WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:19.760 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland. 00:19.760 --> 00:25.680 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous 00:25.680 --> 00:29.080 trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. 00:29.080 --> 00:33.520 This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill. 00:33.520 --> 00:39.520 Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain 00:39.520 --> 00:40.520 lions. 00:40.520 --> 00:54.760 Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. 00:54.760 --> 00:59.280 I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree. 00:59.280 --> 01:04.840 A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed against the earth's sweet flowing breast. 01:04.840 --> 01:09.600 A tree that looks at God all day and lifts her leafy arms to pray. 01:09.600 --> 01:14.280 A tree that may in summer wear a nest of robins in her hair. 01:14.280 --> 01:19.320 Upon whose bosom snow is lain, who intimately lives with rain. 01:19.320 --> 01:25.440 Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree. 01:25.440 --> 01:26.760 Hi there boys and girls. 01:26.760 --> 01:30.400 Didn't expect me to start off with a poem today, did you? 01:30.400 --> 01:37.080 Well when the poet Joyce Kilmer wrote, Only God Can Make a Tree, he made a profound statement. 01:37.080 --> 01:42.240 A tree is a wonderful creation made by the Lord's hand and we use trees for a great 01:42.240 --> 01:44.400 many purposes. 01:44.400 --> 01:50.120 Trees are one of our most valuable assets and much is done by us to preserve them until 01:50.120 --> 01:53.160 the time that they are ready to be cut down. 01:53.160 --> 01:57.040 Then we leave seeding trees to start the forest anew. 01:57.040 --> 02:02.780 We have tree farms where we grow thousands upon thousands of trees to reforest areas 02:02.780 --> 02:07.360 that have been cut for timber and the byproducts of wood. 02:07.360 --> 02:14.520 Believe me, out our way you see plenty of action if and when we find our trees in danger. 02:14.520 --> 02:21.920 Well our story today can have no better title than The Falling Giants. 02:21.920 --> 02:30.640 Boy oh boy dad, it sure is nice of you to bring me up here to see the giant pines. 02:30.640 --> 02:32.840 Well I'm glad to do it Mike. 02:32.840 --> 02:35.840 I wish that we could take more trips like this together. 02:35.840 --> 02:38.520 I really like them man, big pines. 02:38.520 --> 02:40.080 I think they're terrific. 02:40.080 --> 02:41.800 How old do you think they are? 02:41.800 --> 02:45.200 Oh that's hard to say son. 02:45.200 --> 02:48.440 Say there's some kind of an exhibit along the road ahead. 02:48.440 --> 02:49.680 Let's stop and take a look. 02:49.680 --> 03:02.760 Well dad, it must be about these trees. 03:02.760 --> 03:04.240 It is about the trees. 03:04.240 --> 03:05.600 How to tell their age. 03:05.600 --> 03:06.600 Boy this is neat. 03:06.600 --> 03:10.000 Yes this is a fine exhibit. 03:10.000 --> 03:12.760 Some of these trees have been here for over a hundred years. 03:12.760 --> 03:15.800 Yeah, there's a couple of seeding trees that are older than that. 03:15.800 --> 03:17.280 Boy these are something. 03:17.280 --> 03:22.960 Yes son, these trees are one of America's most valuable assets. 03:22.960 --> 03:25.600 They're worth millions upon millions of dollars. 03:25.600 --> 03:28.240 Can we walk down and look closer at them? 03:28.240 --> 03:30.040 Well I guess so. 03:30.040 --> 03:33.920 If I don't see any signs it's say we can't. 03:33.920 --> 03:35.040 Here comes a ranger. 03:35.040 --> 03:36.040 Let's ask him. 03:36.040 --> 03:37.040 Good idea. 03:37.040 --> 03:38.040 Howdy fellas. 03:38.040 --> 03:39.040 Hi ranger. 03:39.040 --> 03:40.040 How do you do? 03:40.040 --> 03:43.520 Say ranger is it alright if we walk down among these pines? 