 The gunshots echo across the wind, swept snow-covered reaches of the wild northwest. The challenge of the Yukon! It's Yukon King, swift as the strongest lead dog of the Northwest. Placing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mountain Police. And his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers. I'm King! On, New Yorkers! Gold. Gold discovered in the Yukon. A stampede to the Klondike and the wild race for riches. Back to the days of the Gold Rush. With the adventures of Sergeant Preston and his underdog Yukon King. As they meet the challenge of the Yukon! King met Mike Rafferty one afternoon when the Sergeant was busy with paperwork at headquarters. The great dog was making an unofficial patrol of the town. Nearly everyone in Dawson knew him, and he accepted the men's pats and greetings with quiet dignity. But it was getting late in the afternoon and time for the Sergeant to be through with the office. So King started back to headquarters. Mike barred his way in front of a palace hotel. Hey, Plucky! Look at this dog! Yeah, he's a big one, alright? I like your own, mister. I'd never accept you as his master. Oh, yes you would. Just treat him rough, that's all you have to do. No, you're special. Teach him who's boss. Suddenly, he grabbed one of King's ears and twisted it hard. King jerked himself away and hurt surprise. Ran a few steps and turned to face the big man again. He tried to treat him rough when you reached there. There I get it, handsome. Hey, come on. Let's see what's going on at the end of the road. King continued on his way. But he knew that Mike was an enemy. The next time he met him, he was with the Sergeant. Dawson was at the height of its boom that summer, and the cafes crowded with men from all over the world had to be watched carefully by the Northwest modern police. The Sergeant and King had stepped into the Northern Lights Cafe to see that everything was under control. Hello, Sergeant. My name's Mike Rafferty. I've been admiring your dog. Oh, that's odd. What is? Ego, Sergeant. He's usually very friendly. How much will you take for? He isn't the sale. Does he belong to you or the force? Me. You mean to say that a mountain can afford all the dog is valuable as king? I couldn't afford to sell him. I'll give excuse and I want to talk to Joe for a minute. Come on, King. Man, what's so funny? Are you talking mighty big for a guy that's broke? Right now you can find me a drink. Ah, thanks. The bar's too crowded. I'll find room. Come on. Hey! The idea is shoving. The idea is for you to get out of the way. You can stay behind me and watch your turn like everybody else. I don't like waiting. I stand aside. Try and make me. All right, you ass boy. Now get up and get out of here unless you want more of the same. All right, I'm going. There's no need for you to go home. Mike's the one who's going. What's that, Sergeant? You're under arrest for disturbing the peace. And you're going to take me to jail? That's right. Tonight I'm going to let you win. Let's go. Mike Rafferty spent the night in jail. He was released the following morning when Bucky Andrews paid his fine. It was that same morning that the news of the strike on Mission Creek reached out. Did you hear about it, man? Mission Creek! It's bigger than my hands. Bigger. Two hundred dollars to the pants. Well, how do you get there? This was the big news that the Gold Hungry Man and Dawson had been waiting for. Another bonanza, another El Verado. Fortunes waiting for them at the end of a two-day trek up the Klondike. In a frenzy of haste, the prospectors' actors supplies their mining equipment and started out. Some reading burrows, others on horseback, others on foot. A steady stream heading east. Until by early afternoon, the cafes of Dawson were deserted. And Mike Rafferty and Bucky Andrews stopped alone in the Monte Carlo. It's on your foot. What is? So we're not going with the rest of them. If I didn't have to pay your gambling debts and your fine this morning, we'd add enough money to buy grabbing equipment. Come all the way from San Francisco to do what? Set in an empty bar room or we can't even buy a drink. Who says we're not going to Mission Creek? How can we? What's the stoppers? The fact that we haven't got any money to buy supplies. Don't laugh. Listen, Bucky, there'll be thousands of guys who'll be making camp along the trail tonight. All of them with good outfit. Yeah. Where we be? Right here. Not on your life. We'll pick out the best outfit and take it for ourselves. You leave it to me. I'm tired of leaving things to you. Then sit here. I'll get a job from the tax governor floor or polishing the bar. Stay honest and stay poor. And Mike, just because you're big, just because you're packed dynamite, you're right. That doesn't mean you can get away with breaking the law. Are you with me or aren't you? I don't know. Think about it. By the time you've made up your mind, I'll be back with a claim that's worth a million