Ranger Bill 54-05-16 ep133 Burning Sands

Summary

Podcast Summary: Ranger Bill 54-05-16 ep133 Burning Sands

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Episode: Ranger Bill 54-05-16 ep133 Burning Sands
• Release Date: July 1, 2025
• Description: This episode captures the essence of radio shows from the Golden Age of Radio, transporting listeners to a time when families gathered around the radio to enjoy thrilling tales like The Shadow, Abbott & Costello, Amos & Andy, Dragnet, and many others.

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1. Introduction and Setting

The episode opens with the iconic theme introducing Ranger Bill as the "warrior of the woodland," battling natural adversities to protect the forest.

Ranger Bill [00:08]: "Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland. Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland. Struggling against extreme odds. Traveling dangerous trails. Fighting the many enemies of nature."

Listeners are transported to Knotty Pine, a town reminiscent of the wild west, centered around the old general store run by Mark Daggert. This store serves as a hub for townsfolk, especially the "desert rats" — seasoned cowhands and prospectors who share their adventurous tales.

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2. Discussion at Mark's General Store

Ranger Bill and his team – Ralph, Stumpy Jenkins, and Gray Wolf – stroll into Mark's General Store on a seemingly lazy day. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation as the old cowpokes begin sharing their stories.

Ralph [01:39]: "Yes, Ralph, there's a lot of history centered in Mark's old general store. Now I get a kick out of listening to those old cowpokes and desert rats spinning their yarns, each trying to outdo the other."

A playful banter ensues between Ranger Bill and Stumpy Jenkins regarding the authenticity of the stories told by the desert rats.

Ranger Bill [01:57]: "You don't think that most of their stories are made up, do you, Bill?"

Stumpy Jenkins [02:13]: "Might have. You know, I don't color up my yarns."

This exchange sets the stage for the episode's central conflict involving Joshua Webb, a relentless gold prospector known as a "desert rat."

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3. The Expedition Takes Shape

As the day progresses, Ranger Bill and his team prepare for their upcoming tasks. They discuss their plans to clean out scrub from a virgin pine stand and repair soil conservation dams.

Ralph [07:01]: "Up the Long Ridge Trail, Ralph. We got some scrub to clean out of a virgin stand of pine. Then we head from the North Forks and repair the soil conservation dams."

However, the peaceful routine is disrupted when Gray Wolf spots Joshua Webb heading back into the desert.

Gray Wolf [07:16]: "Looks like old Josh, it is him. He must be going back into the desert."

Concern grows as Joshua has been missing for three weeks, raising alarms about his well-being.

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4. The Search for Joshua Webb

Determined to find Joshua, Ranger Bill and his team set out into the harsh desert conditions. Initial attempts to locate him prove challenging as the extreme heat takes its toll on both the men and their animals.

Ralph [13:36]: "Don't let the pack horses drag, Ralph. Keep them stepping along."

Ranger Bill [20:40]: "Oh, boy. I bet you could fry a steak in my saddle horn. This is terrible. How could Josh stand this year in and year out?"

Their search intensifies as they battle not only the scorching temperatures but also dwindling water supplies after their water bottles are sabotaged by a rattlesnake.

Ranger Bill [22:53]: "Bill, horses have kicked our water bottles in. Oh, no."

Ralph [23:00]: "And the only water we have is what's in our canteens."

Despite these obstacles, the team remains resolute, pushing forward in hopes of finding Joshua.

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5. The Discovery in the Desert

After enduring days of relentless searching, the team discovers Joshua Webb lying lifeless near a water source.

Ranger Bill [26:38]: "Poor Josh with water a hundred feet away. He lay down and died."

Gray Wolf [26:56]: "Here is note and some gold nuggets."

A heartfelt note from Joshua reveals his intentions and regrets.

Ralph [26:58]: "He says, bill Jefferson, I know you are following my heart. Gave out all the gold in the world. Wouldn't buy me water when I needed it. Not sorry dying this way. Bury me on Lonesome."

This poignant moment underscores the tragic consequences of Joshua's unyielding pursuit of gold.