03:43.520 --> 03:44.520 Sure is. 03:44.520 --> 03:48.680 That's what they're here for, just to admire. 03:48.680 --> 03:49.680 Thanks a lot. 03:49.680 --> 03:50.680 You're welcome. 03:50.680 --> 03:53.680 Hey, where are you from? 03:53.680 --> 03:54.680 Central City. 03:54.680 --> 03:57.680 I know you wasn't from around here. 03:57.680 --> 04:02.880 By the way, don't strike any matches around the trees. 04:02.880 --> 04:04.560 Oh we wouldn't do that. 04:04.560 --> 04:06.280 We've seen what fire can do to trees. 04:06.280 --> 04:09.280 I wish everybody felt that way. 04:09.280 --> 04:15.160 Say, you haven't got any candy or food in your car have you? 04:15.160 --> 04:16.640 No we haven't. 04:16.640 --> 04:19.560 Why, have you got a taste for some? 04:19.560 --> 04:24.160 Nope, but the bears around here have. 04:24.160 --> 04:28.040 They tear your car to pieces trying to get at it. 04:28.040 --> 04:36.520 Well, enjoy yourselves. 04:36.520 --> 04:37.520 What was that? 04:37.520 --> 04:41.360 I don't know exactly, but it sounded like one of these big trees took a fall on his 04:41.360 --> 04:42.360 face. 04:42.360 --> 04:43.360 What are you going to do? 04:43.360 --> 04:44.360 Help me look. 04:44.360 --> 04:45.360 Can we come too? 04:45.360 --> 04:55.880 Sure, if you like to move fast. 04:55.880 --> 04:58.320 Want me to take the wheel now Brian? 04:58.320 --> 05:01.320 Yeah, maybe you better Keith. 05:01.320 --> 05:03.480 Something getting kind of sleepy. 05:03.480 --> 05:06.800 There's a good shoulder ahead by those giant pines. 05:06.800 --> 05:09.800 Yeah, I'll stop there. 05:09.800 --> 05:21.800 Really good to hit the hay. 05:21.800 --> 05:27.000 Brian, that tree's going to fall. 05:27.000 --> 05:28.000 What? 05:28.000 --> 05:29.000 You're joking. 05:29.000 --> 05:38.200 Hey look out! 05:38.200 --> 05:39.200 Look at that. 05:39.200 --> 05:45.000 Yeah, it's a good thing we got out of there and the faster we did we'd have been killed 05:45.000 --> 05:46.000 for sure. 05:46.000 --> 05:48.320 It fell right across the cab. 05:48.320 --> 05:49.920 Let's get out of here before more come down. 05:49.920 --> 05:50.920 You said it. 05:50.920 --> 06:03.840 We've got to find some way to tell our rangers. 06:03.840 --> 06:05.280 What's wrong with this tree ranger? 06:05.280 --> 06:08.880 I don't know Mike, you can call me stumpy. 06:08.880 --> 06:12.200 You mean the tree just fell over for no reason at all? 06:12.200 --> 06:15.560 Yep, that's what it looks like to me. 06:15.560 --> 06:17.960 This is the first time I've seen this happen. 06:17.960 --> 06:21.200 I've been in these forests a long time. 06:21.200 --> 06:24.360 Wow, do you think more will fall over just like this one? 06:24.360 --> 06:25.360 Well, I hope not. 06:25.360 --> 06:28.200 I'm not going to stay around to find out. 06:28.200 --> 06:30.240 Come on, let's get while the getting's good. 06:30.240 --> 06:33.360 Well, you're not just going to forget about this, are you stumpy? 06:33.360 --> 06:34.360 I'll say I'm not. 06:34.360 --> 06:39.360 As soon as I get back to my patrol car I'm going to radio Bill, my boss, and get him 06:39.360 --> 06:48.360 out here right something like, if not sooner. 06:48.360 --> 06:52.560 This stumpy must have flipped his lid. 06:52.560 --> 06:57.560 How could a big pine tree fall over like a tent pin for no reason? 06:57.560 --> 06:59.440 I don't know pal. 06:59.440 --> 07:02.360 I'll admit it sounds crazy, but it must be so. 07:02.360 --> 07:03.360 You're right. 07:03.360 --> 07:08.360 The old timers pull off a lot of tricks, but money doesn't joke about the trees. 07:08.360 --> 07:09.360 Right. 07:09.360 --> 07:17.160 Hey, look at those two men waving us down. 07:17.160 --> 07:18.160 What's the matter fellas? 07:18.160 --> 07:20.680 Boy, are we glad you came along. 07:20.680 --> 07:24.120 Tree fell on the cab of our truck and crusted like a sponge cake. 07:24.120 --> 07:25.120 Dead. 07:25.120 --> 07:26.120 I'll say it dead. 07:26.120 --> 07:27.120 Where's your truck? 