 The challenge of the Yukon It's king swiftest and strongest lead dog of the north country blazing the trail for sergeant Preston of the northwest modern police In his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers Gold gold discovered in the Yukon a stampede to the Klondike in the greedy race for riches Now back to the days of the gold rush when sergeant Preston and his wonder dog King Battle through storm and snow to preserve law and order as they met the challenge of the Yukon Sergeant Preston was stationed temporarily in the town of moose crossing during the spring of 1899 The rivers and creeks had shed their heavy coats of ice and tumbled merrily over the rocks a Bright moon lighted up the forest around the cabin where the mountains sat alone with his big dog King beside him Suddenly King raised his head and a whine sounded deep in his throat Sergeant Preston put down the book. He was reading and turned toward him What do you want boy, why are you pouring at my arm? Oh quiet king? I hear it too It's only a wolf husky baying at the moon. That's not bothering you All right The mountain yawned and laid down on his cot He had had a strenuous day and in a few minutes he had fallen into a sound dreamless sleep When next he awakened the early light of dawn came through the small window of the cabin Pailing the light of the lantern on the table The mountains sat up quickly King King Now I remember he must be outside But he didn't bark to come in Sergeant Preston opened the cabin door and was about to call King when he checked himself suddenly King stood at the edge of the clearing and beside him was a beautiful gray animal almost as large as he It faded back into the woods like a gray ghost at the sound of the door opening The Mount he couldn't tell whether it was a dog or a wolf King started back into the woods and then turned back to the cabin as he heard Preston's voice King Come here boy. Come on Well old fellow, so that's why you didn't bark to come in last night From the safety of the deep underbrush in the forest two eyes peered at the Mountie and King The animal was a silvery gray half wolf and half dog and a whine of fear stirred in her throat As she saw the man and King approach each other At the sound of the land's voice a strange loneliness tugged at her heart But her wolf blood kept her rooted to the spot ready to run from the scent. She had been taught to fear And then King came toward her with his master following Like a gray shadow she sprang from the protecting thicket and raced into the shelter of the deep forest There she goes King. I just saw the silver tip of her tail Well old boy, it's up to you to bring her back Maybe together we can teach her not to be afraid of humans It took time patience and courage to tame silver tip as Sergeant Preston named her But with the help of King he finally succeeded And it was three weeks later that he let her unleash to Randy McNeil a dog breeder with the finest kennels in the north country Silver tip was frightened and bewildered as she was put into the runway And only the protecting presence of King kept her from trying to gnaw the wire netting to get back to the wilderness she loved Randy McNeil gasped with admiration Sergeant, that's the finest pair of animals I ever saw. King did a good job of selecting a mate I couldn't have done better for him if I'd picked her out myself. She's got a lot of timber wolf blood That accounts for her size, but those eyes aren't wolf They're dog's eyes if I ever saw any. She's part dog all right Randy. That's why I was able to tame her Well, I wouldn't exactly call her team She'll let you handle it, but I couldn't go near with a 10 foot pole She doesn't trust anybody else. Don't get over that after she's been here a while Surroundings are strange. She'll have to be handled carefully Young Jim Stevens takes care of my dogs for me. Huh? He has quite a way with animals Well, doesn't your son Tom help him? Tom's pretty lazy. I'm afraid and dogs don't seem to like him very well I guess it's because he doesn't like them Anyway, Tom doesn't need the money and Jim Stevens does Jim and his mother have been having a hard time of it since his father died Jim's a nice boy. Oh, here he comes now. Hello Jim Good morning, Mr. McNeil Hello there sergeant Preston. How are you Jim? Fine. Thanks. Take a look in that front way Jim My king Is that a dog or a wolf? She's a little of both. Isn't she a beauty? We expect a fine litter of pups from that combination Keep an eye on her Jim. She's valuable property. I may I'm going to put her in your hands completely. Well It's quite a responsibility Those pups will be worth a lot of money. I think you can handle it. All right, Jim I'll leave king here with her for a day or two. It'll help us over tip It hasn't been for king. I could never have gotten mirror. I'll do my best sergeant Well, you better start right now Jim. Go get some food and feed her Young Jim Stevens was patient and kind with silver tip and soon won her confidence The men in town marveled at their relationship as she refused to make friends with anyone else A few trappers were discussing the subject at the trading post one day when Tom McNeil Randy's son entered Jim certainly has