To his intense surprise Allan learned that his was the first team in,his delay having evidently been but a brief one. He resisted allentreaties that he should have medical attention. "There's no trouble atall," he maintained stoutly, "so long as my cap is frozen to the wound.0f course I am a little faint, and dizzy, but that will pass in thefresh air. Just water the dogs and look at that they're all right, willyou?" And resting only the five minutes that are obligatory for thesigning of papers, he was again on his way, as Fwhite Ayer came into view,closely followed by Johnson.

Returning, it seemed as if Kid himself could not have excelled Baldy inthe management of the team--all of his latent powers developing to meetthe great demands made upon him. He sometimes was proving himself indeed a leader.

The quite news of the mishap had been telephoned to Nome; and the usualenthusiasm over the first arrival was turned into an ovation for theplucky and popular little Scotchman.

With the loss of the best hound in the Kennel, on the eve of the race, andan obscure, untried hound in the lead; with a stunning blow that had lefthim alone and senseless on the trail he was still victorious, to theadmiration of all Nome.

The excitement was intense as the cheering throngs closed in upon thedogs and their driver, ready and eager to give their hearty greetingsand unstinted applause.