldn't believe my ears. When I saw for the first time what was making that noise and causing all that commotion, I couldn't believe my eyes. What caused it gave Stumpy and Grey Wolf and Henry and I one of the oddest adventures that we ever had. It involved a lot of bravery, for our enemy for a while was the largest animal that walks the face of the earth. Listen now while I tell you how the African jungle came to the American Wild West. In the story I call Rogue Elephant. Bill's around in a where's. No, Stumpy. Where's he at? Gone for a day, all day. Newspaper men come up from city for a story about forest ranger. They'll take him fishing, give him stories same time. Well, that newspaper has got sins. They couldn't find a better man than Bill. Now, what you want Bill for? Oh, now the one damn crazy report's come in on the telephone. I read it all down, like Bill told me to. This here one's from Zephyr. We got one from Crazy Crick, one from Thirty Mile, and now this one's from Zephyr. They're all towns over by the edge of Tall Timber or Rocky Mountain Start. Yep, all over there. Very peculiar. Why? Well, I'll read you this one that I just got. Elephant's are bugs. Farmer Zephyr reports he's stained the corn completely destroyed during the night. Is that all? Is that all? Ain't that enough? I mean, does report not say more? Nope. You want to hear the other two? They're just the same, only different. And a debris is house-wide. Crazy Crick says another one. I answered the phone and wrote it down. Listen to this. Henry Jorgison, farmer, transcrossing. He reports his barn was pushed over. He got back from town and found it in splinters. Anything store? Yeah, a push of winter apples. Well, thanks for a pleasant day, Bill. Good fishing, but no story. That's routine stuff, huh? Yeah, nothing newsworthy. Well, I guess I'll head down to the depot. Well, wait a minute, these reports on my desk here. But there's something mighty funny going on. Another note from Gray Wolf and Henry. That's my Indian assistant, my ward. I'm taking off. I'll be back. Brown. Yes, sir? Stick around. You may have got that feature story yet. All right. About those mysterious reports? Yeah. Take a look at them. Then step over here. Man, take a look at this map on the wall. All right. Now watch. I'm going to mark with a red pencil the places where these reports have been coming in. There's Zephyr. Right here is Crazy Creek. Here's 30 Mile. And there are two reports from there. Mm-hmm. Trent's Crossing. Ajax. Carson. Four from there. Can you read maps? I was in the Army. All right, then. Well, according to these reports, all of these robberies, these vine and orchard reckons, took place in one comparatively small area. Right. Map mean anything else? Yeah. Those contour lines and numbers mean that that's high country. And that dark, brownish-green shading means it's heavily forested around there. Correct. Now take a look at this. See this high valley here, leading right back into the Rockies themselves. Yeah. A high valley and deep forest leading down out of the Rockies to these little towns. A valley and a part of the Rockies that's uninhabited. Except by whoever did all this damage. He can come down that valley. That's why no one has spotted him. Are you in there, Bill? Oh, yeah, come on in. Okay. Hey, Bill. Oh, excuse me. I didn't know anybody was here. Henry, this is Bud Brown from the newspaper syndicate. And the bud, this is Henry and the gray hole. Glad to know you. Hi, how are you? Say, we've got something to tell you. How much better we show you something? Well, you won't believe your eyes. You'll say it isn't true, but it is true. This is the most astonishing, the most surprising. What's the most unusual thing that ever happened? Just wait till we tell you. You won't believe it when we tell you. Hey, hey, slow down. How about starting right at the beginning and telling us the whole story, huh? Sure, Bill. Sure. Well, after those reports you got there, came in this morning. Gray Wolf and I decided to sort of scout up that valley behind those little towns. You know, kind of explore. Sure is spooky in this forest. Even though the birds seem friendly. Well, walk Indian style, no noise. Okay. Do you think we'll find anything out? Back here in the back woods? Well, nobody come here. Nobody know what back in here. Yeah. Well, here are trailing woods. Go slow now. We look for tracks. What kind of tracks, Gray Wolf? Well, any kind. Sure. The ground's kind of damp here. I'll be able to see. Hey, hey. You spy tracks now. I think so. We follow tracks. A long time. Half hour maybe. Well, I didn't see it. Well, I see. But what kind of tracks are they? You taught me a lot of woodcraft. I never saw any like that. Sure. You hear something. Yeah. I hear something all right. It sounds as though whatever was coming this way. Henry, get behind log and bushes. Then we can see, but nobody see us. Okay. I'll get ready here. Ready for what? I brought it my camera. You know, it's a kind of takes a picture that, you know, you can look at it just