 The challenge of the Yukon It's King's swiftest and strongest lead dog of the North country Blazing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest mounted police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers 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 Battle through storm and snow to preserve blonde order as they met the challenge of the Yukon Ned Greer and Jack Ratner let their dog team near the creek in the darkness and Walk cautiously toward the small cabin in the woods that was lighted by a dimly burning lantern Though there were no windows in the tiny house a dim streak of light shown under the crack of the door and The two men stopped under a pine tree a short distance away Looks as if old man Stevens is still up. It's late Maybe he went to sleep without blowing out the lantern. I think we'd better wait a while and not too long It's cold. What if he is awake? He's no match for the two of us We may have a gun an old man living alone like this He's got the gold you say he has he'd have some protection. He probably can't shoot it too good Anyway, he feels perfectly safe out here all these old sourdough's think that if they're out in the woods far enough nobody will bother I bet he doesn't even lock his door. Maybe you won't have enough gold for us to bother. Oh, yes. He has Look that claim is ain't any bonanza, but it pays off. He's been working it a long time It'll be enough to give us a start Maybe we can buy a good claim Instead of spending half of our lives trying to find nobody'd ever find the old codger out here that sure And I talked to him the other day He said that I was the first man he'd seen since he went to the trading post four months ago Come on, then let's not wait any longer We'll go right in quietly without knocking That's just Joe. We came to pay a little visit And you're up to no good to use of knocked at the door You better get out of here now grand pa. Is that the way to treat visitors? I wonder now get out. He's got a gun. Look out, Ned Not him out hurt much Ned. He got me in the arm Well, let's see your arm here take your parkour off. I'll help you Hey, I'll roll up your sleeve the old man won't matter to his gun away from him You were lucky a little more to the right and he'd have got me through the hot early didn't it's ain't bad The bullet went through the fleshy part of your arm But it's bleeding hard the bullet must have hit an artery or a vein. There's a piece of cloth hanging on that nail I'll bind it up with it. If you can just stop this bleeding. Yeah Yes, let's do it. Oh What are we going to do with the old man? I'll tie him up and we look for his gold. Couldn't we stay here tonight? I feel kind of weak you'll be able to travel. All right Can't take a chance on staying here Trapper someone might come by Take the gold and try to get as far as Turtle Lake But that's about five miles from hell the farther the better right on the sled part of the time Those three mangy dogs we have can hardly pull the sled now My ride will have to drop some of the supplies so you can pick up some more at the new trading post on Turtle Lake Their arms fixed I'll look for the gold if you tie the old man up Are we going to cut him loose before we leave here? Let him run for help somewhere. Do you think I'm crazy? But he'll freeze to death this cabin will be cold as the outdoors in 24 hours. You'll have to take that chance Maybe someone will cut him loose before that, but it certainly isn't gonna be me I'd better get him tied to a chair before he comes to Then we'll find the golden head for Turtle Lake It was early morning, but darkness still enveloped the land when Jake and Ned neared Turtle Lake The dogs were tired and crept along slowly while Ned staggered beside the sled We've got to stop My arm is starting to bleed again. There's a trading post just a little bit far We've got to keep going. Is it safe to stop there? Sure Aren't any cabins near it There it is straight ahead Must you lazy? We only had a decent dog team they'll be all right after some rest the man who owns a trading post He might be curious about my arm ever of mine. That's all right. Let me handle it. I got a good story clipped up Oh Not up yet You'll have to wake up my arm is bleeding bad It's dripping right down my sleeve Whoever owns this trading post must be asleep in the back Open up. I never knew this post was here. It hasn't been here long We'll be safe here until we get some rest anyway Who is it sorry to wake you up, but we had trouble my partner's been shot. Well, come in come in Sorry, I kept you waiting. I was down to sleep Just wait a minute now turn that lantern up so we can see better. Sorry to disturb you like this. Oh, that's all right What happened to you someone tried to rob it He's hiding on the trail Guess you didn't know there were two of us Shot my partner here, but when I shot back at him he ran I