07:27.120 --> 07:29.680 Back up the road about half a mile and a half. 07:29.680 --> 07:30.680 Okay, hop in. 07:30.680 --> 07:35.680 We'll take a look. 07:35.680 --> 08:04.680 Where's the tree old timer? 08:04.680 --> 08:07.120 Someone inside the stand about a block. 08:07.120 --> 08:09.240 Who are these fellas? 08:09.240 --> 08:10.240 Hitchhikers? 08:10.240 --> 08:14.280 No, a tree fell across the cab of their truck and crusted. 08:14.280 --> 08:21.280 Something mighty peculiar going on around here. 08:21.280 --> 08:22.520 Right. 08:22.520 --> 08:24.080 Are these two visitors? 08:24.080 --> 08:25.080 Yep. 08:25.080 --> 08:27.600 They stopped to look at the trees. 08:27.600 --> 08:29.240 This is Mike and his paw. 08:29.240 --> 08:32.320 The name is Leonard Smith, Mr. Jefferson. 08:32.320 --> 08:36.440 Mr. Smith, will you take these two men to Naughty Pine with you right away? 08:36.440 --> 08:37.440 I'd be glad to. 08:37.440 --> 08:39.400 Well, can't we stay around and find out what's going on? 08:39.400 --> 08:40.840 I'm sorry, it's too risky. 08:40.840 --> 08:41.840 Now get going. 08:41.840 --> 08:42.840 My car's right over here. 08:42.840 --> 08:44.840 Now you let us know what's wrong. 08:44.840 --> 08:45.840 Sure. 08:45.840 --> 08:50.280 Don't send a tow truck, because this area's going to be closed until it's considered safe 08:50.280 --> 08:51.280 again. 08:51.280 --> 08:52.280 Oh, okay. 08:52.280 --> 08:53.280 Let's go, Mr. Smith. 08:53.280 --> 09:06.160 Well, Sonny, now what? 09:06.160 --> 09:09.040 Yeah. 09:09.040 --> 09:10.040 Where do we go from here? 09:10.040 --> 09:17.200 You say there's no apparent reason for the tree you looked at to fall, old timer? 09:17.200 --> 09:18.200 Nope. 09:18.200 --> 09:20.200 None that I could see, Sonny. 09:20.200 --> 09:21.780 None at all. 09:21.780 --> 09:24.160 Maybe we should go back and look at the other one, too. 09:24.160 --> 09:26.560 We will in due time, Henry. 09:26.560 --> 09:31.720 The first thing is to seal off this area before someone gets killed. 09:31.720 --> 09:37.240 Stumpy, you go down the road about two miles and block it off. 09:37.240 --> 09:39.560 Henry will take you there in the car. 09:39.560 --> 09:44.400 Henry, you can take me up the road first to where the tree fell on the truck. 09:44.400 --> 09:45.400 Okay. 09:45.400 --> 09:46.400 Let's go. 09:46.400 --> 09:59.920 Sonny, you go down the road about two miles and block it off. 09:59.920 --> 10:00.920 Sopher and catfish. 10:00.920 --> 10:01.920 Look at the cab. 10:01.920 --> 10:04.920 Why, it's flattened like a pancake. 10:04.920 --> 10:06.920 You said it, youngster. 10:06.920 --> 10:09.120 Paul Bunyan really stepped on it. 10:09.120 --> 10:11.480 Man, are those guys fortunate to be alive. 10:11.480 --> 10:13.200 I'll say they are. 10:13.200 --> 10:16.320 Now, you understand what you're to do, huh, pal? 10:16.320 --> 10:21.600 I'm to go back to headquarters and send out a dozen rangers to seal off the area. 10:21.600 --> 10:23.480 And then bring out the equipment truck. 10:23.480 --> 10:24.480 Right. 10:24.480 --> 10:26.920 And don't forget to drop the old timer off where I said. 10:26.920 --> 10:27.920 Okay. 10:27.920 --> 10:28.920 I'll get going. 10:28.920 --> 10:51.420 Okay, sir. 11:21.420 --> 11:25.300 What's the matter, Ranger? 11:25.300 --> 11:27.380 Now, this road is closed, driver. 11:27.380 --> 11:28.380 What? 11:28.380 --> 11:29.380 Since when? 11:29.380 --> 11:31.780 Since I got here about ten minutes ago. 11:31.780 --> 11:37.220 Now, see here, Ranger, who do you think you are closing off this highway just like that? 11:37.220 --> 11:42.180 Just because you're wearing a law badge doesn't give you the right to abuse us citizens. 