 The challenge of the Yukon The Wonder Dog King, swiftest and strongest of Eskimo lead dog, blazes the trail through storm and snow for Sergeant Preston as he meets the challenge of the Yukon. Sergeant Preston was typical of the small bands Northwest knotted police who preserve law and order in a 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 ruled triumphant. The early darkness of winter in the Yukon closed over the small cabin of Constable Higgins in the town of Whitehorse. Higgins, a worried frown on his face, looked anxiously at his wife who lay on a cot in the corner. It's time for your medicine, Mary. Doctors said every two hours. All right, Jim. You feeling any better? I guess the fever's gone down some. Well, here's the medicine. And some water. Now, maybe you can sleep. You need it. Howdy. You, uh, Constable Higgins. Uh, yes. Come in. I can't come in. I'm Corporal Wilson, Northwest Mount Police. I have two prisoners here that I'd like to put in your custody for the night. Well, uh, be right with you, Corporal. I'll wait out here. You've got to go down to the jail, Mary. Think you'll be all right by yourself? Sure, Jim. Bundle up. It's a bad night. Oh, that won't be long. Some prisoners have to be locked up for the night. Take the lantern, Jim. All right. Ready, Corporal? Which way, Constable? Straight ahead to the edge of the street. Hugh, LaRue, and you, Jackson, walk ahead of us. All right, all right. I'm dead for sleep. Came all the way from Briggs Gap in three days. From Briggs Gap? Well, that don't sound possible. LaRue and Jackson got to sleep. I had to guard them. We'll lock them up while you rest. They're tough customers. They'll need guarding. Is Sergeant Preston in town? Well, I'm expecting him. He usually stays with us when he comes through here. I'd like to see him while I'm in his territory. We're old friends, you know. What if he comes in tonight? I'll tell him that you're here. This is it, Corporal. I'll let you two get in there. This ain't much of a sale in here, but it's good and strong. This is the first time I've felt free in three days. Now, Corporal, you just go over to Bill's Tavern. He'll give you a good bed. Jackson and LaRue are the meanest pair I've ever handled. Tricky, vicious... Well, thank you, Constable. I'll go and get some sleep. Good night, Wilson. Good night. I'll light the fire in this stove, boy. I don't mind the fire. We're starving. We have nothing hot for a long time. It's so key. Well, if you'd rather eat than get warm, I'll get some food for you. Sure wouldn't like it. You can't let us starve. You're right. I'll run over to the house and bring you something. We've got to get out of here. This is the first time we've been out of that Mountie site. We? Anything is safety. We're breaking out the same way we did in British Columbia. When he passes the two of the bars, I grab his hands and you grab his throat. I am starving. There, I got him. Close enough. Now you can get them keys. They're on his belt. You can let him go and crack him over the head with it so he'll stay out for a while. I'm going to take the oil out of this lantern and set the place on fire. The whole town will be fighting it. We can get away. If we're lucky, they'll think we was burned and they won't start chasing us until it's too late to catch us. Mark, he's mad. He's unconscious. Fine. He won't even know what's happening to him. We'll go to his cabin and get some food. Shortly after Jim Higgins left his cabin with food for the prisoners, Sergeant Preston drove up with his dog Dean. Ho, King! Ho, you huckie! It's Sergeant Preston, Mrs. Higgins. Can't get out. I've been sick for two days. Well, I shouldn't have disturbed you. Oh, you didn't. We're always glad to see you. We were expecting you for the night. I won't plan to stay here if you're ill. My Sergeant, you're just like our son. You'll no trouble. The back room is empty and ready for you. Where's Jim? He's down at the jail. Some prisoners were brought in. Guess he'll be back soon. I brought a package over from Bickford by Dave's shaver at the cafe. I guess I'll go over now and give it to him and stop by at the jail afterwards. Well, now, you come back with him, won't you? Yes. Now leave my dog team here and unpack when I get back with Jim. Come on, boy. You come with me. Jackson and LaRue circle the town to get to Jim Higgins' cabin at the end of the street. As they crept toward it in the darkness, one of the huskies, there's dogs in front of this cabin. Can you see in the window? We. Is there anybody there? Nobody's there but the woman. Wait, I'm