 the strongest lead dog of the Northwest, blazing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mountain Police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers and kings. In the wild race for wonder dogs, Yukon King. Scores of men had gone into the Yukon in the hope of finding gold. They were men of all types, some honest, some dishonest. And there were many who had never committed a crime, but who's lost for a share of the great wealth that was being found on all sides, turned their heads, and distorted their thinking. Mike Cramer had a claim about 30 miles north of Dawson, where he worked hard day after day. The land adjoining his claim had been staked by Sam Nelson. Sam worked equally hard, and each night over supper compared notes in the cabin he shared with Mike. Finished weighing up your dust, Mike? Yeah, I finished. Didn't take long. $5 for a whole day's hard work. $5 measly with a gold. Well, that's not to be sneezed at, Mike. It's $5 more than I can show with the day's work. Oh, you're sore because I got first choice of the land. Oh, Mike, I'm not sore at all. Whatever gave you that idea? You'll be crushing me what little I do get. Sakes of life, Mike. Don't get that notion. I'm glad that you're doing a little bit better than what I am. You've got to come into it. After all, if it hadn't been for you, I couldn't have come to the Yukon. And if it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have sold out my store and left the states. But I got only myself to blame. Should have known better to listen to you. Yeah, should have known better. My own fault. Well, all I can do now is to hope to get enough to take me back to the states. You mean leave the Yukon? That's just what I mean. Mike, you wouldn't do that? Not after all the trouble we had getting here, getting a house built, and getting a house. House? Look at it. A fine place for a man to live in. One room, hardly big enough to turn around. That's only until we strike it rich, Mike. Then we go back to the states and we'll be rich. Strike it rich? Bad chance. I'm counting on it. I'm sure I'm on the track of a good vein of pay dirt, Mike. I'll hit it sooner or later. And then we'll be rich. So what good will that do me? What good will it do you? Oh, wait a minute. I savvy your scheme. You want us to pool our efforts and split what comes of it, is that it? Well, we're partners. Yeah, but not that way. Oh, that's it, eh? You take half of the cash I get and give me half of the rich strike you'll never make. I'll make it, Mike. Yeah, you do, and you can keep it. I'm keeping all I find, see? I'm not splitting with you or anyone else. All right, Mike, that's the way you want it. It's the way I want it. It's the way it's going to be. Whatever you say, Mike, whatever you say. Each day found Mike increasingly hard to get along with. Sam tried hard to be patient and tolerant. And in the meantime, worked long hours with pick and shovel, following traces that he hoped would lead to a vein of the rich gold ore. And then one evening, Mike was the first to reach the small cabin. He shoved logs into the stove to build up a fire, then crossed the room for water to make tea. Hey, Mike! Mike! What? There was an urgency in Sam's voice when he shouted from 100 yards away. Mike opened the door quickly and saw his friend advancing on the run. Mike! Mike, great day of the morning! Mike, wait until I show you what I've got. Calm down, Sam. Take it easy. Great gun, you look like you've seen a ghost or something. More than that, Mike. More than that, I've got it. I'm struggling rich. Now, take it easy. Come on inside. Didn't you hear me, Mike? You said I've stuck at rich. I've hit the pay dirt. I've found the vein. I told you I'd find that vein sooner or later. Now I've done it. Look. Look at the sample I got in my hand. Take a look at it, Mike. Real close. Don't get your hopes up, Sam. There's plenty of disappointments in this business. Plenty of disappointments is right. I've known them all. This time I tell you I've got gold. Well, wait a minute. Let me examine this. Yeah. Let's put it at the test. I'll hear on the table. Let's see what the acid does to it. Yeah. Try the acid on it. Go ahead and try it. You'll see that I know gold. Not just a minute now. I'm putting the acid right on this spot here. You see? You see, Mike? Well, you've found the salmon. It is gold. You've done it right. It is. You say you've found a vein? Yes. And a rich one. Look at that there, Rocket. It's down there pure gold. And there's tons of it. Tons, I tell you. It looks like you hid