dollars. A million dollars, Bucky. Are you with me? Yeah, I guess so. A man can't give up a chance like this. Right. Sergeant Preston rode slowly along the Mission Creek trail with King trotting it aside. He anticipated no real trouble before the creek was reached, but the wild desire of the man to reach that goal led to many accidents. And at dusk, the sergeant ran into the first of these. Can't go to a right. One of those men's hurt King, who? Fuller. Get any help? Who's that? Sergeant Preston, Northwest Mounted Police. Sure do need help, Sergeant. My partner shot himself. He what? His current shotgun. He stumbled and fell and the gun went off. Caught him in the leg. I can't seem to stop the bleeding. We'll see what a tourniquet will do, easy fella. Sure be grateful if you take a look at him. King and I were about ready to make camp anyway. You don't mind, we'll stay here with you. Sure be grateful. It's so pale, Sergeant. I think he's sort of faded. Yes, we'll have to work faster. Quickly and expertly, the sergeant applied a tourniquet. Then he dressed the wound again. In less than half an hour, a color came back to the man's cheeks and his strength returned. The sergeant was eating supper of the two prospectors when Mike and Bucky passed their campsite. It was dark by then and only King recognized Mike's burly figure. He growled himself. But Mike and Bucky recognized the sergeant in his demeanor as he settled down for the night. Any tag now will start looking for our outfit. Andy Carlisle and Bill Southern have made their camp near a spring about a hundred yards from the trail. The first faint sound of approaching footsteps awakened Andy and he sat mulled up. He tried to see beyond the circle of light around the still glowing campfire. Wake up! There's no time to get up yet. We need a little more sleep. This... sounds like animal. Oh, yeah, three minutes. I don't hear anything. Where's the gun? Right here. Could be a Wolverine coming after her food. I don't hear anything, Andy. I don't see anything. Oh, I'm gonna sleep. All right. I guess maybe I was wrong. The two men rolled up in their blankets once more. But Pandy had not been wrong. He had heard Mike and Bucky's stealthy approach. Now they were crouched in the darkness less than 50 feet away. Beyond them, closer to the trail, King was watching them. The sight and scent of the man would hurt him. The man the sergeant had arrested had made King restless. After he had eaten, he had left his master's side and looked along the trail in the same direction Mike and Bucky had taken. Now he waited. Suddenly, the big man rose to his feet and ran a large rock in his right hand. King balked to the line. It was too late to warn the two sleeping men. The rock crashed down on Andy's head. Bill raised himself in his blankets just in time to get it directly behind the ear. Bring it up. Give yourself water with supplies. Listen to that thought. I'm telling you. I'll shut the water. Put that gun down. Don't shoot. I can see his eyes. Don't shoot. King swerved as Mike fired. But part of the charge from the shotgun hit him. He kept running in spite of the searing pain. The distance he had covered in a few minutes when he had followed Mike and Bucky seemed to stretch on and on. But at last he saw the campfire and he ran to his master's side. King? What's wrong, boy? Hey, didn't hurt. Looks like he stopped some buckshot. Besides, still here, fella. I'll have you fix that in a minute. The master gratefully as he dressed the wound. But as soon as he had finished, the great dog was on his feet once more. Oh, there's work to be done, eh, King? Did he want you to go somewhere? Evidently. I guess you're fit for duty, boy. I'll saddle up and follow. In a few minutes, King was leading the way along the trail. When he reached Andy and Bill's camp, the two men still lay beside their smoldering campfire. Bill was the first to revive. Take it easy. Who are you? Preston. I was not a police. Did you hit me? No. Are the Jews afraid of the shotgun? No. No, what happened? Don't you remember anything? Andy woke up. He thought he heard something. An animal, maybe. Then we didn't hear the noise again, so we went back to sleep. What a mistake. Then what? I heard something hit near me. Andy, yeah, they set up. It's off. Oh, my head. You'll be all right. Andy. What about Andy? He's right here. He's not... No, he's alive, but he needs a doctor and he can't be moved. We don't have to run back to Dawson and bring one. Don't try to set up, just yet. But why? Sergeant. Sergeant, we've been robbed. So that was the reason. Like rub, like tools. You had no idea who it was? Didn't see him at all. Oh, I saw it was a black shell. I think my dog knows who did it. I think whoever hit you shot him. No, King. I understand what you're trying to tell me, boy. He went toward Mission Creek. We can't follow him right away. I'll bring Doc Muntz and Black with me. Just stay here, King. Hey, I remember now. I heard a dog