a way with dogs It's a marvel a way silver tip lets him come right into her camel and he McNeil is lucky to have Jim around I wouldn't want a fool with her She's as wild as any full-grown wolf you could find. Hello boys. Oh, we were Just talking about that female wolf sergeant Preston is keeping at your dad's camel. Yeah, I heard you She's an ugly beast if ever I saw one. Well, Jim Stevens doesn't seem to have much trouble with her Jim's hip and a subject of dogs As far as I can see it's about the only thing he knows. Oh, I wouldn't say that Jim's right smart boy your dad's lucky to have him around I mean, I suppose that he's not too lucky to have me. Oh, I didn't say that. Well, that's what you meant Just because I don't happen to like fooling around with a lot of mangy curves You seem to think you have the right to criticize. Nobody's criticizing you You're just putting words into people's mouths. I can tell by the way everybody acts what you think Well, that's because I happen to have more money than most of you and don't have to work That doesn't mean I'm not as smart as jim Stevens. All right, Tom You sound as if you're a little jealous jealous Jealous of him. That's good jealous But Tom McNeil was jealous of jim Stevens He had hated him from the first time they had met and he had secretly envied jim's strength and courage There was one way that Tom could antagonize him and that was through the dogs that jim loved It was several days later that jim discovered him teasing silver tip With a long dog whip Tom flicked at her over the wire fence as silver tip snarled in helpless ways Show you your dirty wolf Snarled me with it That'll teach you put down that whip There here comes the nurse me You can't order me around you hit that dog again, and I'll wrap that whip right around your neck These kennels belong to my father, not you. I can do as I please around here. That dog belongs to sergeant Preston He's boarding her here, and I'm taking care of her If I told your father what you were doing, you'd whip you himself. Is that so? And I'll tell him what I was doing using a whip on a fresh upstart that won't mind his own business Oh, well you dirty little come down off that test Let go of me. I'll teach you to use a whip on that dog or meat Get away from me. You drop that whip. You're hurting my arm. Drop it Now you want to fight fight with your fist. Let go of me. I'll show you Why you Get up get up and take your medicine. You'll keep away from me I'm gonna report this to my father. You keep away from those kennels after this. I'm warning you The next time I catch a teasing this dog. I'll skin you alive Now get out of here fast You better go into the house and put some raw meat on that eye Going to swell It was later in the day that Randy McNeil entered the house and found tom sitting alone His right eye almost swollen shot. Hey tom, what's wrong with your eye? What does it look like? You've been fighting? I suppose jim told you all about that jim. Well, no, I just left him. He didn't see anything about it Who did he? That's just a good reason. He didn't say anything about it He was the one who hit me Yeah, tell me what happened. He's getting too big for his boots I think he owns these kennels of yours They can carry that wolf that sergeant Preston left here is sure going to his head. He's done a fine job with silver tip Not many people could have handled him sergeant Preston better watch out Jim seems to think that dog is his private property. I wouldn't trust him with it. Hey, tom. That's ridiculous You're always bragging about him and sticking up for him Yes, I should have known better than to say anything to you. That's not true son Hey like jim. Yes But I don't want to be unfair and you better listen to me and keep an eye on him He's nothing but a sneak Those pups that silver tip is going to have are gonna be worth a lot of money There's a reason that jim is getting so friendly with that dog Hey, don't know what you're driving at to him. All I say is keep your eye on jim Remember he needs money and those pups will bring a fancy price That's why he ordered me to stay away from the kennels. He doesn't want anybody watching him Well, he hasn't any right to do that I'll speak to my buddy You'll think up some fancy lie to tell you I suppose Maybe someday you'll find out what he's really like Jim Stevens was very fond of brandy mcneal and knew the old man would be hurt if he knew the truth about his son tom So he was rather evasive when randy questioned him about the fight they had had It was just a flare-up mr mcneal I guess I lost my temper. Well, it's not like you jim From what I've seen of you. I didn't know you had a bad temper I wish you'd tell me what happened. Well, it was just that tom doesn't like silver tip very well and He said some things that got me kind of mad. I guess What did he say? Oh nothing much. I I guess I was feeling a little edgy or something. I know tom isn't too reliable jim. He's hotheaded and quick tempered I guess he just resented it when you told him to keep away from the kennels. I suppose I had no right to do that They belong to you and he's your son. Well, that's right, but you're in charge of them If tom ever does anything he shouldn't