it, Sam. Are you sure the vein is on your claim? Yes. And it's a big one. Oh, I wish I could tell you the vein ran towards your claim, Mike. But it goes in the other direction. Well, Sam, I guess you're the lucky one this time. You're going to be a rich man. Yeah, and I can't believe it. I just have to sit here and look at it and pinch myself. I just can't believe it. Well, in a couple of weeks, you'll be taking a big load of gold to Dawson. Yes, and you're coming with me, Mike. We'll put on a celebration that even Dawson will never forget. It was a few weeks later that Sam Nelson and Mike came down to Dawson. Sam had made good his promise. And the gold nugget cafe rang with noise and laughter as Sam celebrated his strike. Boys, this is our night to home. Oh, this is sure some party, Sam. He is helping you strike gold often until there's kind of a party every time. Why is he just starting? Well, Bonnie, let the boys order anything they want. It's all on me. Hey, that's Sergeant Preston. You know him, don't you, Sam? Why, sure, sure I do. Hello there, Sergeant. Come on over and join us. Hello, Sam. How are you? Pull up a chair, Sergeant. We're celebrating the big strike I made. I'm rich. Oh, glad to hear it, Sam. You deserve it. You worked hard. Oh, I guess you never met my neighbor, Mike Cramer. Have you? Hello, Mike. Howdy. Mike has a claim next to mine. We've been roughing it together for quite a spell. I'm the only one who'll be roughing it from now on. Wouldn't you have, Sergeant? This party's all on me. Sorry, Sam, I'm on duty. Tell me more about the strike you made. Sam brought $20,000 with a gold in the Dawson today, and it looks as if he's gonna keep it up for a while. Oh, you did strike it rich. But you better be careful, Sam. Don't pack too much gold around on the trail. There have been a few hold-ups lately. Hold-ups? Is that so? Yes. Gosh, Sergeant Preston, some of the boys have been talking to hold-ups, but I didn't take it serious. I thought they were trying to worry me. Have they really been hold-ups along the trail? That's right, Sam. Hold-ups wouldn't bother you much, Sam. With a claim like yours, you could afford a few stick-ups. Just the same, Mike. I don't like to think about it. Some of those critters shoot to kill before they do their robin. And look here, Sergeant Preston, how would it be if I waited until you'd come by my place before I brought down the next load of gold? What's up to you, Sam? I'll feel a lot safer with you and King along his guards. Maybe six weeks before I'll be up as far as your place. Six weeks, huh? Well, that's all right. I'll have a sizable load by that time. Could wait if you're sure you'll be by my place in six weeks. I'll be there unless something happens to disrupt my schedule. I've got to go to Craig's Landing. I'll come back by way of your place to pick you up. Good. I'll have a first-rate bodyguard. I guess I'm not good enough as a bodyguard, eh, Sam? Oh, now, Mike, I didn't mean to belittle you. He says that highwaymen might lie and wait by the trail and shoot both of you and me. But they'll think twice and three times before they'll shoot a Mountie. Now, don't get sore about it, Mike. I'm not sore. Well, I'm glad to hear that. You and me appels, Mike. Oh, excuse me, Sam. A friend of mine just came in. A jet I want to talk to. All right. I'll be back in a little while. Meanwhile, I'll tell Sergeant Preston how I found the vein of gold. Hey, Mike, you got a vein of gold? I'll be back. The man who had just entered the Golden Nugget Cafe had shifty eyes and a manner that would not inspire confidence. He watched from a position near the door as Mike approached. Hello, Pete. Hi, Mike. I was hoping for a chance to talk to you. I saw you come in, eh? Let's get out of here where we can talk. We can stand right here and talk, can't we? We can sit right here as long as that Mountie's around. Come on. I got a room in the Northern Hotel. We can talk there. But they might think it's funny if I leave. Your friend's too busy celebrating. You won't miss you. You know, I gotta steer clear of the law. Look, you go on back to the hotel. I'll break away a little later and come over there. I hope this is a good proposition you have. It can be worked out. The room is number 19. I'll see you in an hour. An hour later, Mike sat in the small hotel room talking earnestly to Pete. The lamp lighted Pete's face dimly through the thick cigar smoke that curled around his head. His small pig eyes narrowed as he listened. He's taken a lot of gold out of that claim. More than you ever saw in your