 The challenge of the Yukon The wonder dog King's swiftest and strongest of Eskimo lead dog 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 the 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 just ruled triumphant Sergeant Preston had returned from a long patrol that had taken him far north He stretched his legs Luxuriously toward the glowing logs and Pat Kearney fireplace and pat of the head of his big Husty lead dog King beside it Well, that was a fine dinner fan There's no idea how good it is to get back to civilization again Sure night hardly call this civilization One room cabin in the woods. Well civilized compared to what I've been doing for the last few months Nothing but snowfields Eskimo Blizzard it seems such a waste of your time To all them miles and come back empty-handed without the men you went after well as long as we know they aren't alive To rob and murder anyone again Well, tell me about a sergeant the last time I saw you you and that young Maudie What was his name? Okay, Corporal Kenny. You're on your way north after two minutes We were after Joe Garth and Steve Billy the men who were wanted from murder both here in the Yukon In Alaska. They were bad ones too. I Prayed you come back alive, but I didn't hold out too much. It took us a long time to find them back But the time we did was too late. Then you mean you didn't see them at all. No, but we heard about them We knew they'd robbed the general store at Grant's post headed north. They were getting up into mighty desolate country Yes, it was desolate, but they were afraid to go anywhere else. You see both the American police and Northwest Mountain They're looking for them There's a tribe of Eskimos living at the base of a mountain at the Yukon River Old umelike was the head of the tribe He told me the story afterwards only knew some English I knew a bit of Eskimos who I finally piece the story together It seems that Joe and Steve after robbing the store mushed on up north They had a big dog team and lots of supplies on the trail Look She looks scared of her. Hey there you don't run away. We won't urge you We just ain't used to wait man They get one of them red bandana hanky was off this late Hey, come here. What's your name? Hey look, that's for you There's a see curious That's a girl Yeah, thank you You can't speak English if you look what's hanging around them. Yeah, they're nuggets. Don't go away girl You speak white man talk. Don't talk so loud. Just carry me. Hey, hey, don't run away. Come back here That's no use. He's running Were you supposed to get those nuggets? But it was biggest my thumbnail everyone. Let's catch and take them away from that. Don't be a fool Joe There must be more what it was We're going to find out where that is You must be an Eskimo village. Yeah, I probably don't even know the goal is vagabond She was wearing that string of nuggets like a message last week We won't let these Eskimos know it's done believe me We can find out where to get nuggets like that We'll make a fortune and there she goes I'll pull that small here Come on. We're following her Finally called the Eskimo village They were too far south to live in igloo, but their hearts were just rude shelters made of skin As Joe and Steve stopped their dog game Most of the villagers came out to stare at them the two men approached them slowly Look at him staring probably half of them never saw a white man before He got that stuff in sweat the present. Yeah You think this is safe sure And there's a leader the old one Hello We friends Hold your arm up like the way I'm doing Joe. Yeah, sure You all have grown as it's around it. It's unfortunate quiet. It comes to me From a cooler Making a funny sign with a hand that sign language. I thought he means welcome we Friends of Eskimo You let us stay here No speak good you lose You go far, you think we're lost. Yeah, yeah. We lost. Maybe it's Kavya. I'll make signs. The only language he seems to know besides his own. You look like a windmill. Me, sir. No more touring. No more. You know what I mean. No more. Look, he wants us to follow him. I'll get the team. Look as if he's putting out the welcome sign. I'll be with you in a minute. The Ostomores, as you know, are very happy, carefree people. This tribe welcomed Steve and Joe into their village and treated them well. The white men's sled was piled high with supplies, supplies that they'd stolen from the trading post. Steve and Joe were careful at first and pretended no interest in the nuggets that the Ostomores were strung around their neck. They traded with them, getting skin, food, and seal oil for their land. And then Steve decided to sound them out about the nuggets. It was one day when Creela... Don't say that. Don't say that. Yeah, we ain't got time to talk to her. I thought we were going to follow that hunting parade. Yeah, I'm ready to go yet. Maybe we can get some information about this girl. She knows a few words in English. Yeah, give her some of that rock candy. They like that. Hello, Creela. No. You want some of this candy? Oh. I'll tell you why. I'll give you the