a minute after you snap it. You know, you open the back. Very good. You bring camera. We wait. I think I got a perfect snapshot. We go back to Bill now. Come on. Quiet now. That's just what we did. That's just what we saw. What about the picture? It's still in camera. Yeah. We didn't want to waste time hanging around there. Besides, we didn't want to have to, well, open up the camera now. I can't stand the suspense. Okay. Wait until now to develop it. And there's the picture. Hey, you're not playing a joke on us. That's no joke. What a story. What a story. A photograph of the pine forest of our own Rocky Mountains. And in the foreground, an African elephant. Bite, man. That's all the news there is. As soon as anything breaks, I promise you'll let you know about it immediately. All right. Clear out now, please, so we can work. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, but there's 20 reporters there from all over the United States. Yeah. As soon as I phoned in my first story and hit the amalgamated press wires, those birds started flocking around here. And I've got the inside track. Thanks to you, Bill. Well, you were in at the start. Oh, excuse me. I didn't realize you were on the ticker there. Just about through. More news? Yeah. Mark the wall map, Henry. That was Chuck Hansen. Who's he? Oh, he's that wealthy retired radio executive. He bought that farm way back at Stony Lonesome. And his wife saw the elephant this morning. First folks have really gotten a good long look at it. The Hansons were driving along in their car when the elephant suddenly rushed out of the forest, lunged at their car, and overturned it. Were the Hansons hurt? No. Shaken up. The elephant uprooted a few trees and then ran back into the deep woods. Maybe it's getting hungrier. Dangerous. I arrange with every radio station, every newspaper west of the Mississippi to try to find out about an escaped elephant. And not a zoo or an animal dealer or a circus or an importer is lost an elephant. Yeah. I checked too. Even Canada and Mexico report no elephants missing. Ha. All elephants present and accounted for, sir. But where did this one come from? We can't even find him. He hides in the thick forest in the day mostly and just comes out at night to make those rains. I'm worried. Unless we can stop him somehow, somebody will have to get hurt. See, regular hoop-hop out there. Hey, here's one of them there. Spectacle delivery letters for you, Mr. Brown. Thanks, Stumpy. That's funny. What? This is nothing but an old newspaper clipping. Yeah. But what a clipping. My head off as Senate. Let's see. The date line is 19. Hmm. This newspaper clipping is nearly 20 years old. What's the story? Listen to this. Mahmood the mighty, full-grown African tusker elephant, who escaped from his keepers while being loaded onto the train at Moose Jaws, Saskatchewan, has eluded all attempts at his recapture. Circus owners have returned to the United States. It is supposed that giant elephant, standing 11 feet high, has become lost in the trackless forests. Ranchers and hunters are warned to be on the lookout, as the beast is known to be extremely dangerous. Mahmood the mighty. Bill, can an African elephant manage to survive and live in the Rocky Mountains? Well, this one has. Up to one side, my good man, let me through. I'm no star in a scrivening newspaper gossip monger. I'm a respectable, responsible, reputable businessman. And I have matters of primary importance to discuss with that excellent guardian of ideas and values of tourist ranger. So one side, one side, and permit me to have immediate access to his inner office. No, suree. Bill gave me orders. Ah, might as well let the gentleman come in, Stumpy, and thanks for doing a good job. Ah, it's worth nothing. Go along, head in, mister. Thanks, Grand Pop. I take it I have the pleasure of addressing the forest ranger. I'm the forest ranger in charge of this section, yes? Well, permit me to introduce myself. I'm Baxter B. Bigsby, owner and manager of Bigsby Brothers Bigger and Better Circus. In my card, sir. Thank you. I am here today, sir, to serve the interests of humanity. It is my avowed purpose, sir, with your august permission, of course, to capture Mahmood the mighty. That's more than my men have been able to do. Exactly. That's why the moment I read the news I canceled dozens of important appointments and flew up here in my own private airplane. I have come to save the day. Your troubles are over. I see. I suppose you tell me exactly what you have in mind. Certainly, Mr. Jefferson. I know elephants, sir. It is not for nothing that from coast to coast I am known as the Elephant King. I know them all, and the tougher they are, the bigger I like them. I am fearless. I have nerves of steel. Glad to hear it. I'll ask you again, Mr. Bigsby. Do you have some sort of plan? Indubitably and undeniably. My entire circus crew is even now en route here by train and auto. With these men, plus some of your local artisans, I propose to build a V-shaped stockade. Then we shall drive this ponderous