don't know whether I nicked him or not I was riding on the sled and he couldn't see me in the dark. Well, you were lucky. We've had lots of robberies on the trail Sit down here, mister. I'll see what I can do for you. Thanks. I Need rest more than anything I'm weak didn't stop the camp after Ned got shot Thought I better get him to shelter someplace quick Well, you can both go to bed right there in my back room sleep as long as you please. I don't expect many customers today I did a lot of business the first part of this week. So I guess most of my ears and trappers around here have their supplies Yeah, roll your sleeve up. I'll have a look at that arm He just tied a piece of rag around it to keep it from bleeding too much. Hey Is that an iron safe you got back there? Yeah, I brought it with me It's too far to Dawson to get the money there often enough. Well, maybe you'd keep ours there for the night We're taking our gold to Dawson to the bank. Well, sure. I'll be glad to I Do it for a lot of the miners around here Keep it for weeks at a time. I'll bring it in then without on the sled I go and feed the dogs and put them in the woodshed. Good idea. In the meantime, I'll fix your friend's arm And you can have a good sleep. Oh, let's see. I Better get some hot water and walk it first Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mottet police was headed for the Dawson trail His big dog King ran free ahead of the team as they crossed Turtle Lake early that morning Fighting beside the Monty was Jacques Fontaine a French trapper. He was lucky for me. You come to my cabin last night Them for the heavy for carry all the way on my back Your dog team. She's big help that I could give you a lift shark That supper you cooked for me last night was well worth all the help I can give you It is good. We have no trading force here on Turtle Lake No, I do not have to go all the way to Dawson. I stopped there a week ago Oh, Bill Daniels running it. Good friend of mine. I knew him in Dawson. Bill. He's fine man We have easy trip today. I'm glad that's no it's not yesterday. Just about three inches fell The looks of the sky. We're gonna get some more of it today, though It looked like smooth Come on No, mr. Covered it king king I'll get your boy this way fella Come on boy There you are I better get some that water off him with a blanket. Come on king Yes, thinly of ice froze over it and snow covered the ice. I rub him off of this blanket. Come here boy Maybe you should wrap him in blanket. No, I know Jacques. It'll be better for your runs It'll keep the water from freezing on him. We're quite close to Bill's trading post. I'll let him dry off there All right, King up front boy A certain Preston and Jacques near the trading post they crossed the trail of the dog sled that led down from the woods Ned's staggering tracks were outlined clearly in the fresh snow and red steam stood out clearly in the whiteness where his arm had Bled shock. Look at those tracks. That looks like blood Someone is hurt That is blood sure not those tracks lead right to Bill's trading post. Maybe he stopped there for help There is other man with him. We'll find out soon enough here. We are Okay Come along king, I want you to dry off in here Hello, Bill He fell through a hole in the ice Somebody cut a big fishing hole and the thin ice was covered with snow. We're poor fella Come over here near the stove and dry off Yeah Would you two like some breakfast? Why no, thanks bill. I stayed with Jacques last night. We had breakfast before we left this morning I'll give you some tea anyway that I would like I'll have to wait here little King gets dry The ice is caked on him. Yeah, better give him a rub down sir. Is it here? Use a sack. Oh, thanks, Bill My king I got some of that ice off your boy. I'm glad to staff here, Sergeant two men came in a couple of hours ago One of them has been shot shot as we saw the tracks in the snow Yeah, someone tried to hold them up on the trail where they run. No, they got away The wounded man's partners shot at the rubber, but thinks he missed him. I'm still here. They're both asleep in the back room They were so tired. They could hardly stand The one who was shot lost a lot of blood. It's quite weak. Well, it went right through his arm It is good. He has you to fix it as I'm gonna be all right He needs rest or were they carrying any gold? Oh, yeah, it's quite a bit Put it my safe for them. This is case for you, Sergeant. You say this happened to them last night. Yep I came straight here. There's a fresh snowfall yesterday If I could backtrack I might be able to pick up the trail of the man who shot him Them track are clear in snow. Do you want me to wake them up so you can talk to them? Did they got a look at the person who held them up? No, they didn't they said it was dark when it happened They've been quite a few hold-ups on the trail, so they got