life. Eh, go on. What's on your mind? You planning to jump it? I'd sure like to, but that's impossible. Sam's in too well with the law around here. I thought if I told you the general scheme of things, you might have some ideas. Our little trick in Seattle worked out fine. I thought that one up. It sure worked out. Nobody even suspected I was in on it. But they did suspect me. That's why I want to stay clear of the law. They may be looking for me. And I want to get out of this Canadian territory. These mountains are poison. How you fix for money? I'm flat broke. That's why I came in to Dawson today to sell my dog team. I thought you might have been in on some of these hold-ups they've been having lately. Maybe I was. If you'd listened to the whole story, you'd have heard the people who were robbed weren't carrying enough to make it worthwhile. Don't sell your dog team. We'll be needing it. I'll give you enough to carry it for a while. What's it all about, Mike? My plan was to wait until Sam gets ready to make another trip down here to bank his gold. I'd come with him to help him. And I'd let you know when we were coming. I'd hold up and I'd make it easy for you. Uh-huh. Then I'd pretend to sprain an ankle or something and delay Sam getting to Dawson and to give you plenty of time to get away before the Maudies were notified. And we could have met somewhere later and divided the take. What's wrong with that plan? That Maudie just threw a monkey ranch into it. He's coming up to meet Sam and bring him back to Dawson himself. Oh, that's different. There's no chance of a hold-up with him on the job. I'll be bringing. Well, that's a rich bane, he struck. The Maudies coming up there in about six weeks. Mm-hmm. Sam ought to have over 20,000 by then. Couldn't we just do the robin before the Maudie gets there? Ah, he'd be on our trail in no time. And he'd have my description. We'd never get to the border. This Maudie seems to be pretty smart. They're all smart. But I think maybe I'm smarter. Mike, I've got a plan. And before we're through, this Maudie will wish he'd never heard of Sam and his goal. It was about six weeks later that Sergeant Preston made his way along the trail from Craig's Landing toward Sam's cabin on the river. The weather had been clear for four days. The dogs raced over the well-packed trail. As he rounded a bend, he saw two men coming toward him. One of them was Mike Kramer. Sergeant Preston, I'm sure I'm glad to see you. Hello. You're Sam's friend, Kramer, aren't you? Yeah, I didn't think you'd remember me. And this is a friend of mine, Jules Marson. Hello, Jules. We were starting to Craig's Landing to see if we'd get word to him. Sam's been murdered. We found him this morning. Jules and I had gone off hunting. We were away three days, and we got back and we stopped off to give Sam some caribou meat and found him dead in his cabin. Someone has shot him from the back through window. Did you see Sam before you left on this hunting trip? We. He tell us to be sure to bring him back something that tastes like fresh meat. Anyone with him while you were away? No, he was all alone. I can't think who'd do a thing like that, Sergeant. Everybody likes Sam. Mike is Sam's best friend. Yes, this must be a shock to you, Mike. It sure is. I plan to go to Dawson with you and Sam as soon as you came. Oh, Sam. Now that he was rich and planning to take it easy, this had to happen. Did you leave the cabin? We knew you'd be coming, so we didn't touch a thing. Good. Let's go back to Sam's cabin right away. When Sergeant Preston stopped his team in front of Sam's cabin, King, his big lead dog, walked his side towards the door. Mike looked at King in surprise. Your lead dog coming in with you, Sergeant? Yes, King always comes with me, by telling me to stay with the team. What's the idea of that? Has Sam ever told you about King? No. Is he famous or something? He's a very intelligent dog. I need his help at times. Except for pulling the sled, I can't see much use for much. I guess you don't know much about dogs, Mike. That King is big, fella. I bet he's a good fighter, no? He doesn't fight unless he has to and he does a good job of it. Let's take a look inside. It's not the light of fire. There's Sam. Just the way we found him. The body's frozen. He must have been killed yesterday, the day before. There wasn't even a spark of fire left in the stove. Shot in the back of the head. From window back there, you see? Oil paper torn out. That's where the shot came from, all right? Help me get Sam's body up on that. Got it. Take his