 The challenge of the Yukon. A king on your hut, king! The wonder dog king, swiftest and strongest of Estimor 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 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. One of the biggest events of the Yukon was the annual dog team race. Each year, the f*****less teams in the North country were brought to Eagle City for the event, and the honor of having the finest dog team in the territory was coveted more than the $500 in prize money. It was the night before the big race, when everybody gathered in a gold bar cafe to discover. John Burnett sat with old Kessner and Pete Wilkie. John's team was a big favorite. There's only one team around here that could beat yours, John, providing it was in the race, and that's Sergeant Preston. Yeah, John, that lead dog of his king would sure make bad competition. Well, I don't have to worry. Preston can't race. He ain't had permission from headquarters. Say, that Dawson City team ain't bad. Yeah, I looked it over today. Can't hold a candle to mine. My dogs are bigger and my lead dog smarter. You can't always tell by looking at him, John. They may fool you when it comes to work out. All the smart money is on your team. Yeah. Hello, Sergeant Preston now. Look at that dog of his. Ain't he the beauty? Come on over here and sit with us, Sergeant. Hello, Pop. How are you, boys? Sit down, Sergeant. Thanks. Here, King. Come on, boy. Well, I just had word from headquarters. They've given me permission to race tomorrow. What? See, that's good. Everybody in town wanted you in on it, Sergeant. Well, that's fine. Boys, Preston's going in the race after all. Good for you, Sergeant. That changes my button. Be honest. What should I do? I don't take Preston to the water. All the headquarters happen to like to do it, Preston. I thought Mounties couldn't take prize money. Oh, we can't, John. If I win, I'm turning it over to the new doctor for medical supplies for his clinic. Well, see, that's right. Nice of you, Sergeant. The town sure needs it. I don't see any point in your race anyway. Oh, John. You just saw, of course, you got some real competition. You thought you had that prize money right in your pocket. What's more, I still think so. You'll have a good team, John. Well, it won't be the favorite no more. Not with King in the race, will it, boy? Come over and see Pop, old fella. King seems to know you, Pop. Boy, I've known King ever since he was a Pop-Helperner boy. Pop Kessler was one of the first people who ever saw King. Well, I got to be going. I'm still taking bets that my team comes in first tomorrow. Better keep something back for a rainy day, John. Kind of looks tough for you. Yeah, well, I ain't worrying at all. Not much he ain't worrying. Hey, I'll bet you hang up a new record tomorrow, Sergeant. Nobody knows, Pop. Tomorrow we'll tell the tale. A huge crowd has assembled to watch the start of the race. Eight dog teams were lined up to await the starting gun. Everybody set! Ten seconds! Buddy, King, a few huskies! Well, Preston, get ready to take a feed. Go to it, John, if you can do it. Get set! Everybody! 15-mile race led to Pierre's trading post and back, the man taking any trail he preferred. Preston's choice led through a spruce forest. It was here that King slowed, then suddenly stopped the team. His sharp ears had heard the sound of a child in pain. Leaving Preston and the team, a great dog broke through the tree despite his master's cries. King! What's the matter, boy? Where you going? The other dogs and the team were confused that their leaders leaving them so abruptly, and King heard their barks mingle with his master's protests as he ran toward the sound of distress. Hey, there, fellas! There's no way to run a race! King grew near to the child. He knew Preston was following for he heard him coming behind him. Help me! What is it? I'm coming! What's the matter, son? Are you hurt? Please help me. I'm shot. Where are you, poor kid? My shoulder. Let me look at it. Oh, I'm sorry, son. How'd this happen? I was fixing a trap with my father's gun. What's your name? Harry Burnett. Sorry, son. Are you John Burnett's son? Yeah. The bullet's still in there. I guess I better get you back to town now, Harry. Here, let me carry you, Harry. Be careful. Sorry. The good-brained king heard you crying. The dogs were making so much noise, I never would have found you. Back to the sled, King. We'll get you to a doctor, son. Preston was worried on the upgrade trail going back to town. The child was obviously feverish and should have had immediate attention. He urged his team uphill a little faster when, suddenly, the sled jolted to a stop and the team stopped. The sled jolted to a stop and the team sprang ahead as the harness snapped. Oh! Oh, King! Who are you, Huskies? Come back, King! You all right, Harry? Yes, I guess so. What happened? The harness broke. Just lie still, son, while I look at it. This harness is brand new. It shouldn't have... Well, what's this? What's the matter? This harness has been cut very cleverly, too. Small bits in the middle of the strap so the first heavy strain would snap it. What can we do? Don't worry, son. Everything will be all right. I'm going to send King to town. He'll bring help. King, old boy. I guess it's up to you. Come here, fella. He can't tell anybody. I'm going to put this note in his collar. Come here, King. Let me fasten this on you. There. I want you to take this to Pop Kessler. You know, Pop Kessler. Does he know what you're saying? Oh, I think he does, Harry. Can you find Pop Kessler, boy? I'm sure he understands me. All right, fella. Find