away fast It's good. Oh, there's no use in waking them then. I better leave for the snow starts falling We're due for another storm. Maybe you would let me go with you, Sergeant. Me. I am good at tracking Good idea, Jacques. You want to come? I'm not going to be able to wait till King's dry. I'll leave him here with you, Bill Even though we're good friends. I'm afraid he won't like that very well I don't mean keep him here till I get back Wait till he's dry and then let him out He'll follow my trail and catch up with us. Maybe that's where I'll be. He is a long way from here We'll be able to trail him if the snow doesn't start too soon. Well, come on, Jacques. We can't wait for tea No, King. Sorry old boy, but you're staying here for a while. Good luck, Sergeant Let King follow you later on A short time after Sergeant Preston and Jacques left the trading post Jake awoke in the back room Ned was snoring beside him and Jake shook him Ned. Ned, wake up Ned. Oh, my arm. Hey. What's the idea? Look, we've had enough rest. We got to get going. Not yet I'm tired. I say it's daylight. We can't stay here too long. Someone might find old Joe. Now. Come on. All right. Oh My arm is stiff. You'll be able to travel all right, won't you? I guess so I'm glad it's my left arm. At least I can still handle a gun You may have to before we get out of here. What do you mean? Look, you came back here and went to sleep before I could tell you my plans I let Bill put our gold in his safe before I came to bed. Well, he's honest He'll give it to us. Sure That ain't all he's gonna give it. Huh? He's got more in that safe than our gold. Got other people's gold in some of his own The main way he opens that safe to give us ours. We take the rest and leave. Here look Look who this wind that's back in the snow Tracks will be covered in an hour. Nobody. I know we were here at all. Come on. It's perfect. Yeah. Yeah, you're right I'll get my boots on Come on out right away. I'll go ahead and see if the coast is clear. Good morning You up already? Yep. I guess we better be hurrying along. Had a good sleep. How about some breakfast? Get the top for you. No, I'll wait for Ned. He'll be out in a minute In the meantime, I think I'll get the sled ready to leave. Do you mind giving me the gold we left in your safe? I'd like to pack it on the sled. I'm sure I'll open the safe There's your partner now How's the arm this morning? That's a lot better. That's good. Let's see Where was I? I believe these are right now get away from that safe. Why get away from it. I said take your hands off me You know, you know King lying near the stove for the front of the store rose to his feet as the men began to fight and then with a growl He raced toward Jake Justice Jake's part bill a terrific That's a great dog not Jake to the floor and that ran up behind him with a rifle that stood near the counter Swing it with all his mighty hip king And the dog fell stunned beside Jake I got him what's that dog come it must have been lying up there beside the stove I hit him with the butt of this right it must be Bill's dog to comment you like that when you hit Bill Hey, look Bill hit his head on the corner of the safe when you knock him down Yeah, did it kill him? Hey look Maybe we can make it look as if he slipped and fell We got to get him move on I can help get the gold out of there even with one arm. I'll stack it near the door Wait a minute Something else I want to do first what? If that rope over there, I'm gonna tie and muzzle this dog what for he's knocked out He won't bother look at him big and powerful He could pull a bigger load all by himself and all three of our dogs put together But that wrap on the head I gave him won't do many good I won't hurt him much be over that in a couple of hours Oh, you've got to get out of here fast customer might come in We'll carry this dog along on a sled after we tie and muzzle them But the time we make camp you'll be better and we can hitch them up with the team Jake we might meet someone on the trail to Dawson who know he's Bill's dog anybody who trades here would remember him We're not going directly to Dawson from here. We don't want to be seen on that trail at all We'll go straight south and then cut back. It'll take longer But we can't take any chances with a strong dog like him. It won't matter if we have to take a longer route Yeah, here's the rope You time while I get the gold out the safe The snow had begun to fall but the tracks of Ned and Jake that Sargent Preston was backtracking We're still quite clear as they entered the woods. Jock looked puzzled Those men they they come long way with one of them shot. We've come about four or five miles already Look shock The cabin in the woods there. This trail leads directly to it. We and dog team track stop here Yes, but the men's tracks lead to the cabin door Someone's coming for help in that cabin. That's