 The challenge of the Yukon. It's King, quickest and strongest lead dog of the North country, blazing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Model Police in his red lanceless pursuit of lawbreakers. Gold. Gold discovered in the Yukon. A stampede to the Klondike in the greedy race for riches. Now back to the days of the gold rush when Sergeant Preston and his Wonder Dog King battled through storm and snow to preserve law and order as they met the challenge of the Yukon. Sergeant Preston, tall, young and clear-eyed, was typical of the men who'd be found in the Northwest Model Police force of the Yukon country. He had taken advantage of a short holiday and was visiting a trapper friend of his, Dave Ferguson, who lived near Copper Creek. It was early spring and Dave and the Sergeant were doing some hunting along the Pally River. The ice had broken and huge cakes of it were floating down the stream. Beside the mountain was his big lead dog King, his constant companion, who seemed to enjoy the welcome sunshine as much as his master. Dave, too, was in a fine mood. Yeah, it's good to feel the sun in your face again. I'm sure glad to see the winter end. Spring's the best season up here in the North country, Dave. Always a great day when the ice breaks. Yeah, the current certainly carries those ice cakes along fast. Look at them. Yeah, won't be long before... Dave, what's that on that piece of ice coming down there? Looks like a puppy. Yeah, I don't see it. Floating this way, not far from shore. Right there, see it? Oh, yeah, an animal of some kind. That is dead, though. I'm gonna have a look to my field glasses. No, not that. It's moving. Either a pup or a wolf cub. Or a little mutt. Maybe we could save him. That cake of ice will be across from us in a minute. I'm going to tie this rope to King. Maybe he can get the pup off the ice. Here, King, tie this rope to his harness so he won't get carried downstream too far. Better hurry, here it comes. I can see the pup now. He's sprawled out flat. And if he moves, it'll slip off. There! Ropes tied. Now King can just see him. That ice cake is coming this way, luckily. Here it is. King, old fella. See out there, boy? Got him. Bring him in. He sees him. He knows what you want. Get him, King. Hope this rope's long enough. That's a swift turn for your dog. Don't worry, Dave. He's been worse than that. He may have to help me pull him in, though. He's almost reached the pup. Wow, that ice cake almost hit him. Get him, boy. There, he's reached it. The ice cake tipped over. Can you see the little one? King will get him. There. He's coming in. Help me with this rope, Dave. The turn is strong. Hope he cuts the pup. He has something in his mouth. Come on, King. Hold, Dave. He's almost in the shark. Little more will do it. There we are. Lucky, he's a powerful dog. Good boy, King. Bring him here, fella. The pup's probably dead. That's a boy. It's nothing, King. Pull him in the welp. Is he dead? Not very much alive. Why, not a dog, Dave. It's a wolf cub. A wolf? Well, of all the blasted luck. All that trouble for one of them pesky vomit. Throwing back in. Oh, a little fella. He struggled hard to keep alive. Here, you hold him while I untie the rope on King. I'll put him on your parka. He's freezing. Oh, you're too darn soft-hearted, Preston. I never... Those who can't let your dog go to all that trouble and let him see his tosser right back in again. Oh, still, King. Well, I guess we'll turn to that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, you've dried off your little rascal. That should make you feel better. Now, get in here inside my parka. Hey. What's wrong? His face is bleeding. He's got a long garish in him. Oh, King probably creased him with the tools when he grabbed him. He's a bad... He'll heal up all right. I feel like an old fool. Not only rescuing a wolf, but putting him inside my coat and getting blood on him. For me, a trapper. Well, come on, Dave. Let's go back to your cabin and let these animals get dried off. Here, King, here, boy. Dave held a small wolf cub in one big hand before the fire. His firm resolve to kill it began to weaken. Sergeant Preston smiled as he watched the big trapper stroking the squirming ball of fur. He likes that heat, Dave. Oh, uh, got any canned milk? You talk as if I'm going to keep him. Well, I guess I'd better give him some milk, as long as he's hungry. He's too little to eat anything solid. No, he barely got his eyes open. Well, lie down there, young fellow. I'll get some milk. It's going to be all right, Dave. Look at him crawling around. I swear, Preston, I never thought anybody would like animals the way you do. Well, you've got to admit, he's a cute little beggar. Never thought I'd be nursing a wolf. The other trappers here about this, they'll lynch me. Maybe you'll be able to tame him, Dave. They're a lot like dogs. I ain't going to keep him. Oh. Give you a little vomit, drink this. You