Pop. Take it to Pop Kessler. King raced over the frozen ground at top speed. Taking a shortcut that no dog sled could have followed, he headed for town. He was told to find Pop Kessler, the kindly old man whom he knew in light. He'd seen him last in the Gold Bar Cafe. The great dog waited until a door was opened. Attention, everybody! Attention, everybody! They just telegraphed from the trading post that Burnett's team is ahead. The Dawson City team is second. I wonder what happened to Preston. That's funny. He ain't even second. If you won't get that money for the clinic, Doc. Everybody seems so sure he'd win. You certainly thought so, didn't you, Pop? Well, I bet my money on it, but you can't always tell. Say, Pop, look at that dog who just came in. Don't he look like King? Well, he sure does, but he can't be King because he's racing. Well, he seems to be looking for someone. That must be King. There ain't another animal like him in the Yukon. Pop, maybe he's looking for you. King! King boy! Well, it is King! Well, King, what are you doing here? Why is he pawing at you like that? Seems to be trying to tempt me something. What is it, King? Look, isn't that something hanging on his collar? Yeah, guess it is. Come here, boy. Boy, it's a note. Let's see. Bring Doctor at once. Burn that boy short. Call a King. Well, that's funny. Wonder why he couldn't bring the kid to town with his own dog team. Something must have happened to it. We'd better get going, Doc. I'll rush right over and get my kit. You'd better get a dog team in blankets. I'll pick you up, Doc, in about five minutes. Right. All right, fine. Let's go. Prustin had made a crude shelter of spruce branches to protect the feverish child. A fire crackled in front of it, and Prustin stayed close to keep warm, as his Parker covered the boy. The wind was rising. Do you think they'll ever come? Yes, Harry, I trust King. He'll bring them. I should be here any minute now. Here, son, take a little of this water. Take a little more. There. I believe that's King's Park now. Yep, they're coming. Hello! Hello, Prustin! Here they come, Harry. The doctor will take care of them all. The crowd was gathered at the finish line, as the dog teams under the home stretch of the race. John Burnett was in the lead, with a team from Dawson City close at its heels. Come on, John! I got the money on your boy! Yeah, for Eagle City! The Dawson team can't catch him now! If Sergeant Prustin was in this race, John wouldn't have stood a show. I answer sure. That lead dog of John's is smart. It's too bad to have to spoil things for him by telling him about his son. Yeah, that's tough. You think he'll play through? Well, Dawson says then, bring John right along. He ensured the kid will live. Hurry, John! I knew you'd do it for him! Good work, Charlie! Ain't that fine? John, something has happened. I have to tell you. Oh, a profit can wait. But this is important. It's your son. My son. Hey, Jake! Take care of those dogs, will you? And wait! Come on, John! Hurry! What about my son? What's the matter? He's at the doctors. He was fooling with a gun and accidentally shot himself. Shot himself? Oh, no. That's why Sergeant Prustin didn't go on with the race. His lead dog, King, heard your son crying in the woods. Prustin could have got him back here sooner, but his dog, Honest, broke. He'd done all he could for him, but he had to keep him on the trail for three hours till we got there with a sled. Do you think the dog can save him? Well, he was taking the bullet out when I left. Only he lives. What? This kid's from the dog space. You have him to thank, John, for saving your son. Well, hello, King. He could talk. I tell him how I feel. I brought him, Sergeant. How is my son? He's just finishing now, but I wait here until he's through. Do you think he'll be all right? I don't know. Here's the dog now. He'll tell him. Doctor, how is he? Your son is going to live, John. Oh, thank heaven. Good work, Doc. Oh, that's fine. I was afraid he wouldn't. We got there just one hour later. Wouldn't have turned out like this. Can I see him now? You better not disturb him for a while. He's asleep. I can't thank you enough, Doc. I don't know what to say. The ones to thank are Prustin and his lead dog. They weren't even in duty when they saved him. Sergeant Prustin, could I talk to you outside? Why, sure, John. Come on. Sergeant, there's something I got to tell you. Yes? Maybe you know what it is. I learned hard lesson today. I won the dog team race. I thought you would. I won it because you weren't in it. Me not. I knew if you raced, you'd win. So, well, you can do what you want with me, but I was the one who cut your harness to keep you out of the race. I suspected that, John, but I could never have proved it. I don't know what made me do it. It was the first rotten thing I've ever done, and it almost cost me my son. It hadn't been for King. It was hard for me to believe you'd do a thing like that. I wanted to win that race so much, but I won't take a penny of the money. I'll give it all to the doctor just the way you would have done. Arrest me if you want to. No, John, I won't arrest you. I think you've learned your lesson. Give the money to the clinic. King and I will keep your secret. Won't be boring. Well, forget all about it, John, and just say the case is closed. These copyrighted dramas originate in the studios of WXYZ Detroit, and all characters, names, places, and influence used are fictitious. They are sent to you each week at the same time and reach you from our transcription studios. How Neo-Speaking, this is the Michigan Radio network.