 The challenge of the Yukon King the swiftest strongest of Eskimo lead dogs 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 mounted police who preserved law and order in the Yukon during the gold rush of 98 That was the year that brought over 50,000 men swarming into the Klondike region and the greed for gold led to frequent violence and bloodshed But in spite of the odds against them the force preserved a splendid record in maintaining the right the challenge of the north was answered and justice rule triumphant Side by side in the center of Prospect City Stood to unpainted frame buildings in appearance They differed little through their doors at one time or another past every gold-seeking man in the Yukon One was Sam's general store the other Dorner's Bank held gold from some of the richest loads in the north Midwinter the light of day fading quickly to early darkness Phil Dorner's worst fears were realized put them up Dorner hold up. Yeah One sound out of you, and you'll be stiffer knees boards Go ahead boys clean out the tail muddy. I'll take care of the safe wait a minute Jonas What for there's no use of you skinning your fingers open in that safe long as donor here can turn the combination Say that's right And you heard me Dorner get over there to that safe. No. No, I won't open it. You can All right I'll open it, but you won't get away with this. I'll tell you shut up and open that safe. We ain't here to talk Let me at that stuff wait a lead sees this haul I got the dust on the tail back good Let's get out of here now Donor if you want to live long enough to talk about this you better not turn around we're out of sight You understand you're as good as behind bars already the sergeant Preston in town. There ain't dogs running It'll save you haha You laugh on the other side of your mouth you're sneaking coyotes too noisy Marty. Yeah Reckon we better shut them up. What do you want? Come on. I don't like staying in one place too long Be quite a while for sergeant Preston hears anything from you banker a Miner stopping to deposit some dust found Phil unconscious on the floor The alarm spread quickly I've raged miners and trappers mobbed the bank while the banker his hand to his head told sergeant Preston the story How many of them were there Phil three there was talking of another one a fellow named me You said they even made you open the safe. Yeah, I tell you sergeant. I didn't have a chance There was three guns ready to I know Almost any man would have done the same thing Phil $22,000 ahead in that safe What do you aim to do about it go after them their killers sounds to me as though this robbery is tied up with some mothers That have been committed on the coast if I'd only draw it out yesterday when I had a mind Oh, why just as soon as I lost it again. Well, you heard what the sergeant said didn't you? You ain't the first one to lose money to this gang, but you'll be among the last to lose money to them Come on King you're gonna trail them you'll need help King's all the help I'll need to see if you can get my 22 Anyone can get them farmers Preston will do it There he goes yeah seems like an awful big job for one man to handle What you need is a drink Phil come on close the door You don't have to bother locking it now and nothing more to be told maybe you're right sure. I'm right You'll feel better for you know it The great dog King followed the trail closely never once hesitating Faster than any dog in the Yukon He was a stern leader setting the pace for Preston's Huskies on and on They raced the distance between the Mountie and the criminals shrinking with every mile Further along the trail heading for a hideout cave bad urged his team on Hey, Matt, I think we ought to pull in his protection of emeralds yonder and wait a few hours If that money's on our trail. Yeah, bad that won't hurt to rest the dogs a bit anyway We can't do it out in the open. It's a good idea. Oh your Mali moves. Oh Yeah, we'll be safe enough in here sure worried about Preston. Ain't you me? Listen when I came to the Yukon one of the first things I heard about outside of the gold was Preston Preston that dog of his Believe me. I'm not taking any chances. Ah, you'll never catch us. Yeah, I heard other men say the same thing The ones that didn't swing for what they've done are looking out from behind bars now You'll never put me behind bars all the same. I'll stand behind these rocks here and keep an eye on the trail We're mushing the little while yeah I feel better when we get to the cave Just where to meet sees his home. They're getting as bad as Marty here. He'll have us all uneasy So you thought I was dreaming did you? We'll take a look where Out there along the trail Dog team and you can bet half of that gold we're carrying. It's Preston Well, I tell you get your guns ready lay alone wait for my guns have been ready You better take care of your own It is Preston Yeah, he's looking at the trail. Mother is a smarter All right You're covered Monty reach I never expected the pleasure of running into you like this Get his gun Jonas and don't try no tricks Monty. You got two guns on you It looks like you hold all the aces boys Well, what do you aim to do with them bet? I don't know Meaded sure enjoy a chance like this mead You