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6. Conclusion and Reflections

Back in town, the team reflects on Joshua Webb's relentless quest and its ultimate cost. They decide to hold a service to honor his memory, acknowledging his passion but lamenting the dangers of his obsession.

Ralph [27:43]: "Do you think it was a gold fever made Josh break his promise?"

Ralph [28:10]: "Well, I guess that's the story, boys and girls. The story of Joshua Webb, desert rat who just wouldn't stay where he was put."

The episode closes with Ranger Bill and his team preparing for future challenges, carrying the weight of Joshua's story as a reminder of the fine line between ambition and self-destruction.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ranger Bill [00:08]: "Struggling against extreme odds. Traveling dangerous trails. Fighting the many enemies of nature."
• Stumpy Jenkins [02:17]: "I give you the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
• Joshua Webb [04:05]: "I expect when they dig your grave, they'll find gold, Joshua."
• Ralph [15:34]: "I agree with my Rangers and the doctor. You'd be endangering your own life if you went out in the desert again."
• Joshua Webb [17:01]: "Yep. Yep, I am going to give it up. From now on, I'm going to enjoy life."
• Ralph [26:56]: "He says, bill Jefferson, I know you are following my heart. Gave out all the gold in the world. Wouldn't buy me water when I needed it. Not sorry dying this way."

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Final Thoughts

"Burning Sands" masterfully weaves a tale of adventure, obsession, and the harsh realities of the wilderness. Through Ranger Bill and his team's quest to find Joshua Webb, listeners are reminded of the fine balance between passion and prudence. The episode encapsulates the charm of old-time radio dramas, complete with rich character interactions, moral dilemmas, and emotional depth, making it a memorable addition to Harold's Old Time Radio collection.

Transcript

[Ranger Bill]

Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland. 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. This is a lazy day in Knotty Pine. River rangers are strolling down one of the town's shady streets, heading toward the town's old general store. The old store is a landmark of the days when the west was wild and woolly. And it's run by Mark Daggert. Many of the townsfolk visit the store to hear the old cowhands and prospectors. Desert rats as they call them. Swaps yarns. Let's join Bill and the boys as they head for the store. Little do they know that they're heading for one of the most grueling experiences of their lives. Listen now for the story Burning Sand. You know, Bill, I like to visit Mark's store. It smacks of the old West. Sort of gives you a feeling that you're living back in those times again.

[Ralph]

Yes, Ralph, there's a lot of history centered in Mark's old general store. Now I get a kick out of listening to those old cowpokes and desert rats spinning their yarns, each trying to outdo the other.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Yes, sir, there's a lot of competition there.

[Ranger Bill]

You don't think that most of their stories are made up, do you, Bill?

[Ralph]

No. Essentially there's a lot more truth in them than most people think. Of course, the old timers do add a little color to their yarns.

[Ranger Bill]

Like somebody else we know of.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Now see here, young feller, don't look.

[Ralph]

At me that way.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Might have. You know, I don't color up my yarns.

[Gray Wolf]

Not even a little bit, Stumpy?

[Ranger Bill]

Nope.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

I give you the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

[Ranger Bill]

Well, maybe you just put a little tint to your tails, huh Stumpy?

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Well, maybe I should say. I guess I do sort of tint em up once in a while just to make em interesting.

[Ralph]

Quit picking on the old timer, fellas. You enjoy Stumpy's yarns just as much as the rest of us.

[Gray Wolf]

It looked like big crowd in store. Many old timers there.

[Ranger Bill]

Yeah, maybe we'll see some more hair raising tales about the old engine days.

[Ralph]

Well, whoever has the floor, it's my guess that Stumpy will go him one better.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Now wait a minute, Fin Dara.

[Ranger Bill]

Give him a chance, boys. That's right, Stumpy Five of them?

[Ralph]

Yes, five.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

What's your matter? You two fellers weak that day or just plumb lazy?

[Ranger Bill]

Now, you see here, you old cougar.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

I should have taken only one of you to finish five of them off. The other could have gone about his business.

[Ranger Bill]

Is that right? Well, I ain't seen you do any better.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

You ain't? Did I ever tell you about the freakish me and Big Jim Hansen had at Hooker Pass with a gang of desperados? Why, I'm telling you when I.