know, Dave, uh, you shouldn't start feeding him with a spoon that's going to make you feel like he's money. Oh, you're crazy. Look at him drink it. He was starved. Come on, you take some more. What are you going to name him, Dave? I think you're funny, don't you? Ah, listen. You've got a maternal look in your eye right now. You know you're going to keep him. Keep a wolf? For me, a trapper? Too bad he'll carry the scar the Slash King gave him. He'll grow up with that mark on his nose. But that's it, Dave. That's a name for him. Call him Slash. Slash. That is a good name. Good. It's perfect. It fits him. I bet he grows up to be a good, strong animal. Living through what he did, getting ducked in the river and everything. Oh, there's no doubt about it. He has a rugged constitution. Here you, Slash. Take some more milk. You really think I could tame him? Well, lots of entertained wolves. They make good sled dogs. Being alone so much, it might be nice to have a pet. What a wolf. Oh, why not? Well, maybe I'll try it for a while. Just to see. Well, Dave Ferguson kept the wolf cub. Whenever Sergeant Preston was in the territory, he stopped to see Dave and watched with interest the affection that grew between the animal and the trapper. As the wolf matured, he and King ignored each other, but never fought. On one of his visits, the Mountie watched Slash closely as he and Dave talked in the cabin. Slash has gotten to be a big fella, hasn't he? He sure is. Timberwolves get pretty big. Dave, I think Slash has some dog in him. Do you ever notice when you talk to him, he half-wags his tail? Wolves do that, don't they? Oh, they don't. And it's fur. It has quite a lot of black in it. I did notice that. But there are black wolves, the octokine. Maybe he has some dog in him somewhere, about an eighth maybe. Hope there's enough to keep him liking to stay with me. Do you have any trouble with him when strangers come to see him? He likes you and King, but when anyone new comes around, he'll chain them up. He won't make friends with anyone else. He certainly is fond of you, Dave. His eyes never leave you. Yep. We're pretty close, Slash and me. He never lost that scar on his nose that King's tooth made. That's for sure a good name you picked for him. That was almost a year ago, wasn't it? Spring's just about here again. With the return of spring, the Yukon took on new signs of life. The ice broke in the rivers. The birds began to return. A couple things in the forest began to stir. Dave sat alone in his cabin one evening with Slash. A bright moon was shining over the clearing. Suddenly, Slash raised his head and a deep wine stirred in his throat. What's the matter, Slash? Want to go for a walk? It's almost bedtime. Come on, Phillip. I better put a leash on you. You might start chasing something and not come back. Here it is. Come here, boy. Here you are. Come on, let's go. It's a mighty pretty night. It's getting warmer. That's what you heard a while ago. Stop pulling at this leash. Go for a long time. Keep trying to pretend that you don't. Keep telling myself that you're happy here with me. But it ain't true. Hey, our fella, go on. Go back to him. You'll be happier. Goodbye, Slash. I miss you, boy. But I couldn't keep you here. Who is it? It's you, Tom. It's late for a neighborly call, but I got lonesome. It was such a nice night. I thought I'd walk over for a while. Glad you did. Come on in. You got Slash tied up. I don't want to get a piece taken out of me. Slash isn't here. Oh, where is he? Tom, I know you're a trapper. I never did approve of Slash. That's right. Slash isn't ought to be destroyed. They kill more game than we can trap in one season. I know, but Slash was different. Did you finally come to your senses and put a bullet through him? No, Tom. I didn't. Why did you do it to him? Have a chair, Tom. Might as well tear to him. You won't like it, but I'll let him go. Dave Ferguson! You mean to tell me you let a full-grown wolf loose in our trapping territory? Yep. I guess you've lost your mind. Why didn't you let me shoot him for you? You're pretty fond of your dogs, ain't you? Sure, but they're useful. They're good sled dogs. Well, I'd be able to haul our furs into Selkirk to trade them if we didn't have my dog team. I guess I can make you understand. Slash was like a friend. Even if he wasn't useful. Winter had again clamped its icy fingers on the Yukon territory. The long nights were lonely once for Dave, and his face lighted up with pleasure as he heard the sound of Sergeant Preston's dog team stopping at the cabin. Sergeant Preston, how are you? I sure can. Let me give you a hand with them dogs. Put them in your shed and feed them. I was just going to have some supper, and you're just in time. Good. It sure is nice. Come on supper, Dave. Now, tell me about Slash. Ever seen him since you let him go? Yep, a couple of times. You mean he came back here? The last time was a couple of months