 The challenge of the Yukon. The King, the new Husky! The Wonder Dog King, swiftest and strongest of Eskimo the 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 band of Northwest knotted police, who preserve law and order in the new Northwest country, with a greed, a 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 general store in Eagle City was crowded as Sergeant Preston's pulled in with his huge Dog King at his side. The various orders of the place always fascinated King, and they left the Sergeant's side as the money stopped to make a purchase. Suddenly, behind a huge stank of blankets, the Dog King face-to-face with a small boy who was also investigating on his own. You scared me for a minute, Dog. Gee, you're pretty near bigger than I am. Your head's as tall as mine. Children were usually afraid of King, and he was taught to avoid them. But this young man seemed to have no fear of the huge husky, and King felt strangely pleased as the little fellow's arms went around his shaggy neck. Oh, wonderful, Dog. Oh, God, can just get my arms around your neck to hug ya. Oh, whisper something in your ear. My mom hates dogs. She won't even eat. Somebody take this towel! What's wrong, Mrs. Arnold? Take him away! Oh, my child, that big dog! Will he eat her? What is it? My boy, that big dog! She's afraid of King. King, her fellow, come here. Sorry, lady. Oh, God, baby, are you hurt? Oh, Mom, you're just silly. That dog's my friend. I'm sure King wouldn't hurt him, lady. King doesn't bite people, and he's never hurt a child. Don't try and tell me anything about those brutes. They're nothing but wolves. They just as soon as fly as your throat is, look at you. Oh, no, really, ma'am? You, a mountie. You certainly ought to know better than that, a brute like that run for you. Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am, but you've got King all wrong. He's gentle. He's a wonderful dog, and I wish I had him for my very own, and you won't even let me pet him. Now, come down, or we're leaving. And don't ever let me see you go near one of those vicious animals again. Goodbye, dog. What that kid's going to have is ma'am not even letting him pet a dog. Well, in a way, she's right. All dogs aren't like King. She just hasn't learned to tell the difference. Who is she? That's Mrs. Arnold, old Judge Denby's daughter. She's visiting here from Montreal. Boy, he's his grandson. She ain't never been in this part of the country before. He seems like a nice youngster. Young Don's love for dogs was almost an obsession. Perhaps because he was forbidden to pet or go near one, their fascination for him doubled. Later that day, his grandfather discovered him gazing sorely out of the window. Big tear just dropped off the end of his nose. Boy, son, what's wrong with you? Oh, nothing. Oh, he's been sulking all morning because I took him away from one of those big sledge dogs. He was actually hugging the thing. He liked me. My Lord, Timon. She said he was a vicious brute, but he was so kind and... No, Jane, why don't we stop all this? Let me get the boy apart. No, Father, we've gone through all this before. You spoil him terribly. Give him everything he wants, whether it's a boy or not. But Jane, a boy and a dog just naturally go together like coffee and cream and ice cream and cake. I've heard all your arguments, Father. Now, let's not talk about it anymore. No use, Grandpa. Get your Parker on, son. Come walk down to the courthouse with me. Father, you have to stay there all afternoon. Donald can't wait for you. I can walk back, can I? Please, Mom, let me go with him. Well, all right. But come right back and put on those fur-lined boots and warm mittens. Just a second, Grandpa. I'll be right with you. Hurry. As Donald started for home after leaving his grandfather, he saw a small sled pulled by one huge dog standing in front of the general store. The child sighed with envy as he watched the young Eskimo boy load the sled with supplies and get ready to leave. Don approached the Eskimo hesitantly. Is that your dog? Yes, him mine. Is he all yours? Huh? I mean, can you pull you on that sled whenever you want to? Yes. Boy, are you lucky. You've got no dog? No, my mom. She hates him. You just come here. You chachaco? I don't know. Say, would you give me a ride on that sled? Me leave Eskimo village ten mile away. Must get home today. Oh. You... You never ride on dog sled? No, but I sure would like to. You want ride partway? Walk back? Oh, yes, I wouldn't mind walking back. All right. You sit back here. I ride you two, three miles. You walk back. You pull fur around you. This is great. Ready? Sure, I am. Must change. Must change. To call of the Eskimo boy, the Yukon territory was like an open book. Ten or fifteen mile trek was nothing, and they didn't realize the difference between himself and the young lad who was city bread. They were about five miles from town when he stopped his dog. Watching. Oh, watching. Maybe now you better go back, boy. Gee, it's been swell, Calla. Thanks. You sure are lucky to have a dog like this. Me come town again. Give you more ride. That'd be wonderful. I'm sure glad I saw you. Goodbye. You take trail back, Calla. Sure. Goodbye. Calla and his dog were soon out of sight over the hills as Don began his homework trek. They had covered ground quickly with Calla's dog, and he had no idea far he was away from