11:42.180 --> 11:45.820 This bus has a schedule to meet and we got places to go and things to do. 11:45.820 --> 11:50.460 And I don't see who you think you are to stand there and say we can't go down this road. 11:50.460 --> 11:54.500 You Rangers get mighty uppity to my way of thinking. 11:54.500 --> 11:58.900 Will you glance down the road about a hundred yards and tell me what you see? 11:58.900 --> 12:04.980 Why, it looks like a giant pine fall went crush the cab of that truck. 12:04.980 --> 12:06.900 Bless my soul if it isn't. 12:06.900 --> 12:10.060 Another tree has fallen down at the visitor's stop. 12:10.060 --> 12:13.980 That's why you can't go through here with this busload of people. 12:13.980 --> 12:16.300 I'm awful sorry, Ranger. 12:16.300 --> 12:18.700 My husband always tells me I got a big mouth. 12:18.700 --> 12:20.740 I'm beginning to think he's right. 12:20.740 --> 12:24.220 You'll have to turn around here on this wide shoulder, driver. 12:24.220 --> 12:28.460 Go back to Route 97 and take it into Naughty Pine. 12:28.460 --> 12:29.460 Sure. 12:29.460 --> 12:31.620 Say, what's making the trees fall? 12:31.620 --> 12:33.180 I don't know. 12:33.180 --> 12:34.940 That's where the danger is. 12:34.940 --> 12:37.380 Who knows what tree will be next? 12:37.380 --> 12:39.100 You can turn around right here. 12:39.100 --> 13:02.620 Yes, sir. 13:02.620 --> 13:07.100 Thank you, Lord, for keeping the trees here standing straight up. 13:07.100 --> 13:11.020 Well, that busload of people were parked here. 13:11.020 --> 13:27.980 How are you and that mule of yours at Gertrude getting along, Luke? 13:27.980 --> 13:30.580 Well, now he's tolerable, Stumpy. 13:30.580 --> 13:32.860 You're right, tolerable, in fact. 13:32.860 --> 13:33.860 I reckon you are. 13:33.860 --> 13:37.500 Looks like you've been eating three squares a day. 13:37.500 --> 13:38.500 Yep. 13:38.500 --> 13:45.060 Tell you, Stumpy, prospecting for uranium is a sight better paying than scratching for 13:45.060 --> 13:46.060 gold. 13:46.060 --> 13:47.060 It's fine. 13:47.060 --> 13:50.060 Where are you headed for? 13:50.060 --> 13:53.060 All around straight up mountain country. 13:53.060 --> 13:58.460 Thought I'd cut through the big pines and save me and Gertrude some walking. 13:58.460 --> 14:03.220 Well, Luke, I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you. 14:03.220 --> 14:04.220 How come? 14:04.220 --> 14:13.580 Woo, please, say, where's them rangers going in such an old-fashioned hurry? 14:13.580 --> 14:14.580 Somebody rob a bank? 14:14.580 --> 14:15.580 Nope. 14:15.580 --> 14:18.300 They're going to where Bill's at and get orders. 14:18.300 --> 14:19.780 This area is closed off. 14:19.780 --> 14:22.780 Not to old Luke's days. 14:22.780 --> 14:26.100 Old Luke or young Luke makes no difference. 14:26.100 --> 14:29.860 Them big pines is falling down for no reason at all. 14:29.860 --> 14:35.300 Of course, if they hit you on the head, you old otter, it wouldn't hurt you none, but 14:35.300 --> 14:36.300 they might hurt Gertrude. 14:36.300 --> 14:37.300 No, go on. 14:37.300 --> 14:38.300 No use of sulking. 14:38.300 --> 14:39.300 Those are mortars. 14:39.300 --> 14:40.300 There ain't nobody going to get in here. 14:40.300 --> 14:41.300 Some days I just don't pay for a fella to open his eyes and sign up. 14:41.300 --> 14:42.300 Come on, Gertrude, the extra walk will hurt my feet more than your own. 14:42.300 --> 14:43.300 See you later, Stumpy. 14:43.300 --> 14:44.300 Okay, Luke. 14:44.300 --> 14:45.300 I'm going to go. 14:45.300 --> 14:46.300 I'm going to go. 14:46.300 --> 14:47.300 I'm going to go. 14:47.300 --> 14:48.300 I'm going to go. 14:48.300 --> 14:49.300 I'm going to go. 14:49.300 --> 14:50.300 I'm going to go. 14:50.300 --> 14:51.300 I'm going to go. 14:51.300 --> 14:52.300 I'm going to go. 14:52.300 --> 14:53.300 I'm going to go. 14:53.300 --> 14:54.300 I'm going to go. 14:54.300 --> 14:55.300 I'm going to go. 14:55.300 --> 15:00.300 I'm going to go. 15:00.300 --> 15:04.300 Stay on the little beaver trail until you get to the three forks. 