 The challenge of the Yocan on King The Wonder Dog King's swiftest and strongest of Eskimo leet dogs Blazes the trail through storm and snow for Sergeant Preston as he meets the challenge of the Yocan Sergeant Preston was typical of the small band of Northwest mounted police who preserved law and order in the 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 a Crowdland the bank and cheered wildly at the riverboat the bonanza bell steamed into the landing at Whitehorse on her maiden voyage She was the first riverboat to come into the Yocan territory Bringing mail and carrying freight into the interior where only dogs and mule teams had been used There was a great event and everyone was jubilant except two men who set away from the crowd on the riverbank and looked on bitterly Sure ain't our ship coming in well This means the end of our freight business one more season we could have retired With that floating tub cutting the rates in half. We ain't got a chance. Hope she runs a grounded bussaboy this first Jake That's an idea. Huh? Couldn't we see to what she does when a ground a bussaboy or something? I mean Rekker some way sure Pete Reckon a boat someone might get killed. They don't care whether they wreck us or not Of course, we could hold a freight for the same rates they're charging Do it quicker with mule eight working for that kind of money This business was a gold mine. It's gonna keep on being one We could Blow her up. That's it Dynamite Here at the dock. No They got to make it look as if she blew up herself on the way to die What are you gonna do shoot a cannonball at her from the riverbank Dynamite put somewhere near engine People would think it blew up They'd never give the steamship company another pound of freight. But how you're gonna get it there? People would be gaping at her all night long probably I'll get on there some way and hide I could plant the stuff Drop off somewhere along the river and swim to shore You can meet me that blow you to shore probably it earned cool. How you're gonna listen you dummy You don't think I'd be fool enough to blow it up with me on a day. I Could put a time fuse on the dynamite The candle that burned down to the fuse in about 15 minutes. I don't like it. You wouldn't have to do anything but meet me You could be at Fox ever The boat ought to get there about daylight day after the morning. Could you swim that far to shore? Water's cold. Don't forget River ain't very wide there Algebra for nobody's looking They'll all be sleeping anyhow Pete What if they find out the boat was blown up? What if I do? You bring dry clothes We'll be in the most yard trading posts in a few hours Nobody'll know we were near the born It had sure stopped the bonanza bell from hauling freight this season when we're through whether there won't be enough of a left to repair Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Monod police was greeted warmly by Captain Douglas as he boarded the bonanza bell the following morning with his huge lead dog king at his side Hello captain It's like a fine day for the trip. I didn't know what you invitation to go to Dawson included my dog Of course, it does. I can't imagine one of you without the other It's the first time Kings ever been on a big boat like this. Hope he doesn't get seasick Oh, there's no danger of that. Now. We're almost ready to cast off sergeant You want to look around the boat a little? Oh, yes. Thanks. We'll stroll around Make King feel more at home after we get going. See you later captain one King Sergeant all them people sharing ain't this a fine boat? As Preston watched the crowd on the dock weaving and cheering King wondered into the cabin Suddenly his eye caught furtive movement of a man who slipped from behind some baggage and stole down the companion way King followed him curiously, but stopped with a snarl if the man threw a stick at him Down there boy, come on King come up here Investigating the board, huh? Yes. He must have gone on a tour inspection. Come on fella. We better find our cabin For the Yukon the little cabin in which Preston slept with stuffy and King was restless Sound of the engines and the close quarters worried him and he longed for the open air Preston stirred a little asleep and the big dog walked over and stood beside the bunk He whined and as Preston's eyes opened a little he pawed at him at bark Okay, go to sleep boy. It's not time to get up here You want to wake up everybody on the boat? I suppose I better take you up on deck This I should have known by then to bring you along you don't like this stuffy cabin Well, I can't see a blame you fella. I don't like