 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. I'm King, I'm your husband. 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. Young Billy Sanders looked at his father anxiously as they sat in their snug warm cabin with their feet close to the pot-bellied stove. Normally, Billy looked forward to this part of the evening when the supper had been cleared away and he and his dad could talk or read together. But tonight, Jim Sanders' face looked grim and a scowl creased his forehead. Whoever is robbing my traps is mighty clever headed. I wish I could lay my hands on him. But if a man did, I don't see how he could cover his tracks. Only a man could cover them, son. A wolf or a fox could be trail easy. It's not hard to cover tracks. You can do it by brushing soft snow over with a feather. It's better than having your trail followed. Do you think that thief could have robbed any of Jewel's traps? Well, Jewel's trap line is near enough to mine to be within the thief's territory. I think I'll go over to Jewel's cabin tomorrow morning and have a talk with him. What if Jewel's trap had been robbed too? Well, just have to do something about catching the thief. That's all. Cramp robbing is a serious thing. It's our living. And if we catch the man who did it, it'll be too bad for him. Someone must be coming. The dog's there barking. I don't see who it could be at this hour. Oh, look out and see. Oh, Billy! Hello, Jewel. It's Jewel's dad. Come on in. We're just talking about you. Take off your pocket. Oh, man, I've seen that fire. It will feel good. Put a kettle of water on Billy. We'll give him some hot tea. Sure. Sit down here, Jewel. Get warm. We... I have come to talk to you about my traps. They have been robbed. That's what I was going over to see you about in the morning. Mine were robbed too. Ha! That's what I think I'll be. The thief covered his tracks, though, even in the soft snow. Did he do that with your traps, too? All but one place. There I find moccasin tracks. Maybe, P, for years, someone come and does not have time for to cover them. So did you trail them, Jewel? No. Those tracks, they go to smooth crushed of snow where wing blow loose snow off. There I lose him. He must have made quite a big haul if he covered both our trap lines. We've got to do something about it, Jewel. He's taken the pick of our furs. To catch him, that will be very hard. I bet the mountain he could get him. Sergeant Preston could catch him, I bet. The trouble is, this thief may not rob our traps again. I'd hate to have the modern police make a special trip out here for nothing. Oh, maybe it's time soon for them to make their patrol here, sir. Tell you what I think we better do. We'll go to Fox Creek tomorrow to the trading post and report this. If the mail comes through, they can send word to Dawson. In the meantime, we'll do everything we can to catch him ourselves. It was almost a week later that Billy and his father again the rounds of their trap line. But this time, they made a wide circle and reversed their regular route. No sign of the trap robber had been seen. They were about to inspect the last trap before making camp for the night. The early darkness was falling when suddenly from behind a thicket on the trail, they heard a dog yelping. Dad, there's a dog. Hear him? Oh, oh! Oh, gee! It sounds as if somebody's beating him. Come on. It's over there, near that thicket. Follow me, dear! Stay back! Hey, you! Quit beating that dog! I'll take the hide off you, you dirty rat! That poor pop! What? You! The coward! Look at him run! Guess he was afraid to give him some of his own medicine. Poor dog can hardly stand up. That half-breed didn't waste any time getting away. It's a good thing for him that it's just about dark. If I could catch him, I bet he'd never beat another dog again. Poor little fellow. Look, Dad, he's just a puppy. That dirty half-breed almost killed him. It's a good thing we happened to be coming along the trail. Let's take him home with us. He's hurt. But he isn't our dog, son. That man will probably come back for him. I don't care if he does. Nobody deserves to keep his dog if he treats him like this. I guess you're right, son. You'd better carry him back to the sled. Dad, look over there. Beside that tree. They're in the snow. Where? By what? I'd better see what it is. It looks like a white fox. Maybe that half-breed dropped it. It's a dead fox, all right. I almost couldn't see it in the snow. He must have trapped it. He put it down