15:04.300 --> 15:11.300 And if a tree even looks like it's leaning too far over, run like the devil himself would after ya! 15:21.300 --> 15:24.300 That's right, operator. Morton Stengard. 15:25.300 --> 15:27.300 Yes, yes, I'll wait. 15:27.300 --> 15:30.300 Grey Wolf? Yes, Bill? And the ground crew's here yet? 15:30.300 --> 15:32.300 Ah, trucks just pull up now. 15:32.300 --> 15:37.300 Tell Stompy to take one crew and have them tear open the tree that fell in the forest. 15:37.300 --> 15:42.300 You take another, and a winch truck, and get the tree off the truck. 15:42.300 --> 15:47.300 Tow the truck out of danger, and call Bill Nolan, and tell him to tow it into town. 15:47.300 --> 15:51.300 Then tear the tree apart, so Mort can have a sample when he gets here. 15:51.300 --> 15:53.300 Right away, Bill. 15:53.300 --> 15:55.300 Hello, Bill? 15:55.300 --> 15:57.300 Hold on, Mort. Grey Wolf? 15:57.300 --> 15:58.300 Here, Bill. 15:58.300 --> 16:02.300 Tell the other two crews to stand by, ready to move out at any time. 16:02.300 --> 16:03.300 I tell them. 16:03.300 --> 16:05.300 Alright, go ahead, Mort. Sorry for the delay. 16:05.300 --> 16:07.300 You go ahead. It's your nickel. 16:07.300 --> 16:11.300 Oh, yeah, that's right. I did call you, Mort. 16:11.300 --> 16:15.300 How soon can you get here with your mobile lab? 16:15.300 --> 16:19.300 Well, that depends on how urgent it is. I'm already working on a problem for Colonel Anders. 16:19.300 --> 16:25.300 Well, we've got pine trees falling down for no apparent reason. 16:25.300 --> 16:30.300 You don't say. That's urgent enough for me, alright. I'll be out there early this evening. 16:30.300 --> 16:34.300 Fine. I'll clear it with Colonel Anders to take you off the hook. 16:34.300 --> 16:36.300 I'll appreciate that, Bill. See you later. 16:36.300 --> 16:39.300 We've got the map spread out on the table, Bill. 16:39.300 --> 16:42.300 Okay, Henry. Mike? Mike? 16:42.300 --> 16:43.300 Yes, Bill? 16:43.300 --> 16:47.300 I'll leave the sides of the tent up in case we have to get out of here in a hurry. 16:47.300 --> 16:52.300 Sure, Bill, sure. I forgot this tent isn't made of steel. 17:02.300 --> 17:04.300 Fellas, I'm Gordon Payne from the Daily Herald. 17:04.300 --> 17:09.300 Well, howdy. We're the two truck drivers, and this is Mr. Smith and his son, Mike. 17:09.300 --> 17:10.300 How do you do? 17:10.300 --> 17:12.300 How do you do, Mr. Smith? How about your story? 17:12.300 --> 17:17.300 Well, sure. We'll tell you about the truck, and Mr. Smith can tell you his experience. 17:17.300 --> 17:25.300 Well, the Ranger Stumpy Jenkins said that, as far as he could tell, the tree had no reason to topple over, Mr. Payne. 17:25.300 --> 17:29.300 Thanks, fellas. I'm going to call this in and then go out there. This sounds like a big one. 17:29.300 --> 17:31.300 I don't think you'll get through. 17:31.300 --> 17:32.300 Oh, no? Why not? 17:32.300 --> 17:35.300 There have been Rangers cars and trucks piling through there all day. 17:35.300 --> 17:38.300 They ain't got that place sealed tighter than a tire in a rim. 17:38.300 --> 17:42.300 Well, they'll have to let me in. I'm the press. 17:52.300 --> 17:54.300 Tom, you've got to let me pass. 17:54.300 --> 17:55.300 Sorry, Gordy. No can do. 17:55.300 --> 18:01.300 Ah, now is that any way to treat a buddy? I've done a lot of stories on you, fellas. Good ones, too. 18:01.300 --> 18:08.300 Well, then you should know better than to ask. When Bill says, keep him out, well, that's just exactly what he means. 18:14.300 --> 18:20.300 See, Tom, let's see if you can stop this guy. He's Wes Krip Kaine, the lumber millionaire. 18:20.300 --> 18:23.300 Where's Bill Jefferson, Ranger? 