it either Come on boy. I'll walk you around the deck for a while How'd you go come on? Quiet. What do you think you are in the woods? Be still, it's too early for that. This early morning air is nice Yes, you were right fella. I wouldn't be ashamed of this morning like this on the river Feel better out here, don't you boy? What was that? It looked like a man It is a man, he's going overboard. I'm overboard! Up the boat! I'm overboard! Get him! Where are you going? My dog will hold him up until we get to him Let me go with you in that boat. All right. Did you see him go in? Yeah, I was walking my dog on deck But look, he's fighting King away. We're almost to him. Can you grab him? I'll get him. I'm taking that dog. He's trying to help you. All right, Sergeant. Grab him. Come on you. It's Pete Stevens. Come on into the boat. All right, King. Come on boy. Into the boat. There you are fella. Sit down everybody. Hey, you watch out. You almost tipped us over. I don't want to act like that. Quiet, King. Light on. Well Pete, how's it having to fall overboard? Got dizzy. I don't remember seeing you come on board. You're freezing man. Uh, take the orange ones. Yeah. Here, put this coat around it. We'll get some dry clothes for you as soon as we get aboard. You can't blame him for not liking it. He was kicking that idiot. He tried to rescue you. Before the captain on deck, he was chattering with cold and there was a desperate frightened look on his face. His hands twitched nervously and his eyes darted from side to side. Well, what happened? This man got dizzy and fell overboard, sir. Better take him below and get some dry clothes on him. I have something little fitting, Captain. Come on, Pete. No, no, I... Hey, watch him. He's headed for the river. No, you don't. It doesn't matter whether you're mad or you're crazy. He's panicking. Better get some dry clothes on him and lock him up. I'm not letting you go. They're coming below with me. I'll go with you. Now watch yourself then. Keep an eye on him, King. You let go of me for a minute, John. I'll be all right. I guess he lost his head. He'll be all right now. You're all right, Pete. We're not leaving you alone. They're coming down with me and getting those wet clothes off. The tide. It's almost tide. No, no. He's running down the companion way. After him, King, get him, boy. What's the matter with that crazy collude? Where's the engine room? King will catch him. What's the matter with you, Pete? The boat's gonna dive. Let me go. We've blown the pieces. What candle? What are you talking about? The coal. Let me go. He was heading for that coal trail and King caught him. Come on, Jones. Watch that man, King. Over there. There is a candle. Wait. I'll get it. It's almost burned down. Was he afraid it set the coal on fire? No. This looks like a time fuse. This candle would have blinded it. Suffering cats. Enough dynamite to blow us the King will come. That's right. No wonder he didn't want us to bring him back to this boat. He was trying to get away. But I got this out of here right away. Sure. I'll take Pete up to Captain. Take this dog away from me. That dog's staying right behind you, Pete. Get going. How did he get a day without someone seeing him? All right, Pete. How did you do it? I ain't talking. I can't force him to talk before he's tried, Captain. He must have planted it there last night or before the boat started. But why? Well, you see, Captain Pete here has been holding freight to Dawson at very high prices. Yes, he was going to stop your competition. He and his partner. His partner. By the way, Pete, where is Jake? He isn't on this boat, that's certain. He ate it on this. He was trying to get to shore at Fox River. Was he meeting you there? No. You wouldn't try traveling very far in wet clothes. Captain, I wonder if you could put King and me ashore. I have an idea. We'll pick Jake up somewhere near the point where Pete tried to leave us. Sure we could, Sergeant, but we'll certainly hate to lose such good passengers. Well, we'd like to complete the journey, would you, Captain. But duty comes first. Hadn't been for that dog in you, the bonanza bell would be at the bottom of the Yukon. If you'll deliver Pete at headquarters in Dawson, Captain, everything will be all right. Sure will, Sergeant, and remember, you and King are welcome on the bonanza bell any time we're in this territory. Thank you, Captain. Well, Pete, King and I will see you in Dawson when we arrive with your partner. Come on, fella, we have a job to finish. 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. Q Holder speaking. This is the Michigan Radio Network.