mean yeah the same one He had his brother hung two years ago Sam Sonninger. You remember? Come on boys. We'll take him in with us to the cave. Yeah, and make sure he ain't packing another gun Jonas Get one this way though. We'll toss some of that stuff off his sled. You ride it Jonas Preston you ride in front of me where I can keep an eye on you If that lead dog of yours as smart as he's supposed to be he'll take orders from Jonas. You understand? Do you hear that boy? Steady boy My perk don't worry. You won't need it where you're going. Keep his gun in the sled Jonas All right boys. Let's mush That night the bank robbers with Preston their prisoner pulled up at ledge of the winded steps clean of snow Obeying orders the Monty knew they would keep him alive till the outlaw mead Sonninger arrived Ruthless and cunning mead would be merciless in avenging his brother As they entered a deep cave king kept close to his master Waiting for the word to jump at these men who held a gun on them But Preston's only command of the dog was to forbid him to touch the drinking water marty drew from a spring in the hideout We're hungry not thirsty Suit yourself Fire over your blaze in a minute and you get something to eat. Need any help with the fire? No you don't reach for one of them burning sticks and you'll wish you hadn't. Don't worry about I didn't plan to burn you alive and I ain't taking no chances For the next two days neither Preston or king drank any water Finally on the morning of the third day marty could contain his curiosity no longer. I don't understand it molly It ain't natural. You're not worried about us. How do you money me even alone marty? You don't have much longer to wait for me. I ain't bothering with them All I want to know is why I don't take a drink of water with the rest of us Because I don't want to take a chance on poison. That's why marty Poison yes You've been drinking that water for two days now, haven't you? Yeah Yeah Well, that's the answer. Hey bat. Do you hear that? What do you mean marty? No more than what I said. How do you feel jollies tell you the truth? I ain't felt so good Well, yesterday I knew it. I knew it. It's the same feeling I have myself You get a little dizzy every once in a while Then it goes away Your stomach bothers you. Yeah, it ain't exactly an ache. I don't know my The way mine feels and I'd say it was more of an ache and How about you bat? Gee horse of bat look at him. Can you can you do anything about this Preston? Can't you help us why he's whiter and snow looks kind of green to me? Step over here in the light till I can give a look at Marty yeah Yeah, we're done for no Maybe the money I'm sorry boys All my medicines are in the pack you threw out in the trail. There must be something to be done Look at bat Ain't passing out on his bat and look Marty We're such a free if you'll help us. Yeah, sure. What about me? He won't He won't know not anything about it. I'm getting that dizzy feeling again being your own price. I can't stand it I tell you I there's only one thing you can do what was that? So for my help So for what are we going to get any break your bullets open get together all the gunpowder Then melt some snow from outside take a mouthful of gunpowder and wash it down Hey, where you going bat to get some snow Jonas you and Marty start busting all your bullets open The three men worked feverishly breaking down their bullets bat was the first to swallow the strange antidote How much do you have to swallow better take another mouthful? No one to take any chances There You're better already, but Yeah Yeah, oh good I'll kick it out to sleeve you boys. Wait a minute Will you promise me I could I changed my mind your local bat. I heard up You're not going anywhere Marty stay where you are And how do you think you'll stop me bat? You've eaten all your bullets Watch them king. Why are you watch that dog? My hand let go. Oh, I good thing you left my gun on the sled bat. All right, kid. My hand get over there against the wall Neat watch them king one of them makes a sound you know what to do Reach me. I said reach Back That's right. We meet again mate Your job bank robbers are coming back to prospect city with me Thank you Dawson and jail for all of you Well, I just shoot him. How do you ever get the drawing yet? I mean made us eat our gunpowder me The boys here felt they had a touch of water poison. Yeah, I mean We was drinking the water here in the cave in the east. What's here the cave? There ain't nothing wrong with this. What is it probably isn't from Said it was poison. I didn't say anything about it being poisoned I only said I don't take a chance on poison bat Your own imaginations to care the rest Yes king the case is closed Upholding the motto of the northwest mounted police sergeant presson and the great dog king maintain the ride and get their man Don't miss their next thrilling adventure when they meet the challenge of the ucon once again on saturday at 6 30 I'm king Challenge of the ucon a copyrighted feature of the challenge of the ucon incorporated Brought to you every saturday at this time originated in the transcription studios of wxyz detroit The characters and events in tonight's drama were fictitious bill morgan speaking. This is the michigan radio network