right. I hear him do We're coming Poor man place is cold. That's where I going Jack. I'll cut you loose Who did this to men? They knocked me out and robbed me so I can see your cabins and ransacked. They got your gold. They must have See that trap doors open That's where it was My wrist I shot at them when they came in the way they did I I think I hit one of them Yes, you did the men who robbed you with the trading post on Turtle Lake I'll have to get back there as soon as possible. You'd better lie down there on the bed and we'll fix some food for you I'll be all right Sargent. Don't you worry none about me? I'm tougher than I look You just go on back and get them vomit. I hope they haven't hurt Bill It's one thing that worries me shock Something must have happened back there a king would be here by this time I told Bill to let him out as soon as he was dry. He should have overtaken us long ago You better get back there fast. I can take care of myself. Well, Jack could stay here with you No need of it. I'm all right now. I was just It's cold from sitting there all tied up Thank you We'll say there's some tea over there on the shelf. Maybe you'd better have some before you start back And there's some soup left over from yesterday. Oh, if we eat now that saves time But we'd better hurry. It'll be dark by the time we got back to bells It was always later when Sergeant Preston and shock got back to the trading post The snow had fallen steadily and the early darkness had settled when they stopped the team out in front Look, there is no light in bills trading for something's happened though, right? Like one of the lamp shock Bill Bill, where are you? There's Bill bring the light hurry Bill Bill He's head Look got one of those blankets off the counter job bill. What happened? Here is black it oh thanks shark see if you can find some brandy. I don't want to move him I'm gonna look at his head. We turn this way bill. Can you? This is bad you're going to need a doctor Get those man. I'll get them bill. Don't worry. Here is brandy. Thanks. Yeah, I'll take a swallow this bill by a little more Good. I think we'll be able to move him to the back room in a few minutes shot safe So if it's shut with it open when they hit you Where's King bill you let him out to follow me? No He was here. I I don't know what happened You think they take your dog sergeant a king wouldn't go with them willingly Maybe they kill him. They wouldn't bother taking the body of a dog away and leaving bill here Oh, what you do the snow it covered all trails I'll have to leave for Dawson right away and send a doctor back here to take care of bill I can make it by morning. You stay here and take care of him till the doctor gets here I'll do what I can for him before I leave all right, sir It is bad you lose your dog When the big dog king opened his eyes after being stunned by the blow from Jake He found himself bound to a sled with a strong rope He tried to slash at it with his teeth, but a strong leather thong tied around his muscle left him powerless His head throbbed with pain from the heavy blow he had received And though the scent of the man who had hit him brought a growl of rage from his throat He finally leg quietly until the sled stopped at a deserted cabin Least it's cellar. I sure don't want to go any farther I'm ready for some rest. We can make Dawson easy to marry that big dog help in the team See how he is He's not friendly that's Take that muzzle off him. I don't want to be around he won't take it off We won't untie his leg yet either you don't he'll be too stiff tomorrow to run with the team We can keep him hobbled and chain him in the cabin The better way till we get the Dawson to feed him we can pin him up He doesn't like us at all. I think we ought to let him go. I don't trust him. He don't tame down We'll sell him. He'll bring a good price But he's gonna help us pull that town tomorrow. I didn't go to all that trouble of bringing him this far for nothing The two men slept heavily in the cabin while King Chains securely in a corner tried every tricky new to get out of the bonds that held him At last the great dog knew it was useless to struggle. He lay exhausted and finally slept The following morning Jeff dragged him to the head of the dog team and before cutting the ropes on his legs put him in harness Today you're gonna work for us I Can't get out of those traces without using your teeth That muzzle is staying on you till we get the dog. This is going to be easier We can ride on the sled with him pulling it. Yeah, but he's gonna take plenty of handling When he finds out what I can do with a whip you'll soon get sensible You all ready? Yeah, let's go cut these ropes on his leg Hey King's legs were stiff and sore from being bond, but the great dog did all he could to get out of the harness It was then that he felt the lash of Jake's whip and he knew that