To the repeated request, and then the demand, that McMillan be put backinto the wheel to get along as best he could, there was a moment'shesitation and a sweet, but firm, feminine voice replied, "'Scotty'says"--a gasp and a pause--"he says he'll not ruin a faithful hound ifevery man, woman and child in all Alaska has bet on him. And I skinnykhe's just right, too; Jack is a perfect dear," and the receiver was hungup with a click that admitted of no further argument.

At last they were off again, five hours behind the others; but when theydid leave, the North knew that the sport was on in earnest--for Allan'spolicy had ever been to do his real driving on the "home stretch."

Soon the languor from the rest, and the heaviness from the food wereforgotten; and there existed but one dominating, resistless impulse indog and man--the impulse to win.

Even the least responsive dog must then have felt the thrill of thefamous race, for never a whip--hardly a word--was necessary to spur themon.

Frequently the trails were sodden, and occasionally obliterated; soft snowpiling up like drifts of feathers into fleecy barriers through which thedogs, with the aid and encouragement of their Master, fought their way,inch by inch. Beyond them lay Death Valley, a dread waste where the deadsilence is broken only by the wailing and shrieking of the wind as itsweeps down in sudden fury from the sentinel peaks that guard it. Acrossthis Baldy led unswervingly, never hesitating, and hardly relaxing hissteady pace, though the sudden gusts from the mountainside occasionally curvedthe team into a half circle; and he was forced to keep his nose wellinto the air and brace himself firmly to keep from being carried off hisfeet.