going to have a look in front. LaRue. Look, it's a dog sled all packed and nobody with it. Maybe we don't have to rob these cabinets. Come on, we're taking that sled. Listen, someone spotted the fire. Come on, we're getting out of here. Come on, King. Has anyone seen Jim Higgins? Come on, King. We're going in after him. Find him, boy. There's smoke. Find him, King. I can't see. You got it, King? All right, boy. I'll bring it. We'll take him over to your cabin, Ned. How is he, Sergeant? He's had a bad crack on the head. Falling into timber must have hit him. Hey. I think he's regaining consciousness. Jim. Jim, can you talk to me? Get him. He's worried about the men he had locked up. They didn't have a chance. You mean there was men in that jail? Yes, the whole cell was a roaring inferno. No, no. Sergeant President, oh, hello, President. Oh, Cobra Wilson, I didn't know you were in town. For those of my prisoners in that jail. What happened to them? I'm afraid they're dead, Wilson. Burned to death. What's he trying to say? What is it, Jim? What did you say? Prisoners escaped. Escaped? Sergeant, that's what happened. They got out and set fire to Jay's bed. Take care of Jim. He'll be all right. Just keep him quiet. Come on, Wilson. My dog team is ready. We can't lose any time. Don't let them in that jail without me. I should have known they'd fooled old Constable. Don't worry, Wilson. There's a blizzard coming up, and they won't get far without a dog team and food. They'll be tracks around the jail, too. My dog will have us on their trail in no time. What's the matter with King? He's gone past the Higgins' cabin. He's going out on the trail. King, come back here. Here, fella, come back. Why? Why, the team is gone. Do you think that they've stolen my dog team? They stole this from headquarters. Two prisoners escaped from me and steal your dog team. I'm sorry, Preston, it's all my fault. Now they have much of a start and there's a blizzard coming up. Come on, Wilson. They'll carry our packs and get after them right away. That's King's team, and taking it may be the worst mistake they could have made. That dog of yours can follow this trail? King knows his business. He knows what he's looking for. He'd have got him now if he didn't have to wait for us. Look, he's going that way. Yes, my team is used to a lead dog. They may get off the trail without him. There's no sense of direction in this blizzard. You can't see 10 feet ahead. Wilson, I have a plan. We're staying right here, but they'll get too far away. King, come here, boy. King, get the dogs, boy. Go get them and bring them here to me. Get the dogs, fella, and bring them back. Arctic night was black and cold as Jackson and LaRue urged the dog team on desperately. The wind blew flex of ice into their faces as they bent against him. But Jackson, I swear we have gone off the trail. This snow, it gets deeper. I think we should stop. We've got to keep going. That dog up in front don't know what he's doing. King, did you hear something? Listen. Sounds like a dog. Hey, look at that team. They're heading around the circle. King, get back there. It's coming off of fast. I don't know which way we were headed, do you? I am complete lost. Look, it's a great big dog. Look at him nipping at their heels and turning them. They know him. He must be their leader. He has followed them here. Nobody with him, that's sure. Maybe he can get us back on the trail. I'm on the trail, you're husky. Look, he knows what I said. He's getting out in front. Preston and Wilson waited back on the trail, hidden behind a huge drift of snow, stamping their feet to keep warm. As the hours dragged by, Wilson grew skeptical. I don't believe you do it, Preston. It doesn't sound possible, but he can understand you. Patience, fella. King always obeys orders. Listen, that's King now. Get down here behind this drift. Have you done what he... These men are desperate. We'll surprise them. You take them under the handlebars. I'll get the other one. Put up your hands. You're under arrest. All right, LaRoe, up with them. This time I'll shoot at your slightest move. How did you know? Where did you come from? All right, I give up. Two mountains. Get the handcuffs on them, Wilson. We're taking both of you back. Good work, King. I've heard about that dog of yours, but I had to see it to believe it. We're ready to go. All right, march ahead, you two. On, King! On, you husky! 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 the same time and reach you from our transcription studios. Al Neal speaking, this is the Michigan Radio Network.