 The challenge of the Yukon It's Yukon King swiftest the strongest leap dog of the Northwest Placing 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 wild race for riches Back to the days of the gold rush With Sergeant Preston and his wonder dog Yukon King as they meet the challenge of the Yukon There were two young men who came up to the Yukon during the first summer of the gold rush One was Charles Edward Talbot from Beacon Hill in Boston. The other was named Edward Lee Jordan Whose home was in New Orleans They met for the first time in the 303 that wild and wide-open cafe Sophie Smith ran in Skagway Eddie Jordan was sitting at a table with slick chalmers and Talbot was standing at the bar only a few feet away Slick was trying to sell Eddie a claim. You heard of Bonanza Creek, haven't you? Why, sure. Well, that's where this claim is and it's yours for $2,000. That's a lot of money It's almost all I have. You ask anybody if it isn't a bargain. Yeah Why don't you do that? Who are you? The name is Talbot. Why don't you mind your own business? I'm just trying to be helpful You suggested that your friend ask anybody if I claim for $2,000 and the Bonanza wasn't a bargain Why doesn't he ask me? Very well, sir. I am asking you. It is, son. The name is Edward Lee Jordan, sir All right Mine is Charles Edward Talbot. My friends call me Chuck. They call me Eddie. Good Claim on the Bonanza for $2,000 is practically stealing. I got a friend who just came down from Dawson He says that if you offered a hundred thousand for a Bonanza claim, the owner had laughed at you. A hundred thousand? You all were willing to sell to me for only two slicks. I Told you how it is. I need the cash. I've got to get back to the States. Why, Slick? Have you pulled this trick too often? There are enough suckers coming in The late P.T. Barnum said there was one born every minute. Get out of here, Talbot. Sure Just as soon as I finish my drink. Get out. Not just a second, Slick I'm not as stupid as I may seem This gentleman here has given me a very timely warning. I Considered a friendly gesture If you're gonna get tough with him you'll have to answer to me as well. Let's go Eddie. This is his stamping round He's got a lot of friends around here. That's right, mister They don't like the way you queered my pitch any more than I do Slug, come here. Bring the boys. Okay, Slick What's the trouble, Slick? The tall one told the rebel he couldn't buy a Bonanza claim for a hundred thousand dollars Oh, any fairing with your business, huh? Yeah, I guess you better dust him off a little. Sure thing. What's up, Slick? These two the works before we toss them out ready Eddie. I'm with you. Chuck. Come on Sophie's strong arm squad closed in on Eddie and Chuck But two young men were husky and did a good job of defending themselves Still there could be no chance of winning such a fight and Chuck knew it The only chance he and Eddie had was to win their way to the door before slugging his men knocked them down and out Suddenly Chuck saw his opportunity He was fighting with his back to the bar and he saw that only slug stood between him and the door He put all his power in one solid blow to the jaw Slug grunted staggered back Chuck grab Eddie's arm Chuck dragged Eddie with him as he ran for the door. They reached it chucked through it open and thrust Eddie outside Slug was on top of Chuck by that time the younger man crashed another solid right to his jaw The next second he too was outside the clay. Come on, run Eddie. Run the corner in the buildings on the alley They'll be coming after us. Slug and his men charged out of the cafe after Chuck and Eddie But they reached the alley and back of the cafe ahead of their pursuit and then Chuck led the way between buildings Down one alley and up another until the gang was lost Finally Chuck took Eddie to the cabin where he was living gave him first aid for a bad cut below his eyes It'll only sting for a minute. You're lucky. It wasn't worse. I know that You know, we're not exactly safe in Skagway anymore Sophie's men will be watching for us not to any police around there's a town Marshal He takes his orders from Sophie. Well, I'm ready to leave Skagway right now. Same here What about your supplies? I've already packed them up to the top of white pass. I just came back See if I could buy a canoe. I have a canoe waiting for me at Lake Bennett. That's so I'm traveling alone Eddie Say it's a good idea to have a partner on the trail What do you say you come along with me? Oh, I'd like nothing better Let's shake it sure thing put her there partner. Yeah Most of my supplies are up at the top of the pass too. Let's start tonight, Eddie That's a good idea. We have a few things to pack up here Be over the border and on our way down to Lake Bennett before sunrise Dawson here we come And so Chuck and Eddie became partners and during the next few days They packed their supplies from the top of white pass down to the shores of Lake Bennett There Chuck found the old sourdough who had agreed to sell him a