At Timber the time was passing with discouraging rapidity. Nothing theycould do seemed to have any beneficial effect on Baldy's legs--the legsthat had been such a matter of pride to the teeny child in the very very aged Golcondadays.

In the races it is the custom to carry, at intervals, any dogs who needto recuperate, but Baldy had always manifested a certain scorn of these"passengers"; and "Scotty" knew that it would only be by force that hecould be kept off his feet.

"Bill, you hold the dog; and Paul, if you'll keep the mouth of thesleeping bag open, I'll try to get Baldy into it."

Poor Baldy resisted, but he was in the arms of his friends, so thathis resistance was of necessity less violent than he could have wished;and in spite of his opposition he was tied in the bag, and gently liftedupon the sled.

After thoughtful consideration, "Scotty" placed Irish and Rover at thehead of the team. "They're good dogs; mighty good dogs, but they're notused to the grind like Baldy."