ago. In the morning I opened the door, and he was standing at the edge of the clear and looking at the cabin. I called to him, came up to me and touched my hand with his nose. When I tried to pet him, he snuck away from me. Then he was gone. Haven't seen him since. Well, that proves there must be some dog blood in him. He misses you even though he'd rather go wild. You don't miss me the way I miss him. He was more than a pet. He was like a friend. I wish you still had him, Dave. Why now? What do you mean? He'd be good protection. The reason I came over here this time is to investigate some robberies. Some fur thieves have been very active in this territory. Yeah, I've heard about them. You've had a fine cat this season, haven't you? I sure have. I have figured to make more out of my furs this year than I did pet and go last summer. Got some prime mink, a lot of nice fox and some lynx. You're so alone out here, it's dangerous. Well, my neighbor Tom Holt is a trapper. He has a good dog team and we're planning to haul our first to Selkirk in a week or so. We can get a better price for him there. Well, in the meantime, be careful, Dave. I stopped here to warn you. Have you any idea who's doing the robbing? I saw the trapper who was robbed last. Jake Reeves lives about 30 miles north of here. His dog team was stolen too. Two men knocked him out on the trail and stole everything. Fortunately, the prospective found him and read a frozen to death. Did you see the man? No, Dave. They got him from behind. But he gave me a good description of the furs he had and also his dog team. Now I'm making a tour of all the trading posts in this territory to see if I can trace them. Then you'll be around in this district for a while. Well, within a radius of 50 miles, if you call that close. I was just hoping I'd see you again soon. I'll be back eventually, but I have to get a line on these thieves. I'm heading west tomorrow. It was over a week later that Sergeant Preston drove his tired dog team into the small settlement called Cross's Landing. He had traveled over 30 miles that day and the dogs lay down in the snow as soon as they stopped in front of Jewel's Defree's trading post. As he started into the store, he suddenly noticed a certain dog team in front of it, among several other teams and stopped to look closer at it. Get back, King. Go on back, fella. This lead dog may not like you. Hello there, old boy. Wonder if your name's Duke. Hello, Duke. Hello. Hello, Duke. Looks as if I guessed it. It's seen out of black with yellow mask, part Newfoundland, two white Siberians and two Malamutes. Let's all have a look at this sled. This is it, all right. I'm lucky. Here, King. Come here. We're going in here, fella. I think we've caught them in where we're after. Hello, Sergeant. Hello, Shoes. How are you, boys? Can I have one minute? One of your men owns that dog team out in front. The one with the black lead dog. My dog team's out there, Sergeant. So is mine. What's one do you mean? Look through the window here. That one was a big black dog and the two white Siberians over there is the West. That ain't mine, Sergeant. Mine is the one with the Malamute lead. Oh, it ain't mine either. Any of your other men own it? We ain't got it, dog team. Well, somebody must own it. Hey, where those two men go to run here when I came? Two trepels. See, that is their fur catch on the floor. They go outside door just a few minutes ago. Are they coming back? We. Me, I am busy with Jake. I think maybe they go over to bar for drink till I get not busy. Did they see me drive my team up in front? I wasn't watching them, Sergeant. One of them was standing near the window, I think. Oh, they will come back. They'll leave all their fur. I'll, uh, go over to the bar and see if they're there. Darkness had fallen and snow was coming down in huge soft flakes as two men made their way through the woods. One man was tall and heavy set and grumbled as his foot occasionally broke through the crust of snow. His lighter companion called to him impatiently. Hurry, Steve. You got to go faster. They were safe enough now. Put your squawking. That's Mountie Mike Trayless. Yeah, he can't Trayless in the dark when he didn't know which way we went. By the time he went over and questioned everyone in the dark, that's the same. I'm scared. We're more than five miles from town and the snow will cover our tracks by morning. I'm going to sit down and rest a while. It isn't long. Don't stop now, Steve. Sit down. We're safe, I tell you. Have all the rotten luck having that Mountie come. That's a good thing I happen to be looking out the window when he went over and looked at our team. We should have killed the old codger that owned it. Maybe we're crazy. That Mountie probably wasn't even looking for us. Maybe he was just interested in the dog. We couldn't take a chance. Anyway, we traded most of the furs with other posts. We didn't lose too much. We got to