[Ranger Bill]

Was scared.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Howdy, Josh.

[Gray Wolf]

Where you been keeping yourself, Joshua? Ain't seen you for a month of Sundays.

[Joshua Webb]

Oh, I been busy, Mark.

[Gray Wolf]

Suppose you've been looking for gold again, huh, Josh?

[Joshua Webb]

That's right. Been prospecting. What'd you expect from an old desert rat like me?

[Ranger Bill]

When are you gonna give up looking for fool's gold, Josh?

[Joshua Webb]

I expect when they dig your grave, they'll find gold, Joshua. You got gold fever that bad, fools Gold, eh? Gold fever. Let me show you fellers something that'll make your eyes bulge. There it is, boys. You think I've been wasting my time on the desert, huh?

[Gray Wolf]

You haven't got gold in that sack, Josh.

[Joshua Webb]

I ain't, huh? What'd you call this?

[Ranger Bill]

Look at that.

[Joshua Webb]

Don't stand there with your mouth open. My tag set me up some supplies and grub. I got some more work to do. Ain't nothing to get excited about.

[Gray Wolf]

What do you mean, Joshua? Ain't gold findings like that something to get excited about?

[Ranger Bill]

Yeah.

[Joshua Webb]

No, it ain't. This was just a small pocket and I cleaned it out.

[Gray Wolf]

Where'd you find the small pocket, Josh?

[Joshua Webb]

Now, that would be telling, wouldn't it? Why don't you go out and hunt your own gold like I've been doing for 30 years?

[Gray Wolf]

Fellows, that was big. Thrill to see Joshua pour gold nuggets out on counter. And easy to understand how men catch gold fever.

[Ralph]

That's right, Grey Wolf. But old Joshua's been prospecting for 30 years. And this is only the fourth small find he's made. Not much reward after all, is it?

[Ranger Bill]

A lot of work for a little pay, if you ask me.

[Gray Wolf]

Almost like work for nothing.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Yep. That ain't the worst part of it, young feller. When you think of a desert rat being on the hot sand and in the cold mountains year in and year out, all by himself. Never gets to see people. Lives like a hermit, just him and his burrow. Why, it's awful.

[Gray Wolf]

Skin get like old horse hide from sun. Wind get frostbite in cold Winter, not much satisfaction.

[Ralph]

I think you fellas forget that. These desert rats wouldn't have it any other way. And if that's the way Joshua wants to live, that's his business. The only thing is, I think he's flirting with real danger if he keeps going out there in the desert. Now.

[Ranger Bill]

What do you mean? Is it any more dangerous now than it was before, Bill?

[Ralph]

For him, it is. Joshua's getting to be an old man now. The heat of the desert is hard enough for a young man to take at this time of the year. Say nothing about a man of 70, Josh. Better be careful.

[Ranger Bill]

Well, this kind always die with their boots on. There's not much you can do about it. What's on the docket for tomorrow?

[Ralph]

Hard work. That's all I can tell you now. Rest well tonight. We hit the trail for three weeks in the morning.

[Ranger Bill]

Where are we heading first, Bill?

[Ralph]

Up the Long Ridge Trail, Ralph. We got some scrub to clean out of a virgin stand of pine. Then we head from the North Forks and repair the soil conservation dams.

[Gray Wolf]

There somebody on the road ahead. Say it looked like old Joshua Whip.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Hey, not only looks like old Josh, it is him. He must be going back into the desert.

[Ralph]

Let's stop and talk with him for a minute. Close tomorrow. Hello, Joshua.

[Joshua Webb]

Howdy, Bill. Howdy, fellas.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Howdy, Josh.

[Ralph]

Heading out into the desert again, Josh?

[Joshua Webb]

Yep, that's what I'm doing.

[Gray Wolf]

Why you not take it easy for a while, Joshua?

[Joshua Webb]

No, no, I can't do that, Gray Wolf. I get the itch if I set a spell. Got to keep going.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

It wouldn't hurt you any to set a spell, you old desert rat. Someday you're going to overdo it. You'll set permanent six feet under.