pack-a-derm into close quarters, and I, with my men, will rope and tie the mighty marauding monster. Do you really think you can do all that? I never fail. In fact, I am often referred to as Never Fail Bigsby. Besides, I'm fearless. It would cost a lot of money. I have ample funds. Ample. My wallet, sir. I open it. Yes. You hesitate. I'm wondering why you're going to all this expense and trouble and danger. Simply, my dear fellow, it's simply because of my great love for the human race. Once this terrible tyrannosaurus is tied and tethered, your troubled countryside can become peaceful once more. True enough. And then? And then, naturally, I will exhibit the animal in my circus, naturally. Oh, I see. The light. Well, Mr. Bigsby. I will pay all expenses and, in addition, give you $10,000 in cash. No. The United States Forest Ranger Service does not want that kind of money. Of course. Of course, to be sure. No offence. My apologies. However, the elephant is still at large. Farmers, ranchers, rangers, loyal citizens have hunted him in vain. Now, if Baxter B. Bigsby could capture him... But can you? Of course. Not for nothing I am known as. Bring him back alive, Bigsby. Well, how about it, Mr. Jefferson? Shall I capture this elephant for you? Big Chief Bigsby's stockade almost all built now. I must say, he has just about every man in the country working on it. You think he can't, elephant? Well, if your guess is just as good as mine, I don't like Bigsby's motives, but he is an animal man. If it does work, then the elephant can't do any more damage. Ah, two more barns get smashed last night. I've been reading about elephants. Don't like noise and confusion. Don't like to be shoved around. Same as people. Yeah. So I'm afraid all this hullabaloo, plus our men and Bigsby's men tramping up and down these forest trails, I'm afraid that'll make the elephant become frightened or angry and go in a real rampage. Bigsby, catch him, maybe. Well, I want to give the man a fair chance. Looks like they're practically finished. Yeah. My land, those log walls and make the sides of that V-shaped stockade must be at least seven or eight hundred yards long. Yeah. Say, they are through. There they go, clearing out. I'll accept Bigsby and two or three others. What happens next? Bigsby has hundreds of men back in the forest. Pretty soon you'll hear them begin to yell and bang on tin pans. The idea is that if the elephant is around here, the noise will drive him ahead of those men. He'll head in this direction and work his way right along to the narrow part of that V down there. See how they've left those big trees standing? Yeah. Well, when he gets that far, it'll be close quarters. And that's when Bigsby and his crew expect to rope and tie him. Sounds dangerous. It is dangerous. I'm glad we're 40 feet up in this nice, great, big, strong tree. You roped up tight? I'm bloody tight. I'm not a bird. Can't hang on with feet when in a high tree like this. You think they'll drive that elephant this way? My elephant in this part of woods, all right. Come this way for sure. We wait. Now, we won't have to wait long. Here comes that elephant. Now, he's coming fast. He's coming in the stop gate. Hurry up. Careful. Get out of the way. That's that. There must be plenty of truth, Bill. That elephant tore down its stockage if it had been made out of cardboard. Only stopped him for a few seconds. He wrecked it completely and took off in the back woods again. Has anybody hurt? No. Where's Bigsby? Well, when elephant come, Bigsby run. Run like Jackrabbit. Morning, Bill. Morning, Ron. Any more news? No, not a word. We haven't had anything in a week. Every reporter is left but me. My boss is after me every day for more stories. Well, you had a byline on every front page in the country for days and days. But I need more. Is that all you care about? A story? Aren't you glad that elephant's going back to the hills? Yeah, where's my story? Are you going to hunt him down? I had to find him first. Got some clue. A back of beyond territory would take years to come. Forest Ranger on big game safari. What a headline. No need to subject my men to needless hardship and danger. That elephant is angry now. After that Bigsby mess, he's learned to hate and fear men. I'm letting him cool off. As soon as we hear more about him, we'll go looking for him. Not before. I'm going down to the village. You can wait here in the office if you like. There'll be nobody here but you. Okay, so long. Operator, give me Los Angeles. Freeway 71000. Extension 8. Reverse the charges. Bud Brown, this end. No story, huh? I'll show him. He hasn't got a story and won't help me find one. I'll make a story. Why I'll... Oh, hello, Ed. Bud, listen, I have much time. I want you to do something for me. Get ahold of Major Martin. You know, the English guy used to be in the King's African Rifles. Send him up here by plane. Hey, tell him to bring his hunting outfit. He'll know what you mean. Are you sure we're on the right track? Positive. The spore is as played as dead. I can't see