when he saw the dog following him. Oh, why didn't he pick it up? He left. It seems to me he was mighty scared to run like that. Maybe he had more reason to be scared than we think. What do you mean? He was just beating his dog. Most men would stop and argue about it. He was afraid of me for another reason. You mean that fox? Yes. Our trap is right near here. You get that dog back to the sled and we'll find our trap. Sure. Come on, fellow. Never mind. I'm not going to hurt you. You're going to be my dog now. Did you get a look at that half-breed's face? Yes, I did. He was part Indian, and he had a big scar on his right cheek. Yes, I saw that, too. I'd know if I saw him again. Wouldn't you, Dad? I'm sure I would. Here's a sled. Put that pup on it. You'd better put him right in that sleeping bag and strap it down. Good idea. Get in there, boy. Lie down, that bit. I think you'll stay there, Dad. His leg is hurt. You'd better sit down there and hold him. The trap's only about 50 yards ahead. Sure. All right, Dad. Mush! Mushy! Get along there! How old do you think this pup is, Dad? About six or seven months, I'd say. Do you think I could keep him for a pet instead of just making a sled dog out of him? Sure, if you want to. Maybe hard to tame after the treatment he's had. I bet he hates that half-breed. I certainly wouldn't blame him if he did. Oh, that trap is closer than I thought. There's a big pine tree. Oh! Getting awfully dark. I know right where that trap is. And it's not too dark to find out what I want to know. What if he did rob our trap? Will you try and catch him tomorrow? I'm afraid there wouldn't be much use. But we've had a good look at him, and that'll be all Sergeant Preston will need if he gets up here. Now, here's a trap right here. There's nothing in it. It's been sprung. And here's blood on the soul. Billy, that was our trap robber all right. There's no doubt about it. I hope Sergeant Preston gets up here soon. We sent word by the mailman. If we're lucky, the sergeant will be here in a day or so. We'll follow our trap line and get home as fast as possible. Now let's go back and make camp for the night. It was late the following day that Billy and his father reached home. As they neared the cabin, they saw a dog team out in front. Dad, look! There's a dog team. We have visitors. I'm glad we left the door open. However it is, it's starting to fire. There's smoke coming out of the chimney. I'll bet it's Sergeant Preston. That looks like his dog team. And there's King Washington. Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Bring that dog in with you, Billy. You can take care of the team later. Sure, Dad. Come on, fellow. I'm taking you inside. Pull the door open for me, will you, Dad? Hello, Jim. Hope you don't mind my breaking in like this. How are you, Sergeant? I'm mighty glad you did. Hello, Sergeant Preston. Hello, Billy. What's that you're carrying? New pup? We found a man beating them. He's hurt. Oh. Lie down there, boy. Oh, Jim. This is Constable Pat Wilcox. Jim Sanders. Howdy, Constable. How are you, Mr. Sanders? And this is Billy Sanders. Hello, Billy. Hello, Constable. This is the first trip north. I'm breaking him in. Well, I'm glad you stopped here. Did you get my message, Sergeant? Yes, we did, Jim. As a matter of fact, we met the middleman halfway from Dawson. He told us about your trap robberies. Wait till I get my park off, and I'll tell you all about it. All right. Sit down and make yourselves comfortable. Sergeant, will you look at this dog for a minute? He's hurt. You know all there is to know about dog. Well, of course I'll look at him, Billy. He's been beaten all right. Now, let's see, little fella. It won't hurt. It's not easy. The half breeder was beating him. This is the same one who robbed the trap. He ran when we came, and we found a white fox he'd taken from our trap. You mean you actually saw him? Yes. Didn't we get him? Yes, we did. He's a half-breed, Sergeant. We practically caught him red-handed. Well, Pad, looks as if you're going to have some excitement on this patrol. That's what the inspector told me, Sergeant. He said if I came with you and King, I'd be certain to see some action. Why don't you bring King inside, Sergeant? I'll bring him in when I bet the team down tonight. That's a nice pup, Billy. He's not hurt too much. You'll be all right in a day or so. Gee, thanks, Sergeant. I'm going to keep him. Jim, what do you hear more about this trap robber? Tell me just where you saw him and