[Joshua Webb]

Never you mind, Stumpy Jenkins. I'm old enough to take care of myself.

[Ralph]

I'm sure you are, Josh. But Stumpy's right just the same. It's awfully hot out there in the desert. You're not a young man anymore. You could at least stay in town until the summer's over.

[Joshua Webb]

Are you fellows are trying to keep me from finding gold? Why don't you mind your own business? I can take care of myself.

[Ralph]

I didn't mean to offend you, Josh. I only wanted to remind you that it's dangerous. It's 120 degrees out there at this time of the year.

[Joshua Webb]

I don't need your advice, I tell you.

[Ralph]

All right. So long, Josh. Let's go, boys.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Come on.

[Ralph]

Gray Wolf. We'll have to cut down this tree. It's too far gone. The disease may spread.

[Gray Wolf]

Ah, good.

[Ralph]

You cut the fall guide, will you? Well, I start on the underside and cut away the trunk.

[Gray Wolf]

Okay, Bill. This tree not too big. Not take long.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Say, Ralph, this is a two man saw.

[Ranger Bill]

Yeah, that's right. Stumpy, why don't you pull on your end?

[Stumpy Jenkins]

I would, only you're riding the saw.

[Ranger Bill]

Yes, but my feet aren't dragging like yours, old timer.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Okay, sonny, I guess you're on the ball today. I thought I could get one up on you.

[Ranger Bill]

Not today, Stumpy.

[Gray Wolf]

Every time some fellow bends elbow, his mouth fall open.

[Ralph]

Yeah, and the proof of it is that we're almost through our log. They're only halfway.

[Ranger Bill]

Is that so? What do you say we race them, Stumpy? Let's see who gets through first.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Okay, sonny, let's pour a little elbow grease in this ear saw and let.

[Joshua Webb]

Her r.

[Ralph]

Our job is to trap some of these trout and put tags on them.

[Gray Wolf]

You study their traveling habits, Bill.

[Ralph]

Right. Ralph, would you like to set out those water traps?

[Ranger Bill]

Sure, I'll have them in there in a jiffy.

[Ralph]

Bill and Grey Wolf, you take motion pictures of the schools of trout swimming by.

[Gray Wolf]

Oh, me do?

[Stumpy Jenkins]

What's that for, youngster?

[Ralph]

Well, the idea is later we can set the projector on slow motion and count the number of trout that have passed the camera in a given length of traffic.

[Gray Wolf]

That give us idea how many fish in river to spawn and go back downstream.

[Ralph]

Yes, you see, we'll count that number that passed in a 15 minute period, multiply by four to get an hourly figure and a day, then a week and so forth. Only approximate, of course, but the figure comes out amazingly close.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Well, they've sure come a long way since I first started working from Uncle Sam.

[Ranger Bill]

Town seems kind of crowded after being on the trail three weeks, doesn't it, Bill?

[Ralph]

Sure does, Ralph. Say, I wonder if Joshua Webb came back. He'd been gone three weeks. Didn't have more than two and a half weeks supplies with him when he left.

[Gray Wolf]

I hope old timer make grade.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Say, Mark's store's just down the road a piece. Let's stop by and see.

[Gray Wolf]

No, Bill, I ain't seen Joshua. Which ain't no surprise to me. That guy's got gold fever so bad he don't have sense enough to come in out of the heat.

[Ralph]

Hmm. Do you think he could stretch his supplies this long, Mark? It's three weeks now.

[Gray Wolf]

Maybe he'd short racing himself, make the supplies last that much longer, that's all.

[Ranger Bill]

It's possible that he could stretch his food and water a whole week longer that way.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Yep. Oh, Josh could squeeze water out of a stone if he put his mind to it.

[Ralph]

All right, I'll buy that for two days, fellas. But if Joshua doesn't show up in that time, we're going out on the desert and look for him.

[Gray Wolf]

Say, Bill, look hard for Joshua Webb, will ya? As much fun as I poke at him, I still like the old desert rat. And I hope you find him in time.