18:23.300 --> 18:26.300 Well, about two miles up the road in the heart of the trouble, sir. 18:26.300 --> 18:33.300 Eh, it's a foolish question, I guess. He's always in the thick of it. Open up the roadblock and I'll drive through. 18:33.300 --> 18:35.300 Can't do that. 18:35.300 --> 18:38.300 What? You know who I am. 18:44.300 --> 18:45.300 What was that? 18:45.300 --> 18:49.300 Another tree went down. That's why you can't go in there. 18:49.300 --> 18:53.300 All right, can't you contact your boss? I want to talk to him. 18:53.300 --> 18:57.300 Bill has got millions tied up in trees and I want to know what's going on. 18:57.300 --> 19:02.300 You might as well call him, Tom. Here comes Todd Jackson from the Department of Interior. 19:02.300 --> 19:07.300 I guess so. Looks like these trees have made enough noise to be heard in Washington. 19:14.300 --> 19:16.300 Bill, another one just went down. 19:16.300 --> 19:19.300 Okay, Henry, put a red pin on the map. 19:19.300 --> 19:20.300 Sure. 19:20.300 --> 19:22.300 What's it look like, Mark? 19:22.300 --> 19:24.300 Bill, absolutely nothing. 19:24.300 --> 19:28.300 You can't find anything on those specimens? 19:28.300 --> 19:33.300 That's right. I've made slides from these samples and put them under the high-powered microscope. 19:33.300 --> 19:36.300 All I can see is healthy wood fibers. 19:36.300 --> 19:39.300 Well, how do you like that? 19:39.300 --> 19:44.300 No disease, no bugs, bacteria. 19:44.300 --> 19:49.300 And yet they fall over like something's broken their backs. 19:49.300 --> 19:52.300 Perhaps you'd like me to go out to the actual spot and take a look. 19:52.300 --> 19:55.300 Yeah, but it'll be risky. 19:55.300 --> 19:56.300 I'm game. 19:56.300 --> 19:58.300 I'll get you a steel helmet. We'll get started. 19:58.300 --> 19:59.300 Right. 19:59.300 --> 20:03.300 Henry, answer the radio. Come on, Mark. 20:06.300 --> 20:07.300 Bill. 20:07.300 --> 20:08.300 Yes, pal? 20:08.300 --> 20:09.300 It's Tom. 20:09.300 --> 20:11.300 Hold it, Mark. What's he want? 20:11.300 --> 20:15.300 He says Mr. Cain and Mr. Jackson and the press want to see you. 20:15.300 --> 20:17.300 Well, tell them in about an hour. 20:17.300 --> 20:18.300 They want to come in. 20:18.300 --> 20:20.300 No, absolutely no. 20:20.300 --> 20:22.300 How about the governor? 20:22.300 --> 20:27.300 Same answer. One of these trees can kill him just as easy as anyone else. 20:38.300 --> 20:41.300 Sorry, gentlemen. The boss says no. 20:41.300 --> 20:45.300 Well, we might just as well sit down then, gentlemen. 20:45.300 --> 20:48.300 Bill Jefferson means what he says. 20:48.300 --> 20:50.300 The governor, how can he say that to you? 20:50.300 --> 20:53.300 That's what I want to know, too, Philip. 20:53.300 --> 21:00.300 Winthrop, Gordon, when a man's trying to do a good job and you know he's capable, 21:00.300 --> 21:04.300 and knows far more than any of us do about the problem, 21:04.300 --> 21:08.300 I say the best way we can help is by being patient. 21:08.300 --> 21:12.300 Obviously, Bill hasn't found the answer yet, or he'd tell us. 21:12.300 --> 21:16.300 Now, let's not make his job any more difficult than it is already. 21:18.300 --> 21:21.300 Thank you, Governor. It's mighty generous of you. 21:21.300 --> 21:26.300 Not at all, Thomas. I'm not walking under any fallen trees. 21:37.300 --> 21:39.300 Hey, that was close. 21:39.300 --> 21:41.300 And how? Let's get out of here. 21:41.300 --> 21:45.300 Right. What's so funny? 21:45.300 --> 21:47.300 This? 21:47.300 --> 21:50.300 Are you sure one of these giants hasn't hit you on the head? 21:50.300 --> 21:58.300 No. You know, Mark, we're never too old or too experienced to run up against something new. 21:58.300 --> 22:00.300 You mean like this? 22:00.300 --> 22:06.300 Yeah, like this. You know, I have the unusual desire to run around this forest 22:06.300 --> 22:11.300 and push on all the trees to see how many of them will fall down. 22:11.300 --> 22:13.300 Oh, man, your roof leaks. 