 The challenge of the Yukon The Wonder Dog King's swiftest and strongest of Eskimo lead dogs Blake 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 low in order in the new Northwest country where it agreed 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 Darkness was closing in as Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police drove his dog team toward one of the male cabins on the way to Dawson He neared the cabin he saw smoke drifting out of the chimney, but there was no sign of the male team as he stopped his dogs in front of the door Come on fella Who is it? I'll buy you a gem Well, Sergeant glad to see you Thought for a minute you was Abe with the male Abe's just about due here, isn't he? When I saw the smoke from your cabin, I thought I'd find him here Is that the male team, Sergeant? Guess I'd better put on some more beans for Abe It's a team all right, but Abe isn't with it. Those dogs are coming in alone Yes, and something's happened to the male. Abe's been robbed Look at this sled. All the lashing's off. I'll feed those dogs a mine and harness and we'd better find Abe Ain't we gonna eat our supper? Our supper can wait, Jim. We're leaving right away It's getting so dark. We'll never find him Sergeant. We can't stop, Jim. He's on this trail somewhere King found something. Hello, how are you Huskies? You think it's Abe? I hope so. What is it, King? It's Abe all right. Is he dead? He's been shot. He's not dead though Help me. You'd better get him back to the cabin right away Feel more comfortable? Sure I'm much better. You was awful lucky One inch lower and you'd be sitting on a cloud singing with the angels right now I guess they thought they'd kill me. Did you get a look at the men who shot you? I got a good look at one of them. The one who drilled me. It was short about five feet two or four Some black hair showed under his park of hood and he had black eyes He was a white man. He was fat and broad. And did you see the other one? No, not very well I think he was taller, but he was down the trail stopping the team The fat one shot so fast it didn't know what hit me You're stepped right out from behind a rock right in front of me your dirty skunk Not even give me a chance to protect yourself. You say you were carrying a lot of gold about $30,000 worth it's government money It was in government mail sacks and they stole every bit of it. I'll start at dawn and see if I can pick up the trail slim You wire the description of that man to headquarters at Dawson as soon as you can Sergeant Preston with King's help had picked up the trail of the thieves and the spot where Abe had been shot He glanced anxiously at the clouds overhead and hurried the team and he read the signs of impending snow The trail winding around the side of a mountain was a difficult one And as the dog team rounded a curve the Mountie haunted them Inside peered over the edge of the trail Just a chance that we can see them from here fella before it begins to snow And so they are boy wait below us. They're making camp Suddenly the rock in which the Mountie was kneeling gave way and man and dog plunged headlong down the side of the steep mountain Sounded like it Steve look it's a man Side from the trail up there See him I'm there on the slope. Yeah And look there's a dog beside him. Come on. We'd better see if he's there. Stop your fool Remember, we just held up the mail. You don't want anybody seeing us. Yeah, I never thought of that Wonder if he's been watching us over the edge of the trail. Maybe he was maybe that's how I had to fall come on Maybe be a good idea to make sure he's dead Nobody could have followed us this quite steve Kill that male man. He couldn't have told nobody and I don't think this man whoever he is was following us You could always tell somebody saw us here. You better have a look. His dog wasn't hurt. He's standing beside him Yeah What are you picking up that club for the dog probably wants us to help wait a minute? He ain't dead. I'm giving him a cloud over the head with this club to make sure he is Look if you hit it on a rock, why don't you just shoot him in the dog, too? Somebody might come to confirm We don't want to leave no trail looks like an accident. Nobody will suspect anything He's almost covered in snow Daddy just move his arm a little make sure Lucky that dog didn't kill you To her big hunks anyway, you didn't chase us wouldn't leave his master Guess we're gonna have to shoot him after all and that's too dangerous Let's get out of here right away as a chance the man didn't see us at all. You'll probably freeze to death anyway Come on. Let's get to Dawson When Sergeant Preston opened his eyes he found King lying close beside him the great dog whined anxiously and got to his feet As he felt his master move King King old fellow what happened? Yes, I twisted my ankle all bones broken. What's that boy? We can hear King there beside you. I give it to me That's funny And the snow's all disturbed around here someone must have Boy oh boy. Yes a little Yes, and you bring it down the trail for me Banks and hurry Well fellow that's a break The men were after have gone But if we ever catch up with them I think you'll know one of them the one who wore this parka It was almost two weeks later that Steve and Slem reached Dawson city Steve waited