try and remember everything you can about him. Well, he was a little taller than average, and he had a long scar on his right cheek. Looks like a knife cut. We just got a quick look at his face, but you couldn't miss that scar. Pat and I will start out to try and find him in the morning. Are you troubling much with trap robbers in this part of the country? Not often. Fat robbing up here is a major offense, Pat. People have been lynched for it. Even the Indians know how serious it is. Jim, I want you and Billy to tell me all about this. From the first time you discovered it, your trap was being robbed. The two matis started out the next day to find the half-breed with a long scar on one cheek. But the search turned out to be a difficult one. No one knew or had seen a man answering to that description. It was two weeks later that Sergeant Preston and Constable Wilcox stopped at a small feeding post in an isolated spot called Moose Landing. They were greeted by Pete McNair, the proprietor. Well, Sergeant Preston, I haven't seen you in a dog scene. How are you, Pete? This is Constable Pat Wilcox. Howdy, Constable. Well, what brings you way up here, Sergeant? This isn't your regular patrol. I thought there might be a chance that you could give me some information, Pete. You do quite a lot of trading here. Yeah, it's the only trading post for miles around. Sure is lonesome. We're so far from any town. All of Indians bring their furs to you, don't they? Yes, but they haven't been doing so well this season. Well, not all of them, anyway. You mean some of them have done a lot better than others? That one has. He isn't exactly an Indian, though. He's a half-breed named Togo. He's a good draper, I guess, or else he works a lot harder than the rest of them. For a bad season, he's brought in a pile of fine furs. Is this Togo a big scar on his furs? Yes. Do you know him? I'm looking for him. That's why I'm here. Do you know where he lives? Nope. It's the first year I've ever seen him. He never talks much. Just does his trading and leaves. Most times, he comes around during the evening when nobody's around. When was he here last? A couple of weeks ago, I think it was. He usually gets here about twice a month. Then you think he might show up here this week sometime? More than likely he will. He's about due. Well, then, look, is this the only thing we can do? Stay here at Moose Landing and wait for him. Would you put us up, Pete? Sure, I can. And I'll be glad to have you. It'd be a pleasure to have some company. I'll go out and unhits the dogs. Oh, uh, you don't mind if I bring King in with me, do you? I was wondering where he was. Probably as glad to see that dog's hand to see you, son. Hey! Hey, hey, hey! What's up? This is Sergeant Preston, constable Wilcox. This is Jake Smith. Could one of you come with me right away? My partner's awful sick. I think maybe he's dying. I don't know what to do for him. Where do you live? About five miles from here. We're out in the cabin near the creek. Bill got a sore throat a few days ago, and he's been getting worse. Can I go out there with him, Sergeant? I studied medicine for two years before I joined the force. One of us should stay here to once for Tago. Yes, you'd better go with this man, Pat. Take my dog team and I'll stay here with King. Right. Well, thanks. Maybe you can save Bill. Come back as soon as you can, Pat, and good luck. Perhaps our friend Tago will show up before you return. It was late that evening, and a small lamp burned on the counter in the trading post. Sergeant Preston, with King beside him, was sitting with Pete, who was dozing in front of the big stove. When the door opened, a man with a big load of furs came in. Well, good evening. You're kind of late, ain't you? I was just about to go to bed. They got birds to trade. Well, it's Tago. Tago. It's Mountie. He broke the lamp. He's gone. We'll get him. Come on, King. You'll never get him, Sergeant. King will after him. Tago had acted so quickly, throwing the furs at the lamp, that the Mountie and Pete were taken completely by surprise, and the half-breed had a good start as he sped through the darkness toward the safety of the woods. He didn't know that behind him a swift dark shadow was almost on his heels as King pursued him silently. Then suddenly, a great dog leaped at his back. Move away! King Tago, stop! Help me! Wait! It killed me! That's right. Thank you for calling back. Let him up. Get up, Tago. Go back to the trading post. King