22:13.300 --> 22:15.300 You got any better answer? 22:15.300 --> 22:18.300 No. I guess your roof doesn't leak. 22:18.300 --> 22:21.300 Maybe I'm going to wish it did before this is over. 22:21.300 --> 22:24.300 Well, since we can't find any bugs pushing over the trees 22:24.300 --> 22:28.300 and diseases making them tired of standing, what next? 22:28.300 --> 22:31.300 I guess I'll have to go down and talk to the big cannons. 22:31.300 --> 22:37.300 I hope they'll not roar too loud when I tell them I haven't any answers. 22:47.300 --> 22:50.300 That's it, gentlemen. 22:50.300 --> 22:55.300 I haven't been able to find out the cause of this unusual phenomenon. 22:55.300 --> 22:58.300 You haven't, eh? Well, you'd better. 22:58.300 --> 23:01.300 I've got millions signed up in trees and I want an answer. 23:01.300 --> 23:04.300 I'll probably wake up in the morning and find all my trees laying on the ground. 23:04.300 --> 23:07.300 I rather doubt that, Mr. Cain. 23:07.300 --> 23:12.300 It appears that this condition is confined to this immediate area. 23:12.300 --> 23:14.300 But you don't know, do you? 23:14.300 --> 23:16.300 That's right. I don't. 23:16.300 --> 23:18.300 Well, you'd better have an answer soon, Bill. 23:18.300 --> 23:21.300 The Secretary of Interior is quite disturbed by this. 23:21.300 --> 23:25.300 He's worried that it's a new disease that could sweep forests all over the country. 23:25.300 --> 23:29.300 Well, would you prefer that I lie and tell you some drummed-up tale 23:29.300 --> 23:31.300 about gremlins pushing over the trees? 23:31.300 --> 23:33.300 Gentlemen, Bill's right. 23:33.300 --> 23:38.300 Let's not panic because we haven't found the answers sticking out of our pockets. 23:38.300 --> 23:40.300 That may very well be for you to say, Philip. 23:40.300 --> 23:42.300 It's not your money that's invested in timber. 23:42.300 --> 23:45.300 Winthrop, that's a very unkind remark. 23:45.300 --> 23:47.300 I'm interested in not only your timber, 23:47.300 --> 23:51.300 but in the timber owned by other people in this state. 23:51.300 --> 23:55.300 In fact, I'm very much concerned about every tree in the state. 23:55.300 --> 23:59.300 They're our basic and essential natural resources. 23:59.300 --> 24:01.300 Perhaps you're right. 24:01.300 --> 24:04.300 But I want some answers, and I want them soon. 24:04.300 --> 24:10.300 Gentlemen, I'll have the answers within 24 hours, 24:10.300 --> 24:22.300 or else I'll resign from my post as Chief Ranger. 24:22.300 --> 24:33.300 Bill, what's the sense of staying up any more tonight? 24:33.300 --> 24:37.300 That's the fifth one so far tonight. 24:37.300 --> 24:39.300 Bill, you're dog-tired. 24:39.300 --> 24:41.300 You'll get sick going on without sleep. 24:41.300 --> 24:45.300 Perhaps. 24:45.300 --> 24:48.300 I'll be sicker if I don't find the answer to this. 24:48.300 --> 24:50.300 I know. 24:50.300 --> 24:55.300 Henry, get one of those large battery lights, will you? 24:55.300 --> 24:59.300 I want to have one more look at the trees. 24:59.300 --> 25:20.300 If I don't find anything, I'll turn in and try it again in the morning. 25:20.300 --> 25:24.300 Why are you digging around the broken roots? 25:24.300 --> 25:26.300 Maybe I'll find something. 25:26.300 --> 25:31.300 Well, it's awfully peculiar that the anchor roots and the tap roots gave way. 25:31.300 --> 25:34.300 The hair roots are still in good shape. 25:34.300 --> 25:38.300 Yeah, I know. That's why I'm digging. 25:38.300 --> 25:42.300 Is it a root infection that eats away the main roots that hold the tree? 25:42.300 --> 25:44.300 Could be. 25:44.300 --> 25:49.300 Hey, why can't I dig too instead of standing around here shivering? 25:49.300 --> 25:53.300 Yeah, that's a good idea. 25:53.300 --> 25:56.300 Stand around on the other side, Henry. 