whole bag of it for them bees. She doesn't understand it. These, Creela, you give these, we give candy. Oh. Got a chance. Creela, where do you get bees? These things. You find them? No, I... No, I... That tells us a lot. We'll never find out. There's probably some kind of superstition about them. They're good luck or something. We want any of them. We're going to have to take them right off their neck. Yeah. Right after that, the things began to happen to Umlich's little tribe. An Eskimo woman was found murdered. Her husband blamed another Eskimo and killed him. There were fights over the knives and hatchets that the white men had traded for peace and happiness left to the licks. Why is old Umlich suspected because of the trouble? They didn't know why the white men were staying there. Until one day they came to him. We bring things to trade you, Umlich. Then go hunt. No, God forbid. No, God forbid. We'll give you these knives and these cans of food if you tell us something. Or tell you. Just tell us where you get those bees. These things on a string around your neck. Where do you find them? Yes, young Umlich. Where do you find them? Just tell us where you find them. I know Umlich knew he was looking for correct. These men had murdered the wife of Umlich. A good-look charm had been taken. These were the men who had waylaid and robbed his people and taken the yellow stones that were like pieces of sunlight. And then we knew what to do. He'd beckoned to them to follow. You come, Steve. He's going to show us where to find them. Maybe we should ask him in the beginning. I wonder we couldn't find it. It's just lake. It's getting way back in the mountains. It's awful foggy. There's this thick out there in the middle of the lake. Hey, that ice is clear. Looks as if the snow melted on it. You go cross lake. Find yellow stones there in river that comes down from mountain to lake. You going with us, Umlich? Me? Go back. Don't need him now, Steve. Come on. Let's walk across now. Steve and Joe started across the ice and Umlich stood on the bank in white. Soon the figures of the men were lost in the mist. But Umlich stood in white. Then he heard the sound he was waiting for. Hey, you! Go help! It's too late! Help! I'm gone. Happiness come back, my people. The wise old leader got rid of the menace to be tread. He knew the lake was fed by a warm spring in the winter of the ice was thin. It was almost spring when Corporal Kenny and I finally got up in that territory. We found the Eskimos tribes just the way Steve and Joe had found them by meeting the daughter of Umlich. Except that our meeting was more dramatic. We were mushing along the bank of the river which was still frozen, but that's it. On King, on your huskies! Perfect desert up here. We haven't seen a living soul for days. Look out on the ice, Corporal. We spoke a minute too soon. There's an Eskimo girl out there on the river. We're all right. I shouldn't be out there though, so I have to go through. Keep fucking through. Okay. Hurry, your huskies. Bring that rope, Corporal. Come on, King. Hurry, fella. Are we there in a minute? Get her, King. After her, boy. Hang on to the dog. He'll hold you up till we bring her up. Here's the rope. Be careful on the ice. King's holding her up. Take hold of the rope. Help me, Bill. She's got it. I'll help you pull her in. Oh, good boy, King. We took Keeler back to her father. I must say we weren't only too welcome until he found out that we'd saved his daughter's life. I explained who we were as we were looking for two white men. He told me the story, then, simply and frankly. As he finished, he pointed to the big nuggets hung around his daughter's neck. They were worth hundreds of dollars. White men want sunshine stones. That's why they kill and rob. But only. You ought to know that's gold. With so much gold, you can have everything the white man has. If you take all that gold to the town of the white man, he could give you much for it. No. No one what white man has. My people happy. Them have fish, plenty game. Sunshine stones bring luck. You may not tell where to find. But all that gold fights a fortune. I wonder. I think it will make you right, Corporal, as people are happy and contented as peace back there in the hills. There isn't much more that gold can buy. I think we'll start back home. And so we left them. They'll make a done what justice would have done fast as far as Joe and Steve would have done. And you need to say, Sergeant, you walked off of us all them nugget sittin' there just to be draped around the neck of a lot of Eskimos? Yes, Pat, I did. After all, the Zoom weeks were in. And wouldn't he tell you where he got them? No, I didn't ask him. But he wouldn't have told me anyway. Sergeant, just where did you say this place was? I didn't say Pat. As a matter of fact, we've forgotten. Haven't we, King? All the copyrighted dramas originate in the studios of WXYZ Detroit. And all characters, names, places, and incidents used are fictitious. They are sent to you each week at this same time. Larry McCann speaking. This is the Michigan Radio Network.