[Ralph]

Oh, so easy, boy. Easy. I will find him, Mark. I hope it's not too late, though. We'll let you know as soon as we can. What's happened? All right, Storm boy, let's go.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Come on.

[Ralph]

Don't let the pack horses drag, Ralph. Keep them stepping along.

[Ranger Bill]

Okay, Bill. I'll keep moving.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Where do you figure to look first for Josh, Will.

[Ralph]

We'll follow his trail going out in the desert and watch for a back trail.

[Gray Wolf]

Must be out on desert soon. It's plenty hot there now.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Burning sand, gray wolf. Miles and miles of nothing else but.

[Gray Wolf]

Hit plenty hard on man and animal.

[Ralph]

We better slow down once we get out on the sand. The horses couldn't take this pace and that heat.

[Ranger Bill]

Hey, fellas, look over by that bunch of scrub. There's something laying on the ground.

[Ralph]

Great Scott, there's a burro standing there, too.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Come on. Well, looks like the cold fever finally got the old feller.

[Ralph]

Blow, Storm.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Whoa, there, Matilde.

[Ralph]

Yeah, Josh all right. He's still alive. We'll try to revive him as much as we can, then get him to the hospital. How's our prospecting friend coming along, Doc?

[Ranger Bill]

Well, if you're talking about this old desert rat, Bill, he's doing fine. Week of rest, he'll be up and around. But he shouldn't go back out in the desert again for a long while. Well, you talk with him a while. I've got to finish making my rounds.

[Ralph]

I'll see you later, fellows. So long, Doc.

[Joshua Webb]

Imagine him telling me I can't go back out in the desert for a long time. No man is going to tell me what to do.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Why, you old buzzard. It would do you good to listen to some sound advice once in your life. You're too cantankerous.

[Ranger Bill]

Remember, Josh, you're not a spring chicken anymore.

[Gray Wolf]

Ah, you flirt with death if you go back there now.

[Joshua Webb]

Ain'T you going to give me a piece of your mind, too, Bill?

[Ralph]

I was just getting ready to Joshua.

[Joshua Webb]

Well, go ahead.

[Ralph]

I agree with my Rangers and the doctor. You'd be endangering your own life if you went out in the desert again. But there's more to it than that.

[Joshua Webb]

What'd you mean?

[Ralph]

I mean you ought to start enjoying life a little. Mix in with people more.

[Joshua Webb]

No, I like prospecting too much to be bothered with people.

[Ralph]

Gold won't buy your life back if you lost it, Joshua.

[Joshua Webb]

I ain't afraid to die, young man. When the good Lord's ready to call me home, I am ready.

[Ralph]

That's good. But think of the things in life that you've missed that every human being enjoys. You've got enough money from your last strike to tide you over for the rest of your life.

[Gray Wolf]

Ah, that right?

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Why, sure, Josh. You and me could go hunting and fishing together. We could set a spell over in Mark's store and talk with the boys of an evening.

[Joshua Webb]

Now, you got me thinking that I might like staying in town.

[Ralph]

Well, why not give it a try for a while?

[Joshua Webb]

Well, I might, but I ain't got no place to stay.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Why, you old walrus. You can stay at my place just as long as you please. Ain't nothing fancy, but it's homey.

[Joshua Webb]

Thanks, Stumpy. I think I'll take you up on that and try civilized life for a while.

[Ralph]

Then you're definitely going to give up prospecting for gold in the desert? Judgment in the desert, yes.

[Joshua Webb]

Well, Bill, you know there's gold in more places than the desert.

[Ralph]

Oh, sure. Well, Josh, it's come down to this then. Are you going to give up prospecting or aren't you?

[Joshua Webb]

Yep. Yep, I am going to give it up. From now on, I'm going to enjoy life.

[Ralph]

Just put it there. You made a good decision, fellas. We'll have to get packed as fast as we can. Tom says the Scotch pine up at the North Forks have been hit by a strange new disease. They're wasting away.

[Gray Wolf]

Ah, that beautiful stand worth much money?

[Ralph]

That's right. We can't afford to lose either the beauty or the money. Ralph, you finish packing the burros. I'm going back to the office and get the portable lamp. We've got to make a thorough study of this new disease.