get another dog team in supply. Oh, Steve. You hear that? It's a wolf. What all but we got our guns. I don't like being out in the woods like this. Come on, let's keep going. We'll get to the Pelley River if we keep straight ahead about five miles. Come on now. All right. But I think we ought to stop and maybe build a fire. Let's keep going. Then wolf howl to behind us. Those critters get kind of hungry this time of year. Tired. We walked miles. Yeah, but we made the Pelley River. It ain't far from here to sell, Kurt. It's easier traveling on this ice. Listen to those devils. They sound closer. Maybe we'd better stop and make a fire. Yeah, I'll scout around and see if I can find some wood. Ferguson and Tom Holt were on their way to sell, Kurt. But they're a big load of fur. A thin new moon cast a faint glow on the river trail. The sleigh bells jingle merrily as the sled roams smoothly over the ice. Try to stop snowing, Dave. This trail is pretty smooth. I don't like traveling after dark like this. Hopefully we sell Kurt too. It's the one thing I don't like about this country. It's early winter darkness. It sure makes up for it in summer, though, with the sun shining all day. I'm glad you got those bells in your dog team. Thanks, Dave. Those bells in your dog team make things a little more cheerful somehow. Got them at the trading post last month. Some people don't like them, but I do. They let everybody know you're coming. Yes, sir, I sure like these bells of mine. Around the bend in the river, Steve suddenly grabs Slim's arm and pulled him to the side of the trail. Slim. That sounds like a dog team, listen. Yeah, it is a dog team. They're coming around the bend behind us. You think it's a molly? Yeah, that direction. Come on, get over here to the side of the river. What are you going to do? We need a dog team of supplies, don't we? Well, we're getting them. I'll get your gun ready. It's lucky we got a little moonlight. It's just enough. There's two of them, Steve. I'll get the one on the other side. Come on, Slim. Stick them up, you. You saw what you're finding, I got. You dirty little dog. Steve. Fine. Let's see if the man you shot has a gun on him or any money. I'll search this one. If he's packing a gun, take it. This one has a gun. I got it. Is he dead? Come on. We'll take the dog team and get out of here. You just want to leave him here like this? Yeah. This one is unconscious, too. With no guns, and that one bleeding all over the place, it's just enough. Yeah. You hear that? Yeah, it's creepy. Let's get out of here. Hurry up, Slim. Get that sled going. Slim and Steve had left when Dave regained consciousness. A sharp pain stabbed through his head as he raised up, but he dragged himself painfully to Tom Holt's side. Tom. Tom, are you still alive? Dave. They shot you. My shoulder. Dave, did you hear that? Those are wolves. Yes, I heard them, and those scunks took our guns. I got nothing but a knife. I'm bleeding from this wound. Those wolves get the scent of it. Dave, what do we do? I'll cut some branches with this knife and start a fire. They'll keep them off for a while. You lie still. I'll build a fire beside you. Dave stumbled through the trees that lined the river bank, breaking off dead branches. The howl of a wolf close by sent him running back to Tom. With shaking hands, he lighted the handful of twigs. As the tiny flame leaped up, he fed it with larger branches from the pitifully small supply beside him. It was then he saw a pair of fiery eyes shining from a nearby thicket. Desperately, he piled more branches on the fire. Dave, do you see it? What was that in the bushes? It's a wolf. Don't worry, Tom. Look, Dave, on this other side, it's another one. I only have more wood. You can't leave to get any more. Those branches won't last more than a few minutes. I've got my knife. I'll do what I can. This fire will be dying down. Over there. He's a third one, Dave. A big gray one. Look, he's coming over this way. I've got my knife ready. When he jumps, Tom... Slash, here, boy. Don't you know me? Are you sure? Look, he's coming to you. Slash, old fella. You know me, Slash. Look out, Dave. That other wolf is moving in. Slash jumped him. He's fighting for me, Tom. They're tearing him to pieces. There's another one coming through the trees. No! That's a dog! He's helping Slash. That dog, it looks like... Someone's coming. Can you hear those shots? Help! That's Sergeant Preston. That dog is King. King Slash saved us, Tom. That's King coming from the shadows with Slash. Where's Slash? Three wolves are lying there in the snow. One of them is Slash. I'm going to see you. Hello! Are you all right? Preston, we're so glad to see you. Oh, yes, yes. I saw your fire and heard those wolves. My son King ahead. He got here in time to help, just in time. He saved Slash. He fought those wolves and King helped him. Here he is. He's still breathing. He's badly torn. He's bleeding. There, there, old