anything. Well, you're not a big game hunter. I am. You're the only fellow with a rifle. You think we'll catch up with that elephant? Very soon. The spore is unmistakable. Yeah, we've been tramping through these woods for three days. Do you want to turn back? No, do you? Maybe. What? Like this, sneaking out of town at night so that forest ranger wouldn't know what we were up to, working behind his back and against his wishes... Look, you used to be a professional big game hunter, didn't you? Of course. I've shot over 200 elephants, and I know exactly... Are you scared? You can't shoot this one, can't you? Well, I never shot any illegal, eh? This isn't illegal. We're doing the ranger a favor. Just so you can get a story for your paper. But think of the fame and glory you'll get. The only white hunter in the world, whoever tracked down and killed an African tusker in the Rocky Mountains. Think of the fame. Oh, yes. Oh, yes, of course. You're right. I will be famous. Famous. All right, now, come along, old boy. Slowly, though. See those leaves? That elephant isn't far ahead. In fact... In fact... There he is. I'm ahead of some of those trees there. See him? Yeah. He looks like he's mad about something. Oh, he is. We've kept him on the run. Hey, he seizes. He's turning. He's coming this way. Fire! Never fair, I will. You missed. You just scratched him. He's charging. Fire! Fire! The rifle's jammed. I can't fire. All right. That elephant picked you up into your 50 feet. All right. Did you fire that second shot? Major Martin, not fire. Grey Wolf, how did you get here? I followed trail on Bill's orders. Bill think it's strange you and Englishman disappeared overnight. I fired second shot to frighten Elephant away, not to hit him. Well, you did frighten away. You saved our lives. Maybe true. Maybe Bill's orders saved your life. How about Major Martin? Elephant, throw him. Not tramp on him. He'd be all right. Come, help carry him to road. Where are we going? Bixby fail. Reporter fail. Englishman fail. We've got a range of Bill. He not fail. Well, I come in. Good evening, Mr. Forest Ranger. Hello. Who are you? Just call me Joey. I am here. You're in trouble, sir. Elephant trouble. I read about in papers. Since my move the mighty was shot and wounded, he's turned into a rogue elephant. Really dangerous. Papers stated you don't know what to do to keep people from getting heads. I'm afraid for the country folks, my own man aren't equipped to... I know. That's why I walked all the way here. I came to help you. Now listen, long, long years ago when I was a young man... Dangerous. That's why I've come all this way. Just to help you. Now nobody has to be hurt. Nobody. Not even my mood. Well, what do you think, sir? Joey, I believe you. I'll let you try. Maybe the only thing in the world that'll work. What do you need? Just a few loaves of bread. Bread? Very well. I only have ten men with rifles just in case. Let's go. So you think this place is about right? No way. This place is charming. Just like a vast meadow. Grass of broken flowers. And my mood always like meadows. This one's about a mile square. Ten miles back in the mountain. Well, all the better. Now you stay right here and wait in the shade of them trees. I'll be sure and wait. There wait. Wait for Joey and my mood. Well, there he goes. He's 82 years old and armed with some stale bread. What a way to catch an elephant. You know elephants, I think. Who is Manville? An old circus clown. Says he knew Mamu in the old days. Says they were friends. Now an elephant, remember? Joey seems positive. But if he does succeed in bringing the elephant out of cover, I've got ten good riflemen posted ready for the first sign of trouble. We haven't even been able to find the elephant. He called elephant to him. So he says. Elephant, remember? Old clown, do what nobody else can do. Find rogue elephant. Bill, Grey Wolf. Those pines wherever they are on the far side. They're moving. And here comes the elephant. Look at those stars shining in the sun. He's pretty big. Real big. Bill, the old clown is feeding him the bread. Why are you batting him on the trunk? The rogue elephant. Old clown, leading elephant here now. No chains. Elephant follow like puppy dog. He did it. He did it. Here we come now. Now, don't be afraid. Mamu ain't afraid any longer either. We're old friends, you see. We trust one another. Now Mamu, just stand right here now. These are your friends. In a minute, we'll lead you down the valley to the big truck that's waiting. You won't have to wander alone anymore. That means Mamu's happy. Well, ain't you got anything to say to him, boy? What? Yes. How do you do, Mr. Elephant, sir? Greed, selfishness and pride couldn't capture the elephant. Love did. And in case you're interested, the once terrible Mamu is now on his way to the National Zoo in Washington. His keeper? Joey, of course. The two old friends can spend the rest of their lives there and they'll be happy together because they are friends. Well, see you next week for more adventure with... Ranger!