feet, Mike. Sure. That's it. Poor Sam. I'd like to get my hands on the pole cat who did this. Sam, he was your best friend. Yeah. Do you know where Sam kept his gold, Mike? Oh, yeah. That's how I knew he was robbed. Sam wasn't very smart about hiding it. He kept it in that big chest. The padlock is smashed. That not too smart place for to hide it. I told him that. But Sam had the crazy idea that nobody around here would rob him. He wouldn't even have locked the chest if I hadn't made him. You'll find the murderous tracks. Jules and I, look. It's been clear for four days. Yes, here are the tracks coming around the cabin and going back again. We were careful not to cover them. Jules and I walked over there. I'm glad you didn't disturb them. Do you see the mark on his right boot heel track? As if a nail or something was on the heel. You won't be hard to trail. The tracks lead over that clump of bushes there. Let's see what's over there. This man not know much about woods. He would cover track better if he knew. Right, Jules. Must be very stupid to leave such a clear trail. Has Ray left his dog team? Wonder why he didn't leave it on the trail where the snow was packed down. This track it is like riding in the snow. Certainly shows which direction he took. So plain it almost looks as if he wanted to be followed. He probably thought it would snow and his tracks would be covered before anyone found Sam. No. On such clear nights as we had, even a fool would know it would not snow. Things got the scent. Come here, King. You're gonna follow his trail, aren't you, Sergeant? Yes, of course, but I'll have to get supplies from the trading post first. Sergeant, would it be asking too much to take me with you on your trail and murderer? Sam was my best friend. And I won't sleep nights until a man is caught. Why, no, Mike, I'd like to have you come with me if you want to. It is right you should go, Mike. You and Sam, you were like brothers. Okay, Mike. I'll be back as soon as I can. We'll start on the trail. Come along, King. All right. On, King. On, King. This track, it is funny thing the killer would leave such clear trail. Why, why, you laugh, Mike. You are so sad when we find Sam. Oh, I am sad, Mike. I'm just laughing at how easy the murderer made it for us to track him. Why, the Sergeant and I should catch up with him in no time at all. Sergeant Preston returned a short time later. Then he and Mike set out to trail the murderer. King led the team at a fast pace along the well-packed trail. Soon, however, the tracks branched off of the main trail and led Northwest into the wilderness. Nothing Northwest. Trying to make the border. We've made good time. These dogs' ears are fast. It's getting dark, but we'll keep going as long as possible. Maybe we'll find a cabin somewhere and hold in for two hours later on. It was a few hours later that Sergeant Preston and Mike found a cabin near the trail. The owner had left, but the door was unlocked and a fire was set in the stove. The Mountian Mike went to bed immediately after eating. Oh, I'm dead tired. How sure asleep. I'm tired too. Hey, you want me to put King outside? No, King always sleeps beside my bed. You mean you let him stay in the cabin all night? That's what I mean. Well, good night, Sergeant. Good night, Mike. I'll blow out the lamp. Sergeant Preston fell into a sound, dreamless sleep. Two hours passed, and then suddenly he was awakened by King's growl. Shut up, you muck! Mike, what's wrong? Why, uh, that dog of yours don't sleep very sound, does he? Why was he growling? I just got up to get a drink of water. That's odd. I don't see why he'd growl, isn't it? What's wrong, King? Maybe he heard someone crawling around the cabin or something. Someone out there, fella? Maybe we'd better have a look. Do you hear something out here, boy? He won't go out. Guess that wasn't it. I guess he was just dreaming. Maybe he was growling in his sleep. Didn't sound like it. Maybe I scared him, moving around in the dark. I guess King could talk. Well, he's quiet now. I guess there's nothing to worry about. Guess not. Well, we'd better get some more sleep. The following morning, Sergeant Preston looked carefully for tracks around the cabin. He found none. When the dogs were harnessed, he ordered King up front. Up front, boy? Go on, King. King, what's wrong with you? He asked me. He needs a taste of the whip. For some reason or other, he doesn't seem to want to leave me. King, up front, I say. The big dog sensed that his master was in danger. He barked and whined. But finally, after a sharp command, took