around here, it's your job to report it to me I'd rather you didn't fight it out between you. Yes, sir We'll forget about it now And let's not let anything like this happen again. I'm sure it won't sir. Well. Hey sergeant president Hello there sergeant How are you jim? Hello sergeant freston. Well, I'd drop around and see how silver tip is getting along Oh, she's fine. Come on over and look at her lad You gotta be here long chudging. Well, I've been transferred back here to dawson randy My assignment at moose crossings over with. Well, that's good news We'll be seeing more of you now. I hope oh, I'll still be going out on patrols, but I'll be back here periodically There's the overtip king's glad to see her. We'll be going the runway for long There gates open go ahead boy Yeah, those pups will be here in a few days I have to be careful of her silver tip keeps trying to get out She started to dig under the fence day before yesterday silver tip wants to have her pups out in the woods someplace. I suppose Despite wolf and she'd like to find a nice cave somewhere for her but see that That looks like a scar scratch on her head You haven't used a whip on her. Have you jim? I should say not i've never whipped her She may have done that when she tried to dig out under the fence Well, these dogs are glad to see each other Do you think you'll be around here when the pups are born son? Well, I hope I am randy. I have to take a trip south tomorrow, but I'll be back in a week I certainly want to be here for the big event Three days had passed and sergeant Preston with king had left town on a patrol to the south The late spring days were long and only a few hours of darkness covered the north land each night Silver tip paced restlessly in her runway Her instinct told her to find a place in the woods for her coming family A quiet place where no human eye could watch her and no human hand could take away her young Every night she took advantage of a few hours of darkness to seek a means of escape Suddenly she stopped and sniffed the air as her sharp ears caught a sound in the shadows Then the fur on her back rose as she recognized the scent of tom whom she hated She backed away from the fence with a snarl There you are, you dirty wretch now I'd like to give you a taste of this whip Trying to get out of here as well, huh? Well, this time you're gonna get your wish Here goes the gate Get out get out I say Keep going don't come near me or you're gonna taste of this But There she goes, I hope that's the last of her Now Jim Maybe you're not gonna be the fair-haired boy anymore We're gonna have a hard time explaining this Silver tip traveled through the forest with a mile-eating lope that soon put a great distance between her and the kennels She paused at intervals to rest and to drink from the running streams But dawn found her still on her way seeking a place of safety That morning there was a great deal of excitement at randy mcneill I can't see how jim could have been so careless the gate was wide open I wonder if he was just careless. What do you mean? I told you somebody should have watched him I doubt that he did leave that gate open accidentally, but jim wouldn't want silver tip to run away. Maybe she didn't run away He may not want you to think so You mean he probably has her hidden somewhere She has her pups. He'll sell them secretly and nobody'll ever find out. He could make a lot of money Tom that's silly. I know jim is honest and sure as full jim Of course leaving the gate unlatched was very careless. I'll say it was Very comfortable I hope you're not too easy on it. Good morning. Hello jimmy Why is this gate open? Where's silver tip? Maybe you can answer that better in week Tom, what do you mean? I'm afraid you were a little careless last night jim. I I found this gate open this morning Silver tip is gone the gate open Silver tip gone But that gate was shut tight when I left last night. I remember shutting it I fed her and I know I shut the gate when I went out Well, it looks as if you didn't shut it tight enough. You You should have made sure but I did I remember I don't remember opening it again later. Do you just what are you trying to say? Maybe you know where the dog is and just I'm telling you how easy to stop it. That'll do tom I don't want any fighting around here. I'm sorry, sir, but he hasn't any business saying on a thief He didn't mean that jim. I don't see how I can ever face sergeant Preston Those pups were going to be worth a lot of money. They sure will be Tom I'm sorry mr. McNeil, but I'm not going to work here anymore Jim this doesn't mean that I so I'm going to try and find silver tip. I must find her there is no way you can jim If it was wintertime you could track him But there isn't a sign of a tracks on this dry ground and sergeant Preston were here king controller Preston won't be back for about four days By that time her trail will be cold anybody plans a stealer. He'd have all that figured out I don't want you to quit jim Everybody gets careless once in a while. I I won't hold it against you. No I don't want to work here anymore. Anyway, your son and I just don't seem to get along I promised jure's demerle that I'd do in the partnership with him