canoe the price was high $500 but the craft was in good condition and it meant saving the time it would take to build their own boat The canoe was loaded the two young men set out in high spirits They had no trouble in Lake Bennett or Taggish or Marsh But when they reached the turbulent waters of the 50 mile river They realized that they would have to pack their supplies around a miles canyon in the White Horse Rapids a Canoe loaded high above the gunnels would have no chance of getting through without capsizing The fortage was made and they returned to their fragile craft We could carry the canoe over the trail You know take us all day and be in Lake La Barge in less than an hour I don't know that's mighty treacherous water in the canyon the rapids beyond Riva worse cold feet Eddie I'm not exactly, but I've got a confession I can't swim you won't have to can you guarantee that my sure. There's nothing to worry about all right partner I'll take your word for it. Climb in All said said as I'll ever be here we go They made the passage to the canyon safely and then came a stretch of quiet water But the White Horse Rapids beyond were different Chuck found his strength wasn't up to controlling the canoe in the seething madly racing stream Time and again the canoe grazed the black bull is that rose above the surface of the water Time and again the canoe ship water and came close to capsize No chance of getting there I've got to keep her out in the middle There's a canoe behind us the man in it doesn't seem to be having so much trouble. He's better than I am That's all isn't far now. There's the opening of the lake and just steer clear the rocks look out on the right I see it Here we hit Eddie watch quick hand me a paddle. I lost mine here Look out though that last big rock you're having great quality. See it. I'm trying to hit again The canoe rammed the rock with such force when a great hole was ripped from the side and the canoe turned turtle Both men were thrown into the water When Eddie rose to the surface he was able to grasp the overturned crash But Chuck's head had hit a smaller rock and it saw him going under unconscious grounding Eddie knew that he could only swim a few strokes, but he never hesitated He let go of the canoe and splashed awkwardly to Chuck's side Grabbed his shirt and then tried to get back to the canoe Though the rapids were passed the current was still fast and the boat had drifted beyond his reach Eddie struggled desperately He could feel his strength going he knew there was no chance for him to make the show of a truck But he refused to let go of him He must keep on fighting fighting to stay above the surface of the water There was help on the way the man in the second canoe was Sergeant Preston and with him was the great dog king Sergeant was off duty and out of uniform on his way to the McQueston River for a week of hunting as His canoe swept past the rock that had capsized the partner's craft. He called the king. Oh boy I'm going to tie this line to your harness. You're going overboard with me now Just keep swimming and stay close to me boy. I'm gonna have my hands full with those two men The canoe doesn't weigh much won't pull you downstream too fast. You keep it close enough for me to reach won't you fellow? King called his master into the water Sergeant struck out for Eddie and Chuck in a moment had reached their side All right, I've got it Now look just put your hand on my shoulder All right easy does it first your head keep your chin up King come on King swam hard against the current when the sergeant called way and although he could make no real headway against it He managed to hold his own the sergeant with Chuck and Eddie drifted down toward me and I get to the canoe grab hold of the side Good work, King. Can you hang on? Come on King in the shore The sergeant and King maneuvered the canoe out of the main current and into shallow water The canoe was beached and Chuck was carried ashore For a desperate hour the sergeant applied artificial respiration Last Yes, it'll be all right now. I have some blankets in my canoe Wrap him up in them first and I'll build a fire Sergeant made camp for the two exhausted travelers. He cooked a meal for them Then he paddled down to the lake and found their capsized canoe floating in the shallow waters He pulled it ashore and carried it back to the campsite. He patched it He accompanied Chuck and Eddie to the point where they had left their supplies It was nearly evening when he said goodbye. I hope you won't have any bad luck from now on I want to thank you person words on another. That's all right and the canoe King Goodbye good luck again Bye, I hope we'll meet again Talk about a good Samaritan. Yeah He saved our lives You who said man? No, Preston told me what you did not being able to swim well and Never forget it any come on. Let's make it The sergeant was on vacation and as a result he hadn't mentioned his official position to the two men That was why Eddie reached a strange conclusion concerning him. One doesn't ask a