THE SMALL RANGERS Episode 1 — The Fishing Line

Ellis the squirrel kept the ranger log at the east dock. Every Tuesday he checked the same three entries before WATCHFUL left the second cleat.

East reeds. North marker. Dock box.

This Tuesday all three were still waiting in the notebook when Ellis arrived.

Walt the beaver was already kneeling beside the stern rope. He untied the cleat hitch, pulled once on the line to make sure it ran free, then stepped into WATCHFUL without rocking the boat.

Ellis climbed in after him and opened the field notebook across his knees while Walt pulled the starter cord.

WATCHFUL’s motor started on the second pull.

Flat water. Light haze.

The far reeds showed pale through the mist.

Visibility good.

Walt guided them slowly away from the dock.

The east channel came first every Tuesday. The reeds along the shoreline bent softly near the waterline where the lake moved against them.

Before Ellis said anything, Walt cut the motor.

WATCHFUL drifted.

Ellis was already looking toward the reeds.

Something thin caught the light for half a second, then disappeared again.

Fishing line.

Three reed stems were tangled together near the surface. Part of the line vanished underwater.

“There may be a hook below,” Ellis said quietly.

Walt took up the push-pole and eased WATCHFUL closer without letting the hull scrape the reeds.

The line tightened slightly in the water.

Ellis stopped moving.

The reeds swayed once beside the boat.

Then everything became still again.

Ellis opened the left storage box and pulled on the work gloves with the ranger patch stitched at the cuff. One reed stem had a narrow cut pressed into it where the line had pulled too tightly.

Ellis worked slowly.

He unwound the line instead of pulling it.

One stem.

Then another.

The third stem bent sharply as he loosened the final loop. For a moment the underwater section pulled tight again.

Ellis waited.

Walt held WATCHFUL steady with the push-pole.

A small swirl moved beside the reeds.

Then the line slipped loose all at once.

The reed sprang back upright.

Ellis lifted the final length carefully from the water.

About six feet total.

A small sinker hung at the end.

No hook.

Ellis coiled the line neatly into a circle before placing it in the collection tin beneath the forward seat.

Walt pushed them gently back into open water.

WATCHFUL’s motor started again.

The north marker stood straight when they reached it.

Sound.

By midmorning they were back at the east dock. Walt refueled WATCHFUL from the red fuel can in the stern locker while Ellis used the dock box lid as a desk for the ranger note.

Dear Visitors,

A length of fishing line was removed from the east reeds this morning.

Please carry used line out with your tackle.

A collection tin is available at the dock box.

— The Small Rangers Pine Lake Ranger District

Walt secured the fuel can and checked the stern rope one final time.

WATCHFUL rested against the second cleat while the motor ticked softly as it cooled.

The reeds along the east channel moved evenly again in the light wind.