certainly caught him in a hurry. Do not put me in jail. Me not do nothing. Start walking back. I'll try to get away or the dog will go after you. Why, you come after Tago. If you were innocent, why did you run away? I'm scared. You'll not prove nothing. Yeah, I guess he's right, Sergeant. We can't prove he stole those furs. He's going to take him back to Jim Sanders' place. He and Billy can identify him as a trap robber they saw with a white fox he'd taken from their trap. Jim Sanders can appear as a witness against him when he's tried at Dawson. Well, he answers the description they gave, that's sure. Just as soon as Pat gets back, we'll start for the Sanders' place. I'm sure we'll find that Tago's the man we're looking for. Constable Wilcox stayed with a sick man through the following day. Two days later, Tago and the two Mottes were within a few miles of the Sanders' cabin. A trail led through some thick timber where the large branches of tall pine trees stretched over it. Tago had been sullen and silent but gave them no trouble. He feared the great dog that had been the means of his capture and King guarded him carefully as he'd been told to do. There had been a heavy snowfall the night before and now there was a deathly stillness in the forest. Suddenly, however, it was broken by an ominous crack overhead and a huge limb of a pine tree came crashing down. I got that tree! I didn't quite... oh, my side. Wait, I'll get this tree along here. Branch is heavy. Are you hurt much? Like the wind, though. Oh, my side. I'm afraid a couple of your ribs are cracked. I'll get the sled back here and put you on it. Is Tago still there? Don't worry about Tago. King is standing right beside him. I'll get you on the sled. It can't be much farther than Jim Sanders' cabin. The trip was very painful, Sergeant Preston, but at last he lay on a cot in Jim Sanders' cabin. Tago sat in a corner with the great dog King lying before him as Constable Wilcox and Jim finished binding the ribs of the mutti. There. That should help a lot, Sergeant. Thanks, Pat. It's a good job. I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help on the trip to Dawson. I think you ought to stay here for a few days, Sergeant, before you attempt that trip. You said you wanted me to go to Dawson with you to identify this Tago at the trial, didn't you? Well, yes, Jim. You sure he's the man, aren't you? I could swear he was. When Billy comes back, we'll know for sure he got a better look at him than I did. Why don't you wait and rest up a couple of days, Sergeant? You can let Constable Wilcox take Tago to Dawson. I'll take you later on my dog sled. That's a good idea, Preston. You will be able to travel by then. I can find the way to Dawson from here. I don't know why I had to be right under that branch when it fell. He certainly timed it perfectly. But that didn't mean for that man getting sick up in Moose Landing we'd have missed it. Man getting sick? I spent over a day with a man up there who died of scarlet fever. We were delayed because of that. And you couldn't do anything for him, huh? No, it was too late. Nothing could have saved him. Fate plays funny tricks sometimes. That's Billy now. Why, Sergeant Preston? Why ask what's wrong with you? It's a trap, Robert. You've caught him. Come back, Flash. Flash remembers him. I guess that's all the proof we need. Better put Flash outside, Billy. Yes, I better. Come on, Flash. Okay, boy. That dog is crazy, bud, Billy. They're always together. He remembers that Tago beat him. Will it be all right for me to start back to Dawson today, Sergeant? Oh, I think so, Pat. You can get as far as Pearson's Roadhouse by tonight and from there on you shouldn't have much trouble. I think you've had enough experience in the North Country by now to make it. We'll follow in two days. It was three days before Sergeant Preston was well enough to take the long trip to Dawson with Jim Sanders. They traveled slowly and had almost reached their destination when they met a trapper on the trail. As he recognized Sergeant Preston, he stopped his dog team. Oh, boy! Oh, team! Oh! Boy, Sergeant Preston. That isn't your dog team, but I thought I recognized King ahead there, though. How are you, Hank? I'm fine, Sergeant. Thanks. I suppose you're coming to get that other mountain that they found on the trail. What's his name? Constable Wilcox. What? What are you talking about? I thought that's why you were here. He's a Dan Connor's cabin. Dan found him on the trail about