man like Preston questions questions What sort of question? Well, I Suggested that if he stopped at the Northwest mounted post at the top of the lake they Might pick up our canoe force and steady did it himself Laughed and said he had no intention of going anywhere near Northwest Mountain post you you think that maybe Preston is It's wanted by the law. I only know what he said, but he isn't a prospect He was only carrying a little food with him some blankets just traveling light Except for two pistols a shotgun and a rifle plenty of ammunition to Makes no difference to me now nor to me I Can't help feeling sorry about Great guy like that. Yeah It's too bad. Well This bacon's done. Let's see Six months past before the sergeant saw a choconetti again once again He was out of uniform the reason this time was the intense cold a steady bitter 50 below zero The clothes the Indians wore were the best for the trail caribou skin of fur Parker and mucklucks The sergeant was taking a big French Canadian trapper named Andre Boudreau back to his cabin from the hospital in Dawson When they were overtaken by a blizzard She gets worse sergeant. Yes, but I stopped at the first cabin we see how's the leg on day Most men wouldn't be able to set them on leg at all. Don't worry about it the doctors fixed it fine I do not think we will get to Dawson's for a long time. This snow will last for days Even with King in the lead, it'll be impossible to travel. Look, I see a light The cabin straight ahead of us on the left bank of the creek King and the dog raised on toward the cabin there was a shed beside it and it was in front of this the King stuff Oh That dog is wonder He knows that in weather like this you will put the team inside But not in the cabin where it would be too hot. He stopped in front of the shed. We'll make sure it's all right There is owner of cabin. Hello, can you put us up for the night? Is it all right to put my team in this shed? All right Sergeant unharness the team let them into the shed and out of the fury of the storm Lafri had fed them he and Andre and King fought their way through the blinding snow to the rear door of the cabin Not in Hang your parkers up at the wall. Well, you have quite a cabin here two rooms This is the kitchen You cook biscuit this good some beans. It's all I can offer you for supper It sounds good Andre say I know you isn't your name Talbot Yeah, we met on the white horse rapids last summer or I should say we met in them Well, you're Preston. I didn't recognize you nice King, don't you? Of course. This is Andre Boudreaux. Boussoir Howdy, oh, it's wonderful having you here Having somebody to talk to where's your partner? I haven't any partner Oh, really? You did last summer a boy from New Orleans Eddie Jordan. I haven't any partner now Gentlemen, you're welcome How are you Preston Jordan? Uh, why don't you come in here? You won't smell the biscuits burn. Huh? You'll be eaten in here anyway Come on. Why go on. There's no any place to sit down here You'll be more comfortable in there supper will be ready in just a few minutes. All right Uh, it's good to see you Preston. It'll be great to have somebody to talk to This is Andre Boudreaux Eddie I hate the pleasure sir sit down Eddie What's the matter? What's this about you and Chuck not being partners anymore? We aren't We're just waiting for spring to wash out the rest of the gravel we've dug and then we'll split up We don't talk to each other anymore. I see That way we don't fight. Well, what have you been fighting about the civil war the war of secession, sir I stand corrected believe me Preston I prefer the company of a man who's wanted by the lord of that of a mealy mouth pureton You understand that don't you? You're perfectly welcome here even if What makes you think I'm wanted by the law? I shouldn't have said that it makes no difference Never mind under you're welcome to stay as long as you all want I only wish I could offer you more hospitality We're right down to the bottom of the barrel when it comes to supplies. I I should have gone to the post a long time ago, but Naturally, I couldn't trust that Yankee with our gold. You might have to put us up for over a week, Eddie I think we're going to be snowbound over a week. Not too long. No Oh, that is do you have some supplies with you? I'm afraid we'll have to use yours. Oh Well, we'll be on short rations, but you're welcome It's about time somebody came out here and dished up this food. That's my job today Sup will be on the table in a minute You don't need any explanation of what's going on. Do you want me? I know It is the cabin fever. I have see it happen often Two men partners good friends. They spend the winter together Nothing but snow and coal So cold they cannot work most of the time Nothing to do but look at each other's faces until they hate them And then they fight And then they reach the stage these boys have when they do not fight When they do not even speak Hmm It's too bad Chuck saved Eddie from being swindled down in Skagway. Eddie saved Chuck's