after silver tips pups were born I'll be able to do it right away. I guess you lose is a trapper, isn't he? Yes, we're going to put out a trapline north of here Of course, I'll wait until sergeant Preston gets back. I don't envy you when he does If I were you I'd start for those traplines right away I usually face things tom and tell the truth about them. I think even you would find that it paid No mr. McNeil, I'll stay and see sergeant Preston He'll be here in a few days Sergeant Preston looked grave as he talked to randy mcneil after his return to Dawson city Of course, I'm very disappointed randy. I did want those pubs But I'm not blaming him. Have you talked to jim? Well, yes jim came to see me since I got back I feel sorry for the boy, but I can't help but think he was pretty careless I'm sure that's all the words to it. What do you mean? What else could you think? Well, tom seemed a little suspicious of me It kind of made me wonder suspicious of jim. Why? Well, we all knew how much jim likes silver tip He's poor needs money If he could have taken her somewhere and hidden if you mean that jim was trying to steal those spots randy You're wrong. I know jim better than that. That's the way I feel about him too But tom claims we only know the nice side of him. He He's got a bad temperate team. Tom has never liked jim. He never got along together. That's why jim is going away He won't work here anymore. Yes. He said he was going north to trap with jules demerle I'm sorry delusion He was a big help to me. They can't blame the boy for not wanting to work here He feels that you blame him for losing silver tip Oh, if only I'd been here king could have trailed her couldn't you boy? If only he knew which direction he took He might be able to find him. He might run across a trail somewhere. He'd know her trail. All right, but it would take months to find her No, it's no use But wherever she is, I hope she's safe As sergeant Preston and randy talked about silver tip She lay quietly in a cave beside a stream deep in the forest Nuzzling close to her side were five tiny furry shapes And silver tip was filled with pride and happiness as she licked them and whimpered to them softly The following weeks passed swiftly and silver tip ranged the forest for food for the hungry mouths of her welts Who never seemed to have enough It was on one of these foraging trips that she came across a familiar scent that stopped her in her tracks And brought an eager wine from her throat It was the scent of jim Stevens And silver tip started to follow it when the thought of her hungry pups held her back She turned and headed toward her cave Less than a mile away jim sat before a campfire talking to jules the french canadian trapper who had taken him into partnership We made a good cast you This was fine trapping country the game this year is not so plentiful as most seasons Well, it is not so bad as some season. I have no I think we've done very well We'll have to get these furs back to the trading post before we get too many to carry Gee, I wish I hadn't hurt my foot yesterday We need more supplies too Me I think I make trip to trading post alone tomorrow. I take beat load of fur to trade and bring back supplies for us You stay here at camp. That's a good idea jules if you don't mind going alone I can walk all right if I don't go too far, but I'm afraid the trip to town would be too long a distance It better if you stay here in red I think I'll go over to the stream and do some fishing tomorrow This is the last of our fresh meat and I could use a dinner of fish That good That keeps you from walk too much by the time you get back my foot will be better and we can make the rounds of our trapline jim sat fishing beside the stream enjoying the warm sunshine that slatted through the trees When suddenly he heard the sound of a terrific fight between two animals The sound came from downstream Leaving his fishing pole on the bank jim hurried toward it as fast as his lame foot would carry him That sounds like a wolf or a dog That other sound It must be a wolverine I wish I had my gun As jim rounded a bender must stream his eyes widened with surprise and alarm Silver tip before the opening of her cave was fighting furiously with a large wolverine The fiercest animal in the forest Silver tip was no match for it, but wounded and staggering. She held her ground and fought valiantly for her pups inside the cave jim picked up a large piece of wood from beside the screen and in spite of his lame foot ran to her aid As he lifted the club to strike the wolverine the animal turned and as the club descended the beast sprang a jim Leg open to the bone jim club landed with a skull crashing blow But he staggered and fell beside the wounded silver tip as the blood gushed from his leg Silver tip I found you at last if I can just drag myself to you I can help you You puppies That's why we were fighting so hard You're a hurt old girl But I killed that wolverine Getting black Getting faint I guess I'm oozing so much blood I Have to stop this bleeding if I can tear a piece off his shirt There now if I can tie it around my leg Oh, I'm so weak better make it turn again. I'm starting to get dark again. I Start impressed and was