barking just as I walked. I cruised it. King saw what happened. Stay here and stand guard, King. We'll go after him as soon as I get back. It was daylight by the time the sergeant returned with the doctor, and he and King started on the Mission Creek. It was noon when Mike and Bucky reached it. Hundreds of miners had arrived before them, and the ground at the mouth of the creek was all staked. Some of the men were already washing gravel. Looks like we're late. What do you mean? Well, look for yourself. The ground's all staked. We don't want to claim around here anyway. Why not? Because the goal was discovered two miles upstream. We want to claim right next to the discovery. Are you crazy? Those are the claims that went first. Remember me, Bucky? Time to get it fixed what I want. You just leave it to me, Bucky. I'll tell you when we get to our discovery. Now let's keep going. But two men continued upstream. They reached the discovery claim and still kept on. But Mike stopped when they reached the third claim above discovery. There was a trapper's cabin that had been built high on the bank above the creek on this property. It hadn't been used for years, evidently, and the grizzled old prospector who had staked here had taken it over for his own use. He was sorting out his equipment in front of the cabin. This is it, Bucky. What? This is our claim. I've lost that old man up there. Stakes right in front of your eyes. Yeah. I wonder what happened to ours. Why that beating old buzzard must have pulled it out and thrown it in the creek. Come on. Let's go up and see what he has to say for himself. The two men climbed the bank. The old man looked up and was working smiley. Well, hello, boys. You look all tired out. Yeah. Did you learn taking a little rest? A long rest, Grandpa. Well, you should have got here earlier. I guess you'll have to walk most of the head of the creek before you can stake now. We're going to take our rest right here. Come on inside, Bucky. Okay, now. I guess you can wait until you're invited. We just want to look around. Oh, shit. Come on. Well, sure, sure. Go right on in. This chair is to sit on and even a cot if you want to lie down for a while. Yeah. Looks all right. I found everything here. Just have to clean up a little. Cross the chair and the table a little rickety, but I can fix them up. With gold in my front yard and a nice, tight little cabin like this, what more could a man ask? You don't have to tell us why you picked this spot, Grandpa. I'm telling you to get yourself together and move on. What, Sam? Are you deaf as well as blind? I'm not blind and I'm not deaf. You must have been blind if you didn't see our stake when you got here. I got here early yesterday. I was one of the first. Them helper told me about his strike on his way to Dawson. There was no stake on this claim. Naturally, you're going to try to lie out of it. We stake today before yesterday, right, Bucky? Yeah, that's right. No, you don't. No, I'm not going to make trouble for you, Grandpa. At least I don't want to. I could have you thrown in jail for what you've done, you know? There was no stake on this claim when I got here. Don't waste any more of my time. Get out of here. I won't. It's my cabin. It's my claim. Do I have to throw you out? Are you asking me to hit you one? You wouldn't like it, Grandpa, aren't you? I won't leave. With a flat of my hand to start with, Grandpa? No! Shall I try it with my fist now? No, no. Don't hit me again. Will you get out and stay out? I don't know, but you won't get away with this. I'll tell the police. You do, and you won't stay healthy for long. Understand that? Hey, don't pay to get my gravity sore. You're going to go right into this fist. I'm going to rape you. Don't go on me. Don't hit me. You'll kill a man for it. I'll go. I'll go. Okay. Put your stuff over there, Bucky. Now, take the car. Okay. You'll have to sleep on the floor until we get another one. The old man gathered his outfit together and hurried out of the cabin. He stumbled down the slope outside, and when he reached the bank, he turned up straight. Then he heard someone riding toward him. It was Sergeant Preston, and King was racing along at his side. Sergeant! A couple of crooks up there, Sergeant. They're trying to steal my claim. They say that they staked it first, but I swear they didn't. Looks like King's interested in those men. Yeah, I never saw them before, Sergeant, but they're crooks. I believe you're right. They've been following a man who's wanted for attempted murder, and this seems to be the end of the trail. Easy, fella. Better wait here, isn't it? No. Let me come with you, Sergeant. All right, but if there's any trouble, keep out of it. We're coming, boy. Are you insane, though? Take it. Easy, fella. I know you're never wrong, but we have to make sure. Are these an arm, doesn't it? I don't think so. The big one don't need a gun. He slapped me across the face, and I thought I'd been kicked by a mule. Let's