his place at the head of the team. King, on the team! The weather stayed clear, and the tracks of the man they were pursuing were plain and easy to follow. It was later in the day, and they were going along fast, when suddenly a snowshoe rabbit darted out ahead of them on the trail. Mike quickly jerked up his rifle and fired. Whoa, whoa! Mike, you fool, you hit King. What? Oh, no, Sergeant. I missed him by a mile. Come here, King. Hold still a minute, boy. There you see his ears bleeding. You nicked it. Oh, God, Sergeant, I'm sorry. I've always been a good shot. You weren't good enough to hit that rabbit. Now, after this, don't shoot at anything in front of my dog team. Understand? I can't tell you how sorry I am, Sergeant. It was an accident. That rabbit came on the trail so fast that I didn't have time to think. Well, I guess it was an accident. Sorry I lost my temper, but next time be careful. It was late that night when they finally made camp out in the wilderness. Sergeant Preston knew by the tracks that they were rapidly gaining on the killer. We should catch up with him by tomorrow. I'll make camp here and then get an early start. We've done some fast travel. He's lucky for us his weather held out. It made the trail easy to follow. I'll get the fire started. All right, Mike. Oh, I'll need some more wood. I'll cut some. Come on, King. As the sergeant started to chop a log, King lay quietly in the shadow of a clump of bushes. Though it was dark, the snow reflected the pale glow of the northern lights and he could watch his master. And suddenly, his ears prepped forward as he heard a slight movement in the trees behind the mountain. King lifted his nose and then launched his body forward into the trees. There was a sudden thought in pride. Oh, Preston, help! Take him away! Get away, boy. What's the meaning of this, Mike? Hold him while I get up. Leave that gun where it is. Tell me what happened. I was just coming to help you. I thought you'd need some help bringing back the wood and this crazy mutt knocked me down and attacked. King never attacks anyone without a reason. He never liked me from the beginning. Dogs are like that. They often have a very good reason. Why were you carrying a rifle when you came to help me bring back wood? Well, walking here in the woods, I was afraid some animal might... You'd better start telling the truth, Mike. The truth? What do you mean? You deliberately tried to kill King earlier today. If you're trying to do it again, or was I going to be the target this time? My sergeant, Preston, you're crazy. It was all harmless. Do you think I tried to keep you from catching Sam's murderer? Sam was my best friend. I was just coming to help you and you couldn't hear me because you were chopping wood. Maybe King thought I was going to hurt you or something. King doesn't make mistakes like that, Mike. Well, this time he could have. I was walking towards you behind this clump of trees. It could easily have looked as if I meant to harm you or something. I suppose it could have been another accident. Well, sure it was. Just like this afternoon. I can't afford to take any chances. What do you mean? For some reason, King doesn't trust you. It's been on my side since we started out. But it doesn't make sense. He hasn't any reason. It would make sense if you knew who killed Sam and wanted to keep me from catching him. But why would I want to do that? Sam was my best friend. What good would it do me if you didn't catch the killer? The man who murdered Sam left a very clear trail behind him. He may have left it purposely so that you could follow it after getting rid of me. But neither one of you knew about King. Sergeant, I swear you're wrong. I want to catch the man as much as you do. Yes, Mike, I may be wrong. But nevertheless, I'm going to handcuff you. What? Until we catch this killer, I want to know exactly what you're doing all the time. You'll ride the sled handcuffed to it. You can't do that. It'll slow us down. You aren't very heavy. Sergeant, you're wrong. I tell you, you'll be sorry. Don't waste your breath, Mike. It's the way it's going to be and nothing you can say will change it. The following day, the chase continued with Mike riding on the sled, and the country grew wilder as they headed northwest. Huge rocks boarded the sides of the trail and there were no tracks except those of the killer they were pursuing. The sky was clear and the setting sun cast a glare into their eyes, making it hard to see ahead. And then suddenly, as they approached some rocks, a shot rang out. And Sergeant