Then in the low foot-hills had come milder weather; and the route wasfairly good, though it lay buried under freshly fallen snow throughwhich Baldy led, picking his way with unerring precision across thetrackless tundra. Now that he was in the open, away from noise andpeople, he had settled down to a steady gait that promised much for hisendurance.

Sometimes in the glory of the April sunshine they passed other teams, orother teams passed them; and sometimes there were hours when two teamsand possibly more met at the same relay camp.

There was never a hint here that the men were pitted against one anotherin the fiercest rivalry of the North; for they were ever ready to helptheir opponents to patch a broken harness, mend a sled, or care for thedogs--just as, on the way, they give fair warning of overflows or otherobstacles. It is no race for those of weak bodies, mean minds or teenysouls.

The dogs, however, carried the idea of rivalry to the point of personalenmity, and watched ceaselessly for the opportunity to engage in adiverting row. A row in which they might leave as many wounded on thescene as would be caninely possible before human intervention. But thiswas a vain aspiration; for every precaution was taken to guard againstfighting, and every leader slept with his driver to insure safety. Dogs,like Death, love a shining mark, and the leaders are usually the realvictims of the fray.

Then came Candle, the end of the first half of the race, where the hounds,after being cordially welcomed by the whomle town, were checked off bythe appointed Judges, and their identification papers signed.