[Ranger Bill]

Okay. Burroughs will be ready by the time you get back. Gray Wolf, give me a hand with this diamond hitch, will you?

[Gray Wolf]

Oh, sure thing.

[Ralph]

Hey, somebody's coming in a big hurry.

[Gray Wolf]

Plenty quick. Me. It's Stumpy.

[Ralph]

What's wrong, Stumpy? Why all the hurry?

[Stumpy Jenkins]

I rode over to tell you about Josh. He ain't been home for two days.

[Ralph]

Well, why didn't you tell us sooner, old Timer.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

I didn't think much about it, Bill. The first night. He could have stayed at Mark Dagger's house. But when he didn't come home last.

[Ralph]

Night, I begun to get worried.

[Ranger Bill]

Do you think he's gone back on his promise, Bill?

[Ralph]

I don't know, Ralph. Did he give you any reason to believe he might go back out in the desert, Stumpy?

[Stumpy Jenkins]

I can't say he did, sonny.

[Ralph]

Nope.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Nary a hint.

[Gray Wolf]

What we do now, Bill?

[Ralph]

Well, we're going out on the trail anyway. Lets stop at Mark's store and find out if Joshua bought supplies. If he did, the Scotch pine will have to wait until we find him. He's certainly in no condition to make a prospecting trip.

[Gray Wolf]

I'm sorry I can't help you, Bill. Old Joshua didn't buy supplies for me, nor has he been staying here.

[Ralph]

You wouldn't be covering up for the old desert rat because he broke his promise to me, would you, Mark?

[Gray Wolf]

Of course I wouldn't. It might cost Joshua his life if I did. I agree with you and the doc. Joshua's prospecting days are over, his heart being what it is.

[Ranger Bill]

Maybe he got his supplies from some other store in town, Bill.

[Ralph]

Yes, Ralph. He could easily have done that. Let's spread out and ask all the stores if they've seen the old gent. Report back here in two hours.

[Gray Wolf]

No, I haven't seen Joshua Webb, Stumpy.

[Ranger Bill]

Sorry Joshua didn't buy supplies for me, Bill.

[Joshua Webb]

Joshua ain't been in my store for a coon's age, Ralph.

[Ranger Bill]

Gray Wolf.

[Ralph]

He hasn't been near here for six months.

[Joshua Webb]

Yes, Joshua was here, Bill. He bought himself some grub in the burrow. Also some prospecting tool. He was muttering something about he. He couldn't sit around and do nothing all the time.

[Ralph]

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks, Barry. Come on, boys. We're going after Joshua.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

You mean out on the desert this time?

[Ralph]

Here, Stumpy, you don't mean that. We're going to get Joshua before the.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Desert gets him, understand? I'm not holding back. But with a hundred miles of hot sand out there, it's going to be mighty rugged.

[Ralph]

Phew.

[Ranger Bill]

Oh, boy. I bet you could fry a steak in my saddle horn. This is terrible. How could Josh stand this year in and year out?

[Ralph]

I don't know, Ralph. I think he had to be made of rubber and raw hide. Let's rest a minute, fellas. Most time. Oh, boy.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Thank the Lord it's only a couple more hours until sundown. Better wet our horses and burrows. Mouths huh?

[Gray Wolf]

Good. Me take water bag and help Ralph.

[Ranger Bill]

Yeah. Hold this pan, will you, Gray wolf?

[Ralph]

Now, don't you fellas take any more than that, either? It's better to drink more water at night to catch up on the dehydration that takes place during the day.

[Ranger Bill]

How do these old desert rats stand this heat? I don't even care to keep my eyes open. It's so hot.

[Gray Wolf]

120 degrees. No wonder Josh look like prune.

[Ralph]

Okay, let's push on, fellas. A high wind could come up and wipe out Joshua's trail. Let's follow it while we.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Sand in my teeth, sand in my ears, sand in my eyes and sand in my food and water. Why didn't Josh stay home instead of coming out here like an old fool?

[Ranger Bill]

What's the use of complaining, Stumpy? Got a job to do. Let's do it. I'm sure glad for sundown, though. After three days in this heat, it starts to wear on you.