returning from his usual patrol north As he walked his horse along the trail his big dog king ran well ahead of him Suddenly king stopped as a familiar scent crossed the trail It was the scent of silver tip who early that morning had crossed it in her search for food As the mountain approached him the great dog barked with excitement. What's wrong king? Now listen king we have a time to go chasing something in the woods No holding today boy king come back here King tried to tell his master that this wasn't an ordinary scent that he wanted to follow He ran back into the woods and waited barking at the mountain trying to urge him to follow Well, you're determined aren't you all right? I suppose we find out what's bothering you come on Hope it's worth a trip to those woods All right king. We're coming come on fella get up there It was later that jim Stevens opened his eyes and saw the figure of sergeant Preston bending over him in the dim light of the cave He tried to remember where he was What? What sergeant Preston don't worry jim you're going to be all right now here drink this water Take some more if you want it I seem to be awfully thirsty. You lost a lot of blood. That's why The Wolverine even clawed me before I killed him. I thought that's what had happened here Drink some more water Good thing you got that tourniquet on before you fainted those claws had almost severed an artery You must have got here just after I fainted Yes, I did and that was lucky too You had the tourniquet tied so tightly that there was no blood going into your leg at all You're not out of danger yet. I'll have to get you to a doctor to save that leg But wait a while till you're resting Silver tip, is she all right? She was hurt quite seriously, but I think she'll pull through jim You know the fine litter of blood Sergeant I I guess this looks pretty bad for me, doesn't it? Well, what do you mean jim? Finding me here with silver tip. I mean I suppose you'll believe what tom said that I stole her and get her away like this No jim The first place it wouldn't have been possible unless you've penned her up somewhere This is a place that silver tip herself would have chosen to have her litter Well, thanks sergeant. I would like to hear how you found her though Just by accident. I was fishing and heard the fight. I didn't have a gun so I grabbed the club That wolverine was killing her. King must have got the scent of silver tip on the trail. I followed him here But if I go back to town what you would mean we leave silver tip here She's wounded and can't protect herself alone. But don't worry about that jim. We won't leave her here alone I'm leaving king here with her after all those buts are half his he ought to take some responses You'll be safe with king. I'll come back and get her in the pub. So after we get you fixed up over jim Even though you haven't accused tom in any way. I think I know who let silver tip get away. I didn't want to accuse him I had no proof But he hated her all right. Yes, and he hated you He's very jealous of you jim. That's why I can't work for mr. McNeil Even though I like dogs I think it would be nice if you went into the dog breeding business yourself jim, but I can't I have no capital I'd have you uh You have silver tip and I'm giving you the putts all except one but But sergeant they're yours Silver tip belongs to you. They wouldn't have been here if hadn't been for you jim This will give you a start in business. Well, I guess we'd better start. I'll carry you to my horse You're staying here with your family king. We'll be back in a day or so Silver tip lay quietly in the cave her puppies curled close to her side She felt peaceful and secure with the knowledge that the powerful form of king stood on guard outside between her and danger The moonlight splashed his shadow across the entrance And silver tip closed her eyes contentedly as she heard his long drawn howl drift across the forest She knew it was his way of telling his happiness to the moon The challenge of the ukan a copyrighted feature is a george w trendle production Directed by fred flower day and written by milford meryl The part of sergeant preston is played by paul sutton all names and incidents used are fictitious Listen again next week to another exciting adventure during the days of the gold rush fred boy speaking this program came to you from detroit When you hear the name ross dolin detective You can count on it being a clue to fast-moving adventure with one of radio's favorite detectives Every saturday night over most abc stations ross dolin detective is on hand to solve another mysterious crime case In the role of ross you hear william gargan popular star of screen and radio Here is the characterization that fits gargon like a glove for in many of his film performances He has played the part of the super sloot But back to ross dolin. He's a detective that talks fast and acts quickly And when a member of the underworld spies ross coming his way, he knows troubles are ruined Yes, dolin has a way with a criminal a way that leads to justice For he doesn't pull his punches when it comes to hauling in a fugitive from law and order Don't miss hearing ross dolin detective when he's on the air tonight