 The challenge of the Yukon Wonder dog King's swiftest and strongest of Eskimo lead dogs Blazes a 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 knotted police who preserve 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 justice rule triumphant Old Captain McCarthy had retired from his sailing ship and for two summers had panned gold in the Yukon His pet parrot skipper was his constant companion had spent many years on the sea with him The captain was a hearty old salt with a fond of stories and Sergeant Preston of the Northwest knotted Like to spend evenings with the old man listening to his tales of the sea. Yes, sergeant Here we are skipper and me drop an anchor in the Yukon again We both missed the swing of the sea, but last summer we panned enough gold to give us a calm winter in California with no hard blows to bother us. Well, it's nice to back captain King and I both missed you when you left didn't we boy Listen to that bird. He hasn't forgotten King's name. He remembered it as soon as he heard it You know, I believe King remembers skipper Skipper has a sharp memory. He's nobody's fool and that's a fact. You still think he's smarter than my dog I'll wager a gallon of grog. He has a better memory Remember when I taught him to shouters to King the way you do But I'll never grant to be smarter than King. Let's see if they remember that trick they used to do King go over and see skipper I told you that bird had a memory But look at that King remembers too. He's lying down in front of skipper You know, I think my dog is just as smart as your parrot captain and I wouldn't put it past you to rehearse before we got here you old fraud That skipper You see skipper remembers that tool Oh Blast my eyes look at that one. Yeah, the dog is lugging him your hat. I told you so captain Yes, we never will subtle the argument as to which is smarter your parrot or my dog They're both clean-timbered and good shipmates I'll hate to see summer come to an end King and I missed you and skipper and you left last year And if it weren't for skipper, I'd stole my duffel here for the winter But he can't stand the cold he used to be tough as new hemp, but he's getting a bit rusty in the joints like me Well our company coming aboard Step in hello captain sergeant Preston here. Oh, hello sergeant. How are you dog? They told me I'd find you here That's quite a bird you have got Quiet skipper take some slack in your jar title before I heave you overboard Now maybe we'll have a calm for a spell and hear what you're saying doc I wanted to see you sergeant Preston very serious thing isn't yes a bad epidemic of smallpox has broken out in the Indian village smallpox That is serious an Indian boy who used to work for me came in with it says many of them are sick and some have died I'm afraid we'll spread it to town if we don't do something about it at once I'll have to be vaccinated and those who already have it isolated. That's just the trouble sergeant You know these Indians superstitious frightened If I attempt to vaccinate them they'll disappear into the woods and spread the disease worse than ever Yes, I know I may be able to convince I had the parks once my chin whiskers hide the scars lost half my crew with it But skipper and me come through you were lucky Another thing is to try to make them destroy the furs. They're planning to trade They contaminated and they'll spread the disease everywhere. We might organize a committee of minors But I don't like trouble the Indians using force won't do I'd hate to risk Is that parrot calling your dog it's a trick we taught him smart pair of lovers. They'd be true They'd make quite a bone will act Doctor I just thought of something yes captain you say you have the smallpox once Would you be willing to go to the Indian village with us? If I could help any my timbers are rotten a bit, but I calculate I could still lay into it with a belaying pin I wouldn't use force. We'd use your parrot skipper. What do you mean? Doctor have you ever seen the totem pole in the Indian village? No, they have their medicine man I never go near the place as a totem pole in front of the chief's lodge and skipper looks just like the figure on top of it a Beat bird well, what's that got to do with the pox the Indians have never seen a parrot I think skippers the first one has ever been in the icon and I saw to it They didn't see skipper. They'd want his feathers for their heads I never let an Indian get a look at him They wouldn't hurt him if they thought he was a spirit spirit the spirit on the totem pole Coming to tell them how to drive the sickness in their village, but how could you captain? How long would it take skipper to learn how to say burn furs? I can teach him anything in a half a day just by repeating and repeating. We'll start right now I'll spread the word of the Indians tomorrow that a strange talking bird has come to them The following evening the Indians were gathered in an excited group before the lodge of cheap white feather Listen eagerly as one of the tribe repeated the story of the bird that talked Police him say bird come over many waters look like Naka on totem pole Hawk like man Maybe come drive evil spirit from village Black Hawk want me talk Black Hawk speak me black Hawk big hunter got many fur Black Hawk say white man play trick on Indian. Maybe steal furs Black Hawk say bird is white man trick me say kill bird Oh Say black Hawk not full Indian Him part white him not true son of Naka him not no Chief white feather say make bird welcome if him not Naka then we kill him Make bird welcome. We see him look white man come now The Indians watched as Preston a doctor and the captain entered the village the old captain made an impressive picture The captain's cap is white beard and the brilliantly colored parrot perched on his shoulder King stayed at Preston's side as the money talked in low tones to the captain Is that box of vaccine still tied to skipper's leg gap? He keeps trying to cast it adrift Away from that box you son of satan I'll slit you from clue to earrings Your chatter skipper act like a total ball. I hope this works Preston and will if we handle it right back That's white buffalo King stay close boy Green like Naka him Naka you think and maybe drive out evil spirit White man bring bird from over many waters him talking bird Welcome to village bird is happy that you make him welcome chief white feather him look like My people sick many die Maybe him spirit sent to help he will tell you what to do He talks in a strange tongue of many waters tell Naka. We listen bird will speak him talking Let bird speak skipper say something in over if you ever lose your jaw tackle do it now I'm cousin Skipper unfurl your tongue Like man lie bird not talk white man trick to do something captain he's in a door Bird will speak go to skipper King See him talk to animals him talk to dog See the dog obeys him him spirit of Naka big dog do what birds say Animal know what Naka say Don't lie down for Naka See dog do what birds say him Naka animal obey Naka Why people do what Naka say him drive evil spirit away Naka protect his children the bird will tell you what to do He talks in the language of many waters man of the sea will tell you what he says Bird says captain. He says to scratch his picture on the arms of all the people in the tribe He has a magic needle. This will drive away the evil spirits Where is magic needle see chief on his foot as a box? Tell your people what to do The Indians amaze but aboard the bird that talked we're soon crowding Iran Preston and Dr Rockwell eager to have his image scratched on their arms Preston the doctor and the captain were visibly vaccinating but toward the back of the crowd Lurk Black Hawk the half-breed he talked in a low tone another Indian them not scratch picture on arm of Black Hawk That white man trick bird is Naka Him say do it listen What him say him say? Burn first Sacrifice from his people Him say we burn our furs white man's trick me not burn furs me kill birds No kill Naka him spirit me find out me kill him King was lying quietly beneath the low branch of the spruce tree on which skipper was perched He raised his head as he saw the further figure of black Hawk creeping toward the tree and a low growl rumble in his throat Suddenly the half-breed sprang towards skipper, but King sprang even faster Me son All right That read was trying to scuttle skipper while you devil and buzz it. I'll keep on you Oh Black Hawk's face Like how cute but it gets your cabinet once the evil spirit has cut you he's got smallpox The early Yukon dawn was breaking as Preston and the doctor sat on the captain's cabin while he brewed them some tea Was a good night's work Preston Exonating the whole tribe. Yes. It was doctor saved a bad epidemic the lover sure done with the skipper said He was one full away that bird learn to say burn furs so quickly Why are you skipper that was good work getting those furs burned Look at King William He just as much as says you can't give skipper all the credits if it weren't for him I lost my shipmate. Yes, King old fella. You did a fine job tonight. Good work boy These 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 and reach you from our transcription studios Howl Neal speaking. This is the Michigan radio network