boy. You're glad you got here, Sergeant. Put him down here, Dave. Is Tom hurt bad, Sergeant? I got a bullet in my shoulder. I bled some, but it isn't too bad. I got you on my sled right away, Tom. There's a trapper's cabin about a mile from here, and I can take you there. You didn't get hurt much, did you? He got here just in time to take care of one of those wolves. Slash was fighting both of them. How is Slash, Dave? He's alive. Good. Preston, can we take Slash to the cabin, too? Along with Tom on the sled? I'll say we're going to take him. And to think I wanted to put a bullet in him once. Of course we'll take him, Dave. Now tell me what happened to you while we got started. Many hours before the late morning sun had risen, Sergeant Preston was again on the trail of the Perthese. The snow had stopped, and the trail was clearly written on the smooth ice of the river. The Mountie pressed his team hard. A day, a night, another day passed. Darkness had fallen when Sergeant Preston saw a campfire ahead. They're coming with me. Stay beside me, fella. Approaching the campfire from downwind in order not to alarm the men's dog team, the Mountie walked quietly toward it, screened by the spruce trees. Steve and Slim were preparing their sleeping rolls when suddenly Sergeant Preston's voice rang out in the stillness. Stay right where you are and keep your hands off your guns. Who are you? I'm Mountie. How do you examine those furs on your sled? Ah, furs. We're trappers. I've been on your trail for some time. You didn't stop to trade those furs in Selkirk. You went around the town. I followed you. It wasn't our trail. You followed? You won't mind if I have a look at those furs? No, you're true, Mountie. They'll take you all the way and shoot this furs. Stand right where you are. Slim, you're covered. Give me your gun. Now you're going to shoot. Thanks. Take this dog away. That's where I get the gun you pulled on me. All right, King. Let him up, boy. I told you not to reach for your gun. My dog's trained to watch for that. Get up. I arrest you both in the name of the Queen. A few weeks had passed and a full moon brightened the clearing around Dave Ferguson's cabin. Dave smiled as he opened the door and saw the tall form of Sergeant Preston with King beside him. Preston, I've been wondering about you. Tell me in. I came as soon as I could, Dave. I knew you'd want to hear what happened. But first, I was, ah, well, I don't have to ask. There he is in front of the fire. How are you, Slash, old fella? He's fit as a fiddle. Take your park off, Sergeant. Sit down. Thanks. Hello there, King. Oh, he and Slash won't fight. Right on here, King. Sit down and I'll make some hot tea. Tell me, you get them yellow rats that rob this? Yes, I got them, Dave. They're both in jail now, and I caught most of your furs back, too. Good for you, Preston. Tom better? Yep. He stayed with me until two days ago, and he's all well again. Good. Where did you catch those thieves? Well, I got a good start that night when I had to take you and Tom to Bill's cabin. But we got on their trail again a few days later. I got them on the other side of Selklik, going south. Yeah, it sure was lucky that you trailed them through the woods that night from across the landing. King picked up their tracks from the side door of the trading post. I've never been able to follow them without him. And King's the one who saved a wolf club from a piece of ice flowing down the river. If he hadn't done that... Hear that, Preston? It sure sends chills up my spine. King doesn't like it, either. But it doesn't seem to bother Slash. He didn't even raise his head. He don't seem to want to leave me anymore. I guess he's made up his mind to stay. I'm glad, Dave. Well, King, looks as if this case is closed. The challenge of the Yukon, the copyrighted feature, is brought to you each week at the same time. And all characters, names and incidents used are fictitious. Listen again next week to another exciting adventure during the days of the Gold Rush. Don Hendrick speaking, this program came to you from Detroit. How many times have you looked out the meaning of a word only to forget its definition? Perhaps one word that baffles you is paradox. Webster tells us that paradox applies to any statement that seems self-contradictory, but oftentimes is really true. No, this isn't a lesson on word meanings. It's an around-about method of pointing out something about our famous forum, America's Town Meeting of the Air. Newspaper headlines, magazine articles, even commentators often bring you conflicting opinions so that the news picture is just one big paradox. Well, to get to the point, America's Town Meeting is the program designed to straighten your thinking. Here's a show that airs controversial issues by introducing well-known authorities who discuss these issues from every angle. For a good sound opinion on today's news puzzle, listen tonight when America...