 The challenge of the Yukon. On King, on your knees! The Wonder Dog King, swiftest and strongest of Estimo lead dogs, blazes the trail through storm and snow for Sergeant Preston as he meets the challenge of the Yukon. Sergeant Preston was typical of the small band of Northwest mounted police who preserved law and order in a new Northwest country where the greed for wealth and power led to frequent violence and bloodshed. But in spite of the odds against them, Sergeant Preston and his Wonder Dog King met that challenge and justice ruled triumphant. Jack Gray's face looked white and drawn as he walked into the small wooden jail in the town of Selbert. As he heard the cell door close behind him, Kulick, a big dark man sitting on a cot, looked up at him. I'm slated to go with you, Kulick. Back to Canada tonight. It's been fun. Kulick is sort of a jimber. He's both hanged by a nest of the day. What you say you do not kill is dim-steel. I still say it. The evidence was all against me. With me you can tell the truth. I killed a man that slit his throat with my knife. I am not sorry. But I didn't do it. I'm not hanging out with you. Yeah, me? I do not want to have my next cut either. Wait. What? The killer. Come. Look at this woman. Come over here. What is it? You see these boys sound sleeper. One more boy I have to find. Tonight we, our neck will not stretch. Two weeks later, Jack and Kulick were camped in the mountain well off the trail. Both men were haggard and worn. Kulick was getting ugly. He's unsure of food. But outcome is bad. We'd better give ourselves up, Kulick. They might give us another try. Yeah, you crazy. We should have robbed trading ports like I want to. And we'd have food and guns. There must be some other way. No, Kulick. Down there in the valley. Doesn't that matter if the dog came? He's got to be mad. Maybe he's going to make camp. It's getting dark. Yeah, I better give us some food. Let us just go. We can say we got lost. I will go down alone. You weren't coming back. You were gone so long. We got supplies. How'd you get all those supplies? Did the man give you everything he had? The dog team is at the port in the mountain. Tomorrow we leave here. The dog team? You murdered that man and robbed him. It is better you do not ask questions. Why didn't you come back here? Why didn't you just take the team and leave? Two are better than one. One can sleep. But they can watch. Oh, but not murder. They kill a man in cold blood. You would rather hang, huh? Yes, really. I think I'd rather hang. Now you fool. You're young. But you will soon change. Remember, I now have gone. And also my knife. You have seen how well I draw it. You will do as I say. Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police stopped his dog team and entered a small cabin beside the trail in the valley. Chloe and Sergeant, just fix some tea for myself. Do you like some? No. Thank you, I would. Me? I am here to do. When I hear your dog team, I think it is my partner. He's gone for supply. I expect him yesterday. Which way to go? He went north to Moosheed. I came up from the south. But I'm starting north, by the way. You do not stay here? I just stopped in to get some information as possible. I want a trail of two men who escaped from Dale and Selkirk. They've been seen in this vicinity. One is part French and part Russian. And the other is a young Canadian. I have seen no one since Philippe, my partner, had left. No one used this trail very much. Well, they may not have come this way at all. Sergeant, I am worried some about Philippe. He never stayed away so long before. Maybe something happened to him. Well, he probably stayed in town to celebrate or something. No, no, not really. He'd drink only little wine. Well, come along with me if you like. I will go with you. It was new in the following day when Sergeant Preston and Jean neared the mountain. King, running ahead of the team, suddenly ran off the trail and stopped. Your dog. He is sleeping here. What's wrong, King? What is it? What, Jean? Why are you lying now under that shoulder? Well, wait. It looked like... Is this your partner? Wait. Is this Billy? He's been dead for quite a while. Poor Billy. But, Sergeant, he does not priest in it. See, there is blood on snow. Yes, it was stamped with a knife. The other dog came to me. Wait, there are the tracks. It was murdered and robbed. I'm sorry. A killer could have done this. You can't just hang the knife in a man. I can follow this trail. But it's dangerous for you. If this man is a killer, may you need me? I think King and I can handle him. Four things to find him. One, King. Bye, Jean. Good luck, Sergeant. One, King! Jack and Killick had traveled slowly for two days. Both men were tired from their long trip. Some had carried their own packs and lived on very little food. Now that they had a dog team, the going was easier. But they still needed rest. Jack staggered as they climbed a steep mountain trail. Stop the dog, Killick. I've got a rest. Squish, stop behind the rocks ahead. You don't want to get hurt. I'm sorry, Sergeant. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. And the one can see us. Come on. We have to camp soon. There's no place to camp on modern trail. There you are, Lutz. He's much more alive, right? Oh, my God! A steep climb. It looked, um... to fall off, it would be... Who's that? Where? The dog team and the man. He's following our trail. Oh, yeah. I see him. Maybe he isn't following us, Killick. We cannot guess what he does. Killick, you can't hurt him like this. Get back. You will get it first. Get back, I say. Don't shoot, Killick. You do as I say. You can stay alive. I will stop him in his tracks. What is wrong with this gun? Probably dead. He is right below us. Let's get going, Killick. Don't push that rock down on him, Killick. Don't be buried in it. That rock started a small avalanche. I got you, man. A rock or something hit him. He almost got out from under. His dog team didn't get hurt. And the sled's all right. Come, we get down there. Let's get him out, Killick. That's a horrible death. We get down. Only to get these sled and hogs. That was well ahead of Killick and he's the half bearer figure lying beside the cliff. A big dog was digging frantically to free his master. I'll help you, fella. Now I can pull him out. What are you doing? He's going to lie. He's breathing. Yeah. Look at these cats. Let's strangle these parents. He's a money. Come on, you fool. He's after us. No, I don't care if he is a money. I'm not going to leave him here to die. Then I slit his throat. Maybe you'll change your mind. Get away. Stop him. My hand. My hand. Don't touch your knife. Get this dog away. Let me move. You're nothing but a dirty murderer, Killick. You're going to stay right where you are until I take care of the man. Watch him, fella. Let him go. Sergeant Preston lay unconscious on his sled. King, his big dog, closed beside him. The dog's eyes never left the outlaw, Killick, who sat near the fire nursing his right hand, which King's strong jaws had almost crushed. Jack held Sergeant Preston's revolver. It's no use, Killick. I'm not going away with you. You know I cannot go without you. I'm not going away with you. You know I cannot go without you. I am helpless. With only one hand, I cannot handle dogs. Here's some food. You need it alone? Yes. Who will be sorry you are said to rule when you stretch at the end of a road? I'm not a criminal, Killick. Going with you and robbing. Look, I can't do it. This money lives. I'm going back with it. If you would only let me kill him, by now we could be free. Shoot that dog. No one would ever catch you. It's no use, Killick. You're wasting your breath. Pale morning sunshine, dazzled Sergeant Preston's eyes. He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his body. And then he felt the warm tongue of King on his face. Hello, King, old fella. Are you all right? Well, I'm conscious of that's what you mean. My gun's gone. I doubt that I'm all right in every sense of the word. That dog stopped you from talking. It doesn't seem to like you. You're Killick, aren't you? Yes. What is your name, Marty? I'm Sergeant Preston. You were trailing us, huh? It's obvious, I think. As you can see, we have saved your life. You were caught in an avalanche. Without that, you would make a deal with us, huh? To raise me up a little, I could talk. Yeah, we'll help you. Certainly, Sergeant. Quiet. Quiet. The thing doesn't like you, Killick. We've got to let Jack do it alone. Yeah, put this blanket on you. Oh! What's this deal you have in mind? You'll get the side now, Marty. If you will go back and say you found this dead for freezing, you'll see that you'll get back. Hmm. And if I don't? Then you can have a choice. You stay here and freeze by yourself, or maybe a quicker death. We have you gone. What do you say, Jack? What's your decision, Sergeant? I'm afraid you're going to have to shoot me. You won't do it, Jack. You'd rather lose your life than... I think you'll understand, Jack. Kill the door first, Jack. Shoot him now! Go ahead, Jack. I'm ready. What's up? No, I can't. Give me my gun. I'll go back with you, even if I have to hang. What? You've been free all the time. Free? You were to hang for the murder of Jim Steele. The night you escaped, a man was shot in a bar room fight. Before he died, he confessed to Jim's murder. Free? But you almost let me kill you. I knew you wouldn't, Jack. King's action showed me who really wanted to kill me. Stand right where you are, Culek. You won't get far with that dog watching you. You're the one I'm taking back to Selkirk. Copyrighted dramas originate in the studios of WXY's The Detroit and all pieces and incidents used are fictitious. They are sent to you each week at this same time. This is Larry McCann speaking. This is the Michigan Radio Network.