life and the white horse rapids Those are things neither of them can forget. Andre. They don't really hate each other It would be impossible to persuade them that they don't and it depends I have an idea that might work. What? Eddie seems to think I'm wanted by the law. We I did not understand. I did not think I heard right I met them while I was on leave and I told them I didn't want to have anything to do with the northwest mountain You make the joke. No, I simply told the truth. I was going hunting But uh, maybe we can use the fact that they think I'm an outlaw Too much for me. I do not see how the law and supplies and we're in the middle of a blizzard Andre I'm going to be very tough before the evening's over. You must back me up Whatever you say sergeant. Don't call me sergeant way I will try to remember here. They come now. Don't be surprised at anything. I say no During supper neither chuck nor eddie addressed a word to the other But they were genuinely glad to see the sergeant He didn't respond to their conversation until chuck brought up the subject of their first meeting You know, Preston we that is uh, I had a funny idea about you last summer I guess it was that arsenal you were carrying in your canoe Had an idea you might be wanted by the law. Did you hear that Andre? We And the southern boy has the same idea. I have heard what they said. Well, maybe I'd better set them straight You mean we were I was wrong There was some other explanation for those guns. I carry guns because I used them Jordan Andre how many men have I shot so many? Oh Oh, it's hard for me to count One two three four five Oh my why are they all my number five That was bad one that fellow they call wolf. I don't remember him No, that is what I say There have been so many how you expect me to count when you cannot even remember Well, like a guest then To honor What's so funny? Why naturally you I'm what? Well, nothing Nothing at all. Well, that's where you're wrong I got along with people until they start interfering with my business. I don't like the way you two have been talking Let's have no more of it said understood Answer me. Yeah. Yeah, sure sure thing The rest of the meal was eaten in silence But the sergeant had finished he pushed his plate away That isn't enough food for a hungry man. Oh, we don't have much. I I'll do better tomorrow. I'll see that somebody does It's a matter king too hot for you in here. All right. I'll put you out in the shed When I come back, I'm going to check over your supplies. What you heard me one king Outside the blizzard had increased in fury some of the drifts were three and four feet deep I was telling the truth. We are going to be snowbound king All right in your goal, I'll probably have to take you out in the morning. Good night, boy Sergeant returned to the house He winked at andre and stamped out into the kitchen without saying a word to eddie and chuck But they followed him and watched him as he looked over their scanty stock of supplies Enough food here for a week. That's what I think for three people. That is not for four For three people. That's what I said And andre and I will be here at least a week. That means one of you better leave right away What I don't get you president. Maybe this gun will help you understand There's enough food for three people one of you has to go go where doesn't matter to me where you go It's a matter of the trading post. It's only about 10 miles. We have no dog team. We couldn't make it in this blizzard What's all this talk about we I said one of you had to go And what's so funny You're not serious this gun says I am could be murder. I don't like that way neither do I listen there'll be no argument You can decide which one of you is to go between yourselves, but you'd better do it fast There are some cards out on the table. I could deal them hand of showdown. That's fast enough. Come on move The sergeant marshal the two bewildered young man into the other room They searched his face for some sign of relenting But his expression never changed and he held his gun ready as andre dealt the cards Five to each partner Pick up your hand orbit How do we go out? Right Three aces let's see There Good hand Can you beat it any all right? No, I can't then you're the one to leave Get going wait Can he can he wait until morning? What's the sense of that? You'd have more chance store mode let up by morning won't hurt to let him stay for the night All right. I'm not unreasonable Go on and two of you better turn in but no more arguments You're not in the kitchen andre will have some more coffee You have kept your word sergeant. You've been very tough, but still I do not see I've already proved my point. He does really hate each other What is it you have there the five cards that he didn't turn over he told chucky couldn't beat his three aces look Four queens It is he who had the best hand. That's right. He won. He's deliberately taking chuck's place He would lay down his life for his friend I'm going to show chuck these cards in the morning just