for Slem and the gold horse you bar He spoke to no one until Slem entered. Did you get the money Slem? Yeah, I cashed in some dust questions asked Good or something. I gotta tell you come on over here to a table Get back there in the corner where nobody can see us What's wrong? We got to get out of here fast. What I saw a poster in the place where they weighed the gold They know about the mail robbery and they got a description of you. It must have been telegraphed all over Why that ain't possible? Nobody saw it Yeah, the mailman you didn't kill him the poster said wanted for robbing the mail not murder Have all the rotten luck. I was looking forward to a rest. Good sleep in a bed for a change So tired from that long trek up here. I can't keep going any longer. We've got to keep going. They'll find us Hey, hey Slem Slem Look over at that table. What? Am I seeing things that does that guy look like me the one who's just getting up there Just my height ain't he he's got black hair. He's about the same weight I sure wouldn't take it for twins. They ain't got my picture on that poster heavy. No Yeah, you're right steve. He does look like the description. Come on. We're following him My cabin She's so falling down. Did you just come to dorsal we All alone. I have tried to find gold for two months But look she's not with me Yesterday I get here I got to find job somewhere. I think listen partner We just look rich see I like that parker you wearing Just about my size Will you sell it to me these park here? He's not so fine. But all I have Give you this one of mine that you buy another Here's a bag of gold for you. Oh Can you read? No, I'm poor ignorant man. Never have I learned to read or write Oh Well, this bag has my name on it. Here you are Well, all that is gold You give so much for this old parker. I want to help you out a little My luck shall change here. Here is parker on this money. I can drink for a month with no work Go ahead and celebrate come on slim but you must let me buy you one drink before you go We got to leave town How far is it to 40 mile? 40 mile? He's 40 mile from Dawson. You don't know that slim. Come on It was two days later that sergeant Preston talked of the inspector at the headquarters of the northwest mounted police in Dawson Yes, sergeant. He's your man or He's a crazy french canadian went on a big speed with part of the money We found almost a thousand dollars worth of nuggets on him in a government mail bag Yes, he is the man sir this piece of fur that king tore off his parker matches perfectly Do you mind if I talk to him? No, I want you to see him. He's right back here We haven't found the rest of the money yet and you'll have to sweat it out of him some way Here he is Sergeant you should have let king go in there. He'll tear him apart. Hello, you nice dog Maybe you would believe Andre, no Wait, he's petting king. Why shouldn't I pet him? He's only one his friend to poor Andre Hmm You're a nice dog Better than men. I can't understand it. What's the matter sergeant? Well, this can't be the man inspector Surely, you're not serious sergeant just because your dog happens to like a thief You can't say that he's not guilty You send yourself the torn place in his parker match the fur your dog tore from it. That's why I think Andre is innocent Uh are so kind That parker she is not mine with a hole in it. What's that? You were wearing it when we arrested you that man. He gave it to me. Oh, he's making that up sergeant He didn't tell us that before no no me. I am so scared. I don't think to tell you that inspector Maybe this doesn't make sense to you, but I believe Andre Andre Do you know where those men went they say something about 40 mile? Yes, they had for the border of course inspector If I guarantee to bring Andre back here if you let me take him to 40 mile with me Well, I think this man is guilty sergeant. This wild story here doesn't make sense at all Duty or excellent record. I'm gonna let you have your way Watch him. Thank you sir. Come on Andre. We're leaving for 40 mile at once and we're traveling fast Hello sergeant. When did you get to 40 mile just out here bill? Has anyone registered here who looks like this man I have with me? Yeah, there's a man in number 20 looks something like him. I've got a pal with him though They've been here two days. Do you mind if I go back to see them? Go right ahead down the hall room 20 Steve we got to get going I tell you We've been here two days and you ain't done nothing but sleep. There ain't no rush They probably arrested Frenchie by this time This is the first good bet I've been in There he is. There are men we look for. Hey, what is this? Why are you breaking in here? We're under arrest for robbing the mail. What? Why you can't prove anything? No The mailman you shot is waiting to identify you. Andre here has identified you and my dog remembers you You're lucky I had him on leash Yes, old fella hadn't been for you an innocent man might have been punished. Watch them boy These copyrighted dramas originate in the studios of wxy z Detroit and all characters names places and incidents used are fictitious Beginning next week the challenge of the uconn will be heard one hour earlier in those communities remaining on standard time This issue hold speaking. This is the michigan radio network