25:56.300 --> 25:58.300 It's light enough for both of us. 25:58.300 --> 25:59.300 Sure. 25:59.300 --> 26:01.300 Step across this stump hole. 26:01.300 --> 26:04.300 It's too far to walk around. 26:04.300 --> 26:06.300 Hey, Bill, help me! 26:06.300 --> 26:07.300 Sure. 26:07.300 --> 26:08.300 What happened, Henry? 26:08.300 --> 26:10.300 There's a fire under here! 26:10.300 --> 26:11.300 Give me a hand. 26:11.300 --> 26:14.300 Come on. 26:14.300 --> 26:16.300 There you are. 26:16.300 --> 26:18.300 Boy, it sure popped on. 26:18.300 --> 26:21.300 Oh, boy, I burned my ankle. 26:21.300 --> 26:23.300 How could you burn your ankle? 26:23.300 --> 26:25.300 Here, let me see. 26:25.300 --> 26:27.300 Don't blame me. Here, take a look. 26:27.300 --> 26:28.300 Let me look here. 26:28.300 --> 26:29.300 Oh, boy. 26:29.300 --> 26:32.300 Great Scott! You did burn your ankle. 26:32.300 --> 26:34.300 Come on, let's get back to camp. 26:34.300 --> 26:36.300 Here, I'll carry you. 26:36.300 --> 26:38.300 I can walk. 26:38.300 --> 26:40.300 What's the matter with you? 26:40.300 --> 26:42.300 You glad I got burned? 26:42.300 --> 26:46.300 Henry, look where your foot went through the shallow earth. 26:46.300 --> 26:47.300 What? 26:47.300 --> 26:50.300 It's burning under there, like a peat bog fire. 26:50.300 --> 26:52.300 Sure it is. 26:52.300 --> 26:54.300 Why didn't I think of that before? 26:54.300 --> 26:56.300 It's a root fire. 26:56.300 --> 26:58.300 It burns down deep. 26:58.300 --> 27:00.300 We've never had this before. 27:00.300 --> 27:02.300 What a way to find it. 27:02.300 --> 27:03.300 Come on, pal. 27:03.300 --> 27:07.300 Let's spread the word and get the boys busy fighting the fire. 27:07.300 --> 27:10.300 Bill, what are those men doing with those long rods? 27:10.300 --> 27:14.300 Why are they driving them down at an angle next to the trunk and roots? 27:14.300 --> 27:19.300 That long rod has a thermometer on the end of it, Mr. Cain. 27:19.300 --> 27:22.300 We can tell if there's a fire in the roots. 27:22.300 --> 27:25.300 This really is rare, isn't it, Bill? 27:25.300 --> 27:28.300 Yes, Governor, it's very rare. 27:28.300 --> 27:30.300 It's a very rare thing. 27:30.300 --> 27:32.300 It's a very rare thing. 27:32.300 --> 27:37.300 How does it start? 27:37.300 --> 27:39.300 Well, lightning could do it. 27:39.300 --> 27:45.300 A strong bolt drives into the ground, and the soil is of a peat-like composition. 27:45.300 --> 27:49.300 Strange thing about it is that the fire spreads underground, 27:49.300 --> 27:51.300 and it can go undetected for months. 27:51.300 --> 27:57.300 But this one is even more weird, because usually the fires can find trees in the immediate area 27:57.300 --> 28:02.300 of the first one to have a root fire. 28:02.300 --> 28:05.300 Well, then it could be freakish enough to be more than one fire, eh, Bill? 28:05.300 --> 28:07.300 That's right, Gordon. 28:07.300 --> 28:13.300 This area is noted for receiving heavy bolts of lightning, not into the trees, but into the ground. 28:13.300 --> 28:15.300 How can they put it out? 28:15.300 --> 28:16.300 Well, that's not easy. 28:16.300 --> 28:19.300 Every tree will have to be tested in this area, 28:19.300 --> 28:22.300 and then we'll have to rip up the ground with chiseled plows 28:22.300 --> 28:26.300 and flood the underground area with thousands of gallons of water. 28:26.300 --> 28:28.300 It'll take time, a lot of time. 28:28.300 --> 28:31.300 I know you'll handle that part all right, Bill. 28:31.300 --> 28:33.300 Thank you for finding the answer. 28:33.300 --> 28:35.300 Yes, many thanks, Bill. 28:35.300 --> 28:39.300 Gentlemen, don't thank me. Thank Henry. 28:39.300 --> 28:47.300 He's the one that got the hot foot. 28:47.300 --> 28:53.300 Perhaps we should call this story Henry's Hot Foot instead of the Falling Giants. 28:53.300 --> 29:00.300 Well, see you next week for more Adventure with Ranger Bill! 29:23.300 --> 29:33.300 .