home. When a big snow shoe rabbit bounded out from behind a bush in front of him, he went leaping through the snow to pursue it joyfully. Hey, you rabbit, I'll get you. The wind was rising, and the early Arctic night was descending rapidly. When Don discovered he had lost the trail he was following home. I was sure it was this way. He went so cold. What shall I do? He paced the floor waiting for Sergeant Truston, trying vainly to console his weeping daughter. When... There. That must be Sergeant Preston now. I'm already Sergeant. Come in. Do you mind if I bring King in for a minute? No, no, of course not. Come in, King. Down boy. Down there, fella. Oh, this is my daughter, Mrs. Arnold, Sergeant. We met in the store this morning. How do you do? Sergeant, if you can only find Don... I have some good news for you. We know which direction he went. Where? You? Which way? Jim Jackson saw him getting on a sled at an Eskimo boy who was driving. Sled? With an Eskimo? There's an Eskimo village about 10 miles north of here, and we may find him there. But why would he go off with an Eskimo? We'll probably want it a ride on a dog sand. Dog? Again, it's a dog. If only he could forget those horrible animals. Mrs. Arnold, we're going to have to depend on a dog to find him. Oh, what do you mean? It's dark and we're going to have to depend a lot on King's scent and hearing. Have you something of Don's that I can show King and let him know what we're looking for? Oh, what is it? Sweater? That'll be fine. Here, King. Here, boy. Get the scent. We're going to find Don. He seems to understand you, Sergeant. It's all routine to King. Got it, boy? We'll take the sweater with us if you don't mind. You mean he'll really try to pick up Don's scent? He will pick up Don's scent if he crosses it. Ready? All ready, Sergeant. No. Don't worry, Jane. We'll bring Don back. I'll... I'll try not to worry. Oh, Harry, and good luck. The northern lights splash their color on the sky and their glow lighted the forest dimly. With the elf of a wolf coming closer, the boy was terror-stricken. He ran in panic to a spruce tree and in spite of his heavy clothing, he managed to climb into its low-hanging branches. Suddenly a gray shape dried it out from the thicket and stopped beneath the tree. Donald drew up his feet in terror and looked down at the huge gray animal beneath him. The wolf's eyes gleamed hungrily and Don wondered if he were out of reach of its terrible fangs. His hands were growing numb with cold. I... I can't... Hang on. Has King found something, Sergeant? Here's where Don left the trail. He went off this way. Oh, I don't like the sound of those wolves. Let's hurry, Sergeant. I think we'd better let King go on ahead. King? Here, boy. Follow these tracks. Find him, fella. Come on, King. Find him, boy. As King raced over the frozen ground following Don's trail, a growl rose from his throat, as another scent joined out of the boys. It was the scent of a wolf. The trail zigzagged through the forest and the hair on King's back rose as he suddenly saw the huge beast beneath the tree. The timber wolf turned and bared his fangs. The king launched himself at his throat with a roar of defiance. Don drew numb with terror. He swayed and then fell from the branch of the ground, almost under the fighting animal. He lay close to the tree, too terrified to move while the battle raged around him. Suddenly, the growling stopped. One of the animals lay quietly in the snow. The other came slowly toward Don. That sounds like King now. That is King. We're coming, boy. Do you think he's found him, Sergeant? I know King he has. This is open to the tree. Here we are, boy. All right, King, I'll follow you. Found him. Don, are you... Wait a minute. Yes, he's alive, Judd. Oh, Don. Don, son. Are you all right? Why, look, Sergeant. He's full of blood. His face... He's been lying close to King. King's full of it, too. I'll carry you, Don. We'll put you on the sled. Look here, Judd. A wolf. One of the biggest I've ever seen. King... King saved me. King will stay right beside you all night, Donald. Here, Judd, you better let me carry him. There's quite a walk back to that sled. Come on, boy. All that night, King, stayed close beside Don's bed. Twice, the child of wolf gasped in with terror, but grew quiet when he rested his hand on the great dog's head. Don's mother looked Don an amazement. What? That dog's almost human. He's so gentle. He seems to know just how... The boy and the dog they sure go together. The next morning, Preston was greeted by King as he came into Donald's bedroom. Hello there, Fuller. How are you, Don? I'm fine. King was wonderful. He stayed beside the bed all night long. Are you going to take him away, Sergeant Preston? Well, I'll tell you, Don, King has his job to do. But I thought maybe we could make a trade. Here, look in this basket and see if you'll give up King for this. How could he grow so up to look just like King? Oh, he's wonderful. Mother! Yes, Don. I've changed my mind about dogs. I think they're wonderful, too. I think they're wonderful, too. Oh, gee! Yes, King, old boy. I guess work here is done. It looks as if this case is closed. These copyrighted features originate in the studios of WXYZ Detroit. In 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. How are you speaking? This is Michigan Radio Network. This is Michigan Radio Network.