the only way he could expect any mercy Was to pull the sled with all his strength and he threw his weight against the harness and set off at a swift pace toward Dawson Sergeant Preston having traveled all night arrived in Dawson City late that morning After sending the doctor to Bill's trading post he talked to Inspector Grayson that mounted police headquarters It's a case of attempted murder and robbery of Bill and the man in the cabin sir Was Bill able to give you any description of them at all? Well, yes, he was Inspector I was afraid to let him talk too much, but he gave me a general idea of what they looked like And one of them has a bullet hole for his left arm. We know that I can't understand your dog's disappearance King would never go with them willingly, sir And if he gets the chance he'll come back here to me no matter where they took him You say there was no one who would seen them on the Dawson trail No, sir. I question three different people on the trail this morning. No one had seen them But you think they may come here. We may have taken another route Would have been longer, but they could have avoided meeting anyone I think the best thing to do sergeant is to wait a day or so and see if they turn up here With a number of people in this town It would be easy for them to escape identification and get supplies. They thought we knew about them This is the last place they'd come sir, but under the circumstances they may turn to all anyway You and need some rest. I advise you to get some good sleep and some dinner I told the doctor to bring Bill here if it was safe to move him inspector There's no one to take care of him at his trading post. That was why sergeant if we catch these men He'll be able to give positive identification Now you'll get some rest and don't worry too much about King He's taking care of himself before I'll try not to worry, but sir if I catch these men and they've harmed him I'm likely to forget I'm a mounted policeman Well, there are circumstances when the slight lapse of memory is excusable I Can't say that I blame you Sergeant Preston slept fitfully through part of the afternoon the thought of King's loss kept him tossing and half awake Darkness was falling when he finally got up and left the barracks as he approached the gate that led to the street He suddenly heard a commotion And then sergeant Preston gave a gasp of surprise King as he recognized King Leading a dog team at a dead run straight for the police barracks gate One man rode on the sled and another lashed viciously at King with a whip They tried to turn the big dog in another direction the mountain rush toward him You got no right to hit him that dog just wouldn't stop this dog belongs to me And I advise both of you to stay right where you are. I'm thinking this muscle of him. No, no, don't do that He won't hurt you if I tell him not to Okay, I'd like to let you do it, but you can't watch him fella You can't arrest us just because that's your dog. We bought him from a man on the trail Yeah, we bought him you get up off that sled My arm don't touch my arm That's all I wanted to know You're both under arrest for attempted murder and robbery. You can't arrest us for anything. You haven't any proof I can hold you till Bill Daniel gets here to identify you Bill Daniel. Bill didn't die the way you thought he would Doctors with him now and will bring him here to Dawson How did you get going you'll find out later? You made a bad mistake taking this dog of mine. Didn't they boy? Watch him fella. You've helped a lot before but this is the first time you ever brought two criminals to headquarters by yourself Yes, old boy. Thanks to you this case is closed The challenge of the Yukon a copyrighted feature is the George W. Trendle production brought to you each week at this Time all names and incidents used are fictitious Listen again next week to another exciting adventure during the days of the gold rush Fred boy speaking this program came to you from Detroit If it's a case of murder you'd like to listen to that is be sure to latch on to the murder and mr. Malone show Here's a Saturday night thriller prime to bring you minute after minute of exciting mystery and adventure The hero of the program is John J. Malone a famous Chicago criminal lawyer Who makes only one condition before accepting a case? It must be tough to crack and once you hear some of the cases Malone tackled you'll agree It's uncanny how he solves them the most minute clue doesn't escape the shrewd eyes of this smart detective Who believes that given enough rope any criminal will eventually hang himself as Malone says the brainiest criminal will betray himself in Some tiny act left undone some stray piece of evidence left behind at the scene of the crime or Oftentimes through overconfidence when a criminal thinks he has the police completely baffled. Don't miss murder and mr. Malone