 The challenge of the Yukon King the swiftest strongest of Eskimo lead dogs places 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 law and order in the Yukon during the gold rush of 98 That was the year that brought over 50,000 men swarming into the Klondike region and the greed for gold led to frequent violence and bloodshed But in spite of the odds against them the force preserved a splendid record in maintaining the right The challenge of the north was answered and justice rule triumphant Darkness was punctuated by the light of a bobbing lantern as old man Higgins made a tour of his traplines Since his ermine pelts netted him more than any other trapper in the north this idiosyncrasy of carrying a light came to be accepted and Higgins and his lantern were as well known in watch fob as the cluster of rocks he rounded nightly The old man walked with a limp the light He swung at his side falling at intervals on a greasy old Mackinaw and a matted gray beard He approached the rock formation a temporary protection against the piercing wind When suddenly from the darkness in front of him He stumbled fell his face twisting for a moment His eyes straining to see the man who had fired from the darkness the lantern flickered and burned through the night Tell you I saw it myself You're daft Pete right on top of the rocks that lantern was burning as bright as the one old man Higgins used to carry That was six months ago there. What's the difference six months ago a year? It's there I tell you that light was on top of them rocks if you ask me is to spear to Higgins looking for the man that murdered him I'd pass lantern rock at night not me. Yeah, but Sam. I gotta get these first to machete That don't mean a thing to me When I ride mice let I'm riding alone Not with any ghost dog in my trail. I'll give you a hundred dollars if you make that trip. No, sir There ain't a soul on two feet will make that trip except in daylight. I wouldn't do it for a thousand dollars And so the story grew until it became almost a legend Strong men minors toughened by years in the heart of the north who knew the bitterness of disappointment and the exultation of seeking and Finding gold they gathered in cafes and spoke of what they saw in hushed voices Two years past and in the purple van cafe early in the afternoon Say if that Dave Watson, I believe you're right He sure has changed looks like a man as down on his luck myth black would be glad to see him Seems Dave saved his life once while ever prospecting together Dave Dave Watson. Yeah By golly. It's good to see you. How you been fine Pete. How about you? Oh can't complain Will you have it's on me the old specials good enough for me, right two specials read Seen myth yet. No. No, I just got in to tell the truth I hear he has pretty nice strike out near Lendon Rock. Yep, that's so Of course, he ain't never been able to get anyone to help him any out there That is except that fellow he called shorty With them lights appearing on the rock there ain't a man this side of June old be around the place two hours of a stretch Preston you'll be mighty pleased to see him Hey sergeant Hey, hello sergeant. Well, this is a surprise What brings you back to watch Bob after all this time? Oh, I came back to see myth. I Well, I ain't had much luck lately. So I figured maybe I could help him out for a space Well, he always said I have what he had was yours Dave after that accident That looks like your drinks boys Yeah, I know better than to ask you to have a drink sergeant. So here's to you Dave. Thanks Pete I'm going out to myths place myself. We are I'll take you out with me whenever you're ready to leave Well, that's right now then a Short time later as sergeant Preston and Dave walked from the sled to myths cabin. Did you let myth know you were coming? No, I didn't thought I'd surprise him. You probably will he's got a nice place here. Yes, I think he's coming Sergeant Preston what brings you here myth. Well, I'll be Dave where the world did you come from? You're not going to let us stand out here. Are you? Oh, I was so surprised. Well, sure. Come on in Well, I haven't seen Dave for six years. Yeah, it's been a long time Some place you got here. Oh, it's all right here sit down We're heading for Dave's come to help you. Yeah, I thought I know you're welcome to stay around You know that Dave thanks. Thanks myth. I was hoping you'd say that you see I Struck a streak of hard lucks. It's just about done me in whatever I can do for you I will But say how come you're in these parts? I was a matter of fact myth I was coming out to see you anyway when I bumped into Dave at the purple fan What do you get on your mind robberies golden fur Robberies, there's been a lot of them lately and I have a hunch the gang is operating from around here Well, what makes you think so? Well, I've eliminated every other possibility Your own gold may be in danger myth. I haven't noticed and surely you've heard about it. No Oh, I've been sticking pretty close to the cabin. I don't get into town much, but maybe one of the boys would know something Hope you might know something about them. Sorry. I can't help Well that is unless you'd call some funny things have been happening around here lately Part of a setup or something Shorty Hey shorty. Yeah, come here Watching me to friend of mine Shorty, this is Dave Watson. Please. How are you? You know Sergeant? Yeah, sure You mean me funny things happening nothing that I can put my finger on I'm thinking of giving up this business giving up the business. Yeah Ain't said nothing about it. Got a good strike here. Haven't you? Oh, I got enough gold Suppose you tell us well for a long time Other fellas have