Preston staggered and fell. The dog team halted in confusion and then King saw a man come from behind the rocks, running toward the sled. The dogs were barking furiously so the man couldn't hear what Mike was shouting. Hey, Pete! Pete, look out! Look out for that dog! King got the scent of the man they had been trailing and knew he was the one who had shot his master. With a rush, the great dog was upon him, sending him sprawling into the snow, his rifle flying from his hand. Who killed him? Mike! Mike, help! Help me! I can't help you. I'm handcuffed to this sled. If I move, you'll kill me. Mike, you've got to help him. He's the only one who can call him or. Why didn't you warn me about this dog? I didn't know about him when we made our plans. King wanted to go to his master who lay on the trail back of the sled, but he knew he couldn't leave this man he had been trailing. He stood over him, growling viciously every time Pete made a move and Pete, terrified by the dog's strength, finally lay still and helpless. Then King saw Sergeant Preston make a slight movement. Slowly and painfully, the mountain raised his head. A trickle of blood ran down his cheek from under his parka hood. Pete, from where he lay, could see him, too. Mike, you have to do something. I didn't kill him on these movies. What can I do? These handcuffs. My rifle isn't far from the sled. Can't you reach it with your flot and pull it toward you? Yeah. I'll try. I can almost reach it. If I can get it close enough... Oh, no, no, it's no use. It's no use, Pete. Sergeant Preston pulled himself to a sitting position. The snow around him seemed to whirl in a dizzy pattern. There was a blinding pain in his head. Then, slowly, his vision began to clear. He heard a sharp bark from King that seemed to pierce the fog that enveloped him. He turned toward the sound. It's King. Mike, he's conscious! Mike! Sergeant Preston's dog team heard Mike's command, but waited for their leader and refused to move. And then Sergeant Preston slowly rose to his feet. On guard, King. Watch him, boy. Hold him. Oh, this dog before he kills me! Don't move, and you won't get hurt. Got him, King. Sergeant Preston, there's the man who killed Sam. I didn't have anything to do with it. He tried to kill you, too. He's wanted by the law. I have his gun, King. Let him up and watch him, boy. Pete is the murderer, Sergeant. Get up, Pete, but don't try to run. Mike was in on this, too. He planned the whole thing. No, he isn't lying. Mike, your plan was to murder me on the trail. He hadn't been yelling. I'd have done it. Was King who saved me? Saved me from... Now, walk ahead of the team till we come to your camp. I can ride the runners. Remember, my dog will be right behind you, so be careful. Sergeant Preston was weak and dizzy from the wound on his head, but he clung to the handlebars the sled as it moved slowly to the spot where Pete had made camp on the trail. Oh, King! After King guarded Pete, the sergeant investigated the contents of the pack on Pete's sled. The gold you stole from Sam is here, Pete. You and Mike are under arrest in the name of the Queen for robbery and murder. I tell you, Sergeant, I'm innocent. I see now what your plan was. Pete purposely left a clear trail to follow. You know no other mounted policeman would be put on the case while I was on it, so you plan to kill me on the trail and give yourselves that much more time to get to the border. But you didn't plug him first. But you didn't plug him first, and as a result of your oversight, this case is closed. Now here, Sergeant Preston, with a preview of our next adventure. The Case of the Beautiful Swindler. The case began when I tried to settle a quarrel between two brothers named Jack and Steve Conway. Jack was engaged to a beautiful dancehall girl, but Steve claimed that she was trying to swindle his brother out of a valuable claim. King and I set out to investigate Steve's charters and wound up in a narrow scrape with death that still gives me a chill whenever I think about it. Be sure to listen to this exciting adventure Wednesday. These radio dramas, a feature of the challenge of the Yukon Incorporated, are created and produced by George W. Trendle, directed by Fred Flower Day and supervised by Charles D. Livingston. The part of Sergeant Preston is played by Paul Sutton. They are played by Paul Sutton. They are brought to you every Wednesday until September, when we shall resume our regular Monday, Wednesday and Friday broadcast. This is Jay Michael, wishing you good-bye and good luck till next Wednesday. So long.