two days ago. He's been pretty sick. Was there a half-breed with him? Half-breed? No, not that I know of. Dan's cabin's up the trailer short way, isn't it? Oh, and just around the bend. Thanks, Hank. Come on, Jim, we'd better get there fast. Marsh! Marsh, you huskies! Marsh! Sergeant, you think Tago escaped? Looks like it, Jim. I'm afraid we should have brought Billy with us. Billy? Oh, he stays alone all the time. He's 14. He can take care of... You mean on the count of Tago? There may not be any danger, but that half-breed looked ugly when you and Billy identified him. What do you think happened? You think he tried to kill Constable Wilcox? Here's the cabin. We'll soon find out. Oh, chief! Tell your dog, Sergeant. Constable's here all right. Let's go in. Come in. What happened to your path? Did Tago attack you? No, I... I got sick the day after I left your cabin. Don't come too near me. I have scarlet fever. Scarlet fever? It's not too bad a case. I'll be better soon. I'm making Dan stay at a neighbor's cabin. I guess I caught it from that man who died in loose landing. It hit me the day after I left. I got a fever. I must have gone to sleep on the sled. That's when Tago got away. It's a wonder he didn't kill you and take the sled. You were afraid to touch him. Fear I'd wake up. He didn't have a gun, and I did. And he ran off into the woods the first chance he got. I made a sorry mess of everything, Sergeant. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Everything, Sergeant. I can't tell you how bad I feel. Never mind, Pat. We'll get Tago. It's you I'm worried about. Oh, I'm all right. Dan brings food and takes care of me. All I really need now is rest. Sergeant, maybe we'd better get back to Billy. Did you leave young Billy alone? Yes, we did. You'd better get back to him, Sergeant. Tago made some nasty threats after we left you. He claims Jim and Billy for everything. He may try to get revenge. Will you be all right if we leave you? Don't worry about me. Dan is taking good care of me. You get back to Billy. I'll take my dog, Jim. My dog's arrested, and he'll be faster than yours. Come on. We'll start back right away. Two days had gone by, and Billy missed his father. He had been out hunting with Flash, and as he near the cabin in the fading light, he felt a pang of loneliness. Then he brightened as he heard someone call. Hello, Billy! Was that you? Golly, I'm glad you're over. You can help me with Flash. He got a bad cut on his foot from some sharp ice. See, he's running on three legs. Oh. Oh, that will not be hard to cure. Come on in with me and stay for supper. That is what I planned to do. Your father, he has left, no? They left a couple of days ago. I'm sure glad Sergeant Preston caught that trap, Robert. That was a good thing. But something else has happened now. You'll want to tell you. Keep your storeroom locked. Last night, someone stole salt and quarter of caribou I have in my storeroom. Stole it? Who could have done that? I have seen magazine truck in back of cabin. Probably some hungry Indian. I wonder why he didn't ask you for food. You would have given it to him. There is lots of game to shoot, but maybe he has no gun to shoot it, eh? I didn't even lock our cabin when I left this morning. Come on in, Flash. Come on, George. What's wrong with you, Flash? That dog! Why he act like this? There's no one here. Look at him. He's here. He's stand up straight on his back. He's never acted like this before. Maybe he gets sent of men who rob me. Maybe that man come here, too, eh? He has take something, you think? I had my gun with me, but my hunting knife. I forgot it this morning. It was here on this table, but it's gone. Oh, that is same robber who steal from me, I bet you. Oh, well, it's probably some Indian who lost his pack. I think maybe I stay here tonight. That'll be fine, Jewel. But I'm not afraid. Tomorrow I'll have to spend the day fixing our traps on the creek, but I'll lock the cabin and leave Flash here. He has put his two sword to take him with me. That is wise. Now I'll get some supper ready. Take up your park and make yourself at home. It was dusk the following evening when Billy started for home after baiting the last trap at the edge of the creek. He must the comforting companionship of his dog as he walked through the shadows of the spruce trees and began to whistle to keep up his courage. Then suddenly he passed a dense thicket, a figure sprang out at him. Me got you! Let go! Let go, I said! I may not let you