been telling stories about a lantern on the rock shawnder. I Never thought much about it, but I'm beginning to see it myself lately You've checked for footprints. He's never any around I don't know Now it's my own opinion. No human handsets it there. You're not a man to believe in ghosts It's probably no more than the reflection of the moon. Maybe so Late that night after sergeant Preston had turned his team back toward watch fob and Dave Watson had gone to bed Miff back into shorty Williams who followed him out of the cabin Maybe you'll tell me what this is all about. What's eating your myth? What's this guy staying out here for you're going to take it easy Listen shorty Preston suspects that gang steaming golden furs is staked in these parts. I don't mean nothing to us Lowes, you don't suspect that up and listen to me You know as well as I do we can't have anyone hang around here long Dave don't see any mining going on. He's been a wonder where our gold comes from Maybe that Lantern will scare him away. Why don't you just tell him to leave? I can't do that Don't you understand? I made a bargain with them six years ago I said that half of what's mine was his when he saved me from that landslide But six years is a long time ago In watch fob a week later Sergeant Preston walked into the purple fan cafe. Hey, hi a sergeant. Dave Watson is looking for you No, I see him thanks Hello, Dave Slim said you were looking for me. Yes, sergeant. How are you fine? What brings you to town? I thought you were I mean to get supplies, but I want to talk to you Let's go over here then sit down. No, right? Sergeant I won't waste any time. I heard mistruck gold. Well, yes, he's supposed to have one of them That's just it. I've been mining gold most of my life pulling it out of cricks and blasting it out of rock But what I want to know is this a man's doing hard rock mining. How come he gets cold dust? I don't know. I'm up there blasting away, and I ain't hit no gold but myth He's got enough dust to lay the floor He say where he got the dust sure he says he got it out of his claim. I think King and I'll have to look into this day Don't tell myth you were talking to me Investigating Dave's story Sergeant Preston and King came upon the lantern burning brightly on top of the rocks that night His curiosity roused the Mountie look for footprints that found none Instead he discovered a tunnel behind the rocks The next day talking to Dave Dave here's what I want you to do I'm going to leave That night in miff's cabin while Dave was out getting wood Well, I I got it set up again that lantern on them rocks is throwing a heap of fear into a lot of men Hope it throws something to him Hey, man That lantern out on the rocks. Yeah, it's moving. What move that's right. Let me see Hey It is moving Yeah You're here. I'm here There it is out there Moving around It ain't human The next morning as soon as there was light enough to see shorty was out at the rock covering the ground carefully Returning to the cabin you find any tracks only some wolf tracks or no wolves carrying a light miff. I'm through what you mean through You're not gonna let this I've faced a lot of things in my life. I killed a lot of men But when that lantern starts moving a little tonight What happens tonight will take that gun Shorty paced the floor restlessly as darkness settled over the Yukon Urged by miff to set the lantern out He flatly refused to leave the cabin when suddenly Dave pointed to the light bobbing along Come on shorty. I'm gonna have a look at that go out there. Not me. You got your gun Gun what good is a gun against something that don't even leave footprints. I'll go out you you will all right Dave go on and here's a gun in case you need it. I'll be back in a few minutes Oh, yeah, you ought to let him go why not I can't see nothing on this one. Yeah, I'd like you Come on this way No No, it's gone Dave Where's Dave? Maybe you've got him. Oh, you're talking like he was crazy Dave Dave I saw it. What'd you see come on in here? What was it now come on speak up you look like you've seen a ghost ghost That's it Holding the light like he was looking for something. What did it look like a little shorter than myth Old know an old man and he walked with a limp I could make that out because Leonard had swing a bit as he started towards me I got a look at the face. Yeah, go on Well, he had a beard a gray one But as Mackinac had a patch of red on it right over the heart like he'd been shot or something And I pulled the gun you gave me myth and he just kind of disappeared No, it couldn't be shot. I'm dead with my own gun And that must have been the blood we should have done it. He wasn't even carrying a gun Shut up. You got your share them pelts didn't you share what good to share when I'll be haunted for the rest of my life It's Higgins looking for the man that shot him looking for me. Oh, you killed man before stealing and killing, but never You're both behind those robberies and murders It was a nice job Dave and as for King here Well, he's the best lantern carrier I've ever had Landon yes King's been carrying that land in these last two nights shorty I kept him head in the tunnel sergeant Preston found behind the rock. That was a trick. You mean Higgins wasn't dead man Don't walk shorty. I rest good of you You'll hang for the crimes you committed Yes, King with your help another case is closed Challenge of the Yukon a copyrighted feature of the challenge of the Yukon incorporated brought you every Saturday at this time originated in the transcription studios of WXYZ Detroit the characters and events in tonight's drama were fictitious Bill Morgan speaking. This is the Michigan radio network