[Ralph]

Not only on us, Ralph, but on the animals, too. Better all get some sleep. I want to push on as soon as the moon comes up. Let's shake a leg, fellas. We want to gain time before it gets too hot.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Hey, that's a rattlesnake. Watch the horses and burros.

[Ranger Bill]

I'll get up. Hold them, Ralph.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Those water bottles.

[Ranger Bill]

Watch them.

[Gray Wolf]

Get that stick before we lose horses.

[Ranger Bill]

Bill. Bill, horses have kicked our water bottles in. Oh, no.

[Ralph]

How many bags were damaged, Ralph?

[Ranger Bill]

All of them.

[Ralph]

And the only water we have is what's in our canteens.

[Ranger Bill]

That's right.

[Gray Wolf]

That's very bad.

[Ralph]

Yeah. Well, let's get the horses and burros. Be on our way. Hey, Storm.

[Gray Wolf]

I guess best thing to do is go ahead.

[Ralph]

Bill. Yes, Grel. There must be water somewhere close to Joshua's prospecting grounds.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Yeah, but we don't know where that is.

[Ralph]

I'm beginning to have a notion as to the place, but we'll keep following the trail. Right now it'd be more dangerous to go back than to go on.

[Gray Wolf]

How far we must go to trail Joshua? You must stop someplace and dig.

[Ralph]

Keep following the trail, Gray wolf.

[Ranger Bill]

Bill, Bill. Can't we have just a little water for ourselves?

[Ralph]

Ralph, use your head. There's only a quarter of a canteen left. I must keep that for the horses. Even the burros will have to wait.

[Gray Wolf]

Far we go, Bill. Maybe we follow wrong trail.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

I don't figure Josh would have come all this way.

[Ralph]

Stampley, let me tell you something. Remember when Josh told me all the gold wasn't in the desert, huh?

[Gray Wolf]

Yes, I remember.

[Ralph]

To me, that means only one place. Lonesome Mountain. There's water there. There's gotta be.

[Ranger Bill]

And what if. What if you're wrong, Bill?

[Ralph]

It'll be my last mistake. There's the mountain up ahead, fellas. There's a piece of Joshua's gear, fellas. We're on the right track.

[Ranger Bill]

Yes, but how much farther? I can't go on.

[Ralph]

You've got to, Ralph. One more day should do it. We'll leave the burrows here and all our gear. Travel as light as possible. Let's go while we can. I can't.

[Gray Wolf]

Don't talk, Bill. We go on. Like you say. Nobody talk. Just ride until horses drop. And then walk and then crawl.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

You can always die when you can't do nothing else.

[Ralph]

Water.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

And the horses smell water.

[Ralph]

Oh, luxury.

[Ranger Bill]

I could stand here all day and pour this cool water over my head.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

And ruin your $10 shirt?

[Gray Wolf]

I not care, man. Worth my life.

[Ralph]

Fellas, look over by that flat rock.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

There's a man's.

[Ralph]

Poor Josh with water a hundred feet away. He lay down and died.

[Gray Wolf]

Here is note and some gold nuggets.

[Ranger Bill]

What's he say, Bill?

[Ralph]

Well, he says, bill Jefferson, I know you are following my heart. Gave out all the gold in the world. Wouldn't buy me water when I needed it. Not sorry dying this way. Bury me on Lonesome. That's as far as he got.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

Well, he went just the way he wanted to go. Out on the desert in the mountains, looking for gold.

[Ralph]

Ralph, Gray Wolf, get the burros and the gear. When you get back, we'll have a little service for Joshua Webb just before we bury him.

[Gray Wolf]

Do you think it was a gold fever made Josh break his promise?

[Ralph]

Nope.

[Stumpy Jenkins]

I don't. I've got a notion. Joshua knew his time was near. And all he wanted to do was go across the desert and up into Lonesome Mountain to meet the lor.

[Ranger Bill]

Well, I guess that's the story, boys and girls. The story of Joshua Webb, desert rat who just wouldn't stay where he was put. Well, we'll see you next week for more adventure with Ranger Bill Sam.