go. You'll come with tug-o! Tug-o? Fire! Where did you come from? Let me tie your hands. Let go, you thief! Give me that gun! Your hands tied. Now you come! I won't! I won't go with you! You got knife! You walk! No! Stop it! I'll go. We go on wood. This way. You'll be sorry for this. My father will find me. You'll not find where I take you. We go far back off trail. You may not know yet, but maybe you'll be sorry you tell about tug-o. That was a wolf! Maybe tug-o tie you, leave you for a wolf. That'd be bad for you. It'd be better than staying with you, you dirty thief. Maybe tug-o tie you to a tree and kill with knife. You like to hurt people. Just the way you hurt Flash. I hope they'll catch you and hang you. Walk faster! Faster! Where are you telling tug-o? It was late that evening when Sergeant Preston and Jim Sanders stopped the dog team in front of Jim's cabin. Okay! I wonder if Billy's staying with Jules or something. There's no light. That sounds like Flash. Maybe Billy's asleep. The cabin's locked. That's a good thing I have my key. Billy! He's not here. How light a lamp. It's funny that Billy isn't here. He wouldn't lock Flash up and leave him here all night, would he? I don't see why. If he stayed with Jules, he'd have taken Flash with him. That perp looks worried. Where's Billy Flash? Can you find Billy Flash? Maybe we'd better put a leash on Flash and go looking for Billy. Nothing may have happened to him. Good idea. His leash is right over here. I hope Billy didn't have an accident. I found the spruce forest some distance from the cabin. A small campfire lighted up the cruel face of Tago, the half-breed, as he stood before Billy. The cold bit into the boy's Flash as he struggled with a rope that bound him to a tree. The ugly, scarred face of Tago drew closer and a knife gleamed in his hand. Now, Tago, get revenge for what you'll do. You terror police. Tago is one who rubbed trap. Why don't you go ahead and use that knife? I've been keeping me tied here forever. You dirty coward. You like to torture people. Maybe now you're sorry, you tell. I'm not sorry. You're a trap lover and ought to be hung. Maybe your father's sorry too when he finds you dead. Maybe he'll never tell about Tago no more. My father and sergeant Preston will get you if you kill me. Them far away. Tago not be here when them come back. They'll get you no matter where you are. You dirty thief. Let me not kill you fast. You kill slow. Like this. No, no, help! Get him, Tago! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Yeah, I'm so glad you got him. Fuck him. Put him up. Get up, Tago. You're under arrest for attempted murder. Get up, I say. You're not hurt. He was trying to kill me. He was coughing when I was coming home from the creek. How did you find me? We found Flash alone in the cabin. He led us to you. That's why you were a warrior. You knew Tago had been around the cabin, didn't you, boy? It's a good thing you left him in the cabin. We never would have found you. I had him on leash so we never could have kept up with him. Is his foot better? It was cut. Let's see it, boy. I guess he was so worried about you. He forgot about himself. His foot is bleeding. Oh, dog sergeant. But I think I have a pretty good dog, too. We're both very lucky, Billy. Yes, King, old fella. Thanks to you and Flash, this case is closed. The challenge of the Yukon, the copyrighted feature, is brought to you each week at this time. And all names and incidents used are fictitious. Listen again next week on another exciting adventure during the days of the Gold Rush. Fred Foy, speaking, this program came to you from Detroit. Saturday Night, dull. Not on your life if you keep company with ABC. We've a lineup of shows to keep you entertained from early in the evening until it's time to go out and get the Sunday morning papers. For mystery a la mode, Ross Dolan Detective is on hand Saturday nights. And when Ross seeks to solve a crime, it means 30 minutes of solid action and suspense. Speaking of suspense, wait till you hear famous jury trials, the stirring courtroom program that dramatizes typical American jury trials. Then there's gangbusters with true crime cases straight from police files all over the country. Murder and Mr. Malone is another tense mystery that's bound to keep you sitting on the edge of your chair as that famous criminal lawyer, John J. Malone, tackles a case of murder. For smashing thrills from early to late Saturday nights, be sure to listen when these grinch