see. Get back. Mike Rafferty and Bucky Andrews. Yeah! What brings you here, Sergeant? King brought me here. As well as those who are trying to jump his claim. Yeah, I staked it, Justin. I staked it the day before. You've forgotten you went to jail yesterday? Why, that was right after I got into town, Sergeant. I came straight from here. Well, check in Dawson. I want to see your supplies and tools. What for? These are there, you know. Yes, that's what they were described to me. Which one of you hit Andy Carlyer last night? It wasn't me. It wasn't either of us. Who's Andy Carlyer? Which one of you shot King? Shot King? Who wanted to do a thing like that? The man who didn't want to be trailed by him? King did fail you, though, and I have enough evidence to convict you both of assault, robbering, claim-jumping, and attempted murder. In a few minutes, I'm going to arrest him. In a few minutes? Yes. I think you shot King, Mike. Why? Because of the way he's acting? I can't prove it in court, but King's word is good enough for me, and that means that you and I have a personal difference to settle. Personal? Nothing to do with your job? Nothing at all. You take off that red coat? I'm taking it off right now. Yeah, that suits me fine. This is my gun, Esmer. See that Bucky doesn't try to get away. I'm going to teach you that you need your gun, Sergeant. There, Esmer. Are you sure that... That's Bucky covered. Yeah. Ready, Mike? I'll show you how ready I am. The lights flashing right sent the sergeant staggering back across the room. But the sergeant was off balance for only a second, and he closed in on Mike, latching right and left to the larger man's face, telling the force to get ground. Mike had a 20 pound advantage in weight, but at least two inches in reach, but the sergeant was faster. And as they traded punches, Mike realized that here was a man who could match the power of his blows. Then suddenly, he saw an opening, and he drove a solid right to the sergeant's jaw. Once more, the sergeant staggered, and this time he hit the rickety old table. The table crashed to the floor. Mike reverted to rough and tumble tactics, and leap for the sergeant, hoping to pin him to the floor, but the sergeant had his feet up, and a violent kick on Mike reeling back to the wall. Sergeant leaped to his feet, and Mike grabbed one of the chairs and charged again. For the terrific effort, he brought the chair down in the sergeant's head, only partially protected by an upraised arm. The sergeant went down, and Mike prepared to jump on him with his thumbnail boots. Only just in time, the sergeant rolled aside, but he had no chance to regain his feet. Mike was on top of him. First, one had the advantage, and then the other, as they wrestled across the floor. They ran their feet in the doorway, one floor. The sergeant hit Mike on the solid right to the door, then knocked him through the door. The big man crashed to the ground, outside. The sergeant went after him. Once more, they quitted punches. Before Mike went into a clinch, he wrestled the sergeant to the ground. The slope of the ground was steep, as each trying to get the upper hand, down into the banks of the creek. But there wasn't enough level ground to stop them. On they went into the water, with Mike in front. His bare-like paws grasped the sergeant around the throat, and he tried to hold him under the water. Then King refused to obey his master's command any longer, and launched himself from the bank at Mike. Mike was knocked off the bench. He was on his feet almost at once. The rest of it had been long enough for the sergeant to regain his feet as well. The sergeant summoned his strength for it to bring us in. Once more, he drove his life to Mike's jaw. The big man wavered for a moment. His hand dropped to his sides. Then he fell like a child's breath, beneath the surface of the water. Come on. Let me get him on to the jaw. Ezra and Bucky hurried to the sergeant's assistance, and together they carried Mike's unconscious paws to shore. I'll take care of him. Quickly, the sergeant rolled him over and started to apply artificial respiration. Mike had inhaled only a little water, and a moment later he sputtered and came to. The sergeant stood up and rolled him over on his back. You're Mike. You're Bucky. You're under arrest in the name of the Queen. He sure did. You already said that your fist made whatever you did right. Well, it was the sergeant's right that won today. Don't forget my assistant, Ezra. This king who brought me here, and Mike would have drowned me if hadn't been for him. I'm grateful, King, and I don't mind telling you. I'm glad the case is closed. These radio dramas, a feature of the challenge of the Yukon Incorporated, are created and produced by George W. Trenville, directed by Fred Flower Day, and supervised by Charles D. Livingston. The part of Sergeant Preston is played by Paul Sutton. This is J. Michael wishing you good bye, good luck, and good health. So long.