before he starts out We I understand now. There can be no hate in the face of such feeling I'll tell him who I really am. We'll break out supplies to my sleigh and we'll have a celebration He's a good idea. All right. Let's go to bed But the sergeant didn't allow for the thoughts and chuck Talbot's mind Eddie's a good kid between us is mostly my fault He saved my life back there in the White Horse Rapids That's something I can't forget is a sound of sleep. Preston's gone away from his team It made too much noise slip out the door while the others are sleeping It was after midnight when king awoke In spite of the storm his keen senses told him there was someone moving around outside the cabin And he felt at his duty to investigate Long ago, he'd learned how a simple latch such as the one on the shed door could be lifted First he tried to lift it with his nose It didn't work Then he stood up with pause on the wall beside the door and reaching over tried to push up the latch with one of them He succeeded as soon as the latch was lifted the wind blew the door open The dogs began to bark but king silenced them with a growl He ran outside and around the cabin to the front a man was struggling down the trail king recognized him It was one of his master's friends. Well, what was he doing? Where was he going? King ran to the door of the cabin and scratched at it. He barked furious The sound was swallowed up by the storm king decided to follow the man and he started after When he saw him again through the driving snow, he kept his distance During the whole of the next hour the man covered less than a mile and then he did something that king knew was wrong He started wandering away from the drifted trail to the left. The man was staggering King decided he must be led back to the trail and he ran up to him In the darkness chuck thought he was being attacked by a wolf When king tried to take his parka and his teeth and pull him back to the trail chuck lunged forward with his knife The blade raked king's shoulder and the great dog leaped back Why was his master's friend attacking him when he only wanted to help? The man staggered on and then he fell he tried to rise but sank back into the snow It was too much for king. It was a problem the sergeant must solve King turned and ran back to the cabin. This time he was not to be denied He not only barked he threw himself against the door time after time At last the sergeant hurt him and opened the door What is it king? There's something wrong for sure Chuck, where's chuck? What's that Eddie? Chuck's gone he isn't here Is that what you're trying to tell me king? It is for sure. See he wants you to follow him Just a minute before I get onto my parka boy He's gone in my place Yes Eddie just as you would have gone in his Well what are you doing? I thought you wanted one of us to go I wanted both of you to come to your senses What? Andre will explain ready king go on boy King led his master down the trail to the place where chuck had turned off And then on to the left through the drifts Chuck would never have been found if it hadn't been for king The snow had completely covered him The sergeant brushed it aside and helped him to his feet All right up you go Sleep let me sleep You can sleep when you get home chuck Come on walk you've got to walk Come on king lead the way boy An hour later chuck was wrapped in blankets and sitting close to the stove In one hand he held a steaming cup of coffee And in the other the five cards that had been dealt to Eddie Four queens Isn't that just like a rebel Think he'd know enough about poker to realize four queens beats three aces Listen Yankee the game of poker was invented in New Orleans And what was wrong with it? Can you read the cards? Are you blind? Let me answer that question You've both been blind How about it now? Can you see each other a little more clearly than you did yesterday afternoon? Well that's the answer All right thanks sergeant Yeah thanks Thank king Chuck My experiment would have gotten out of hand if it hadn't been for him I'm sorry I cut your shoulder boy You got to make a lot since king He comes from Boston you can't expect him to have as much sense as you have No wait I'm I have waited long enough give me those cards Chuck Now the two of you shake hands Okay sergeant Put it there partner That's better Well king this case is closed Now here's sergeant Preston with a preview of our next adventure The case of the yellow kitten When king and I stopped at the cabin on the way to Selkirk to leave the yellow kitten for little Georgie mellow I didn't expect to return to that cabin that very night On the trail of a pair of tough crooks Little George and his kittens started an exciting adventure that took fast thinking on the part of both king and me 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. Trendall directed by fred flower day and edited by fran striker The part of sergeant Preston is 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 j michael wishing you goodbye and good luck till next wed-