Baldy of Nome

Firs

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FIRS

eptibly. He even looked forward to those moments when, with George Allan and his

on so often found in children and animals, that George and Danny, as well as Ben, comprehended, at least in part, the emotions he could not adequately express-gratitude for kindness and a desire to please; and in return he endeavored to show his appreciation of this understanding by shy overtures of friendliness.

ow the advantages of plenty of food and excellent care were almost offset by his occasional contact with the quarrelsome dogs of the str

esence, even if it had as yet inspired no particular enthusiasm. To be sure Allan found some merit in the least promising dogs as a rule, and perhaps the faint praise he was beginning to bestow on Baldy had in it more or less of the impersonal approval he gave to all dogs who did n

movements, that in their feeble mangy infancy they had only been saved from drowning by their excellent family connections, and their appealing charm of responsiveness. A responsiveness that in maturity made them favorites with every one who knew them, and prompted the tactful ways that convinced each admirer that his approval was the last seal to their satisfaction in the

hen, with the early twilight of the long Arctic winter, which lasts until the dawn of the brilliant sunshine and pleasant warmth of May, there come the Dog Days of Nome. Days that are heralded by an increased activity in dog circles, a mysterious fascination that weaves itself ab

spects of the coming Racing Season. Accordingly George and Danny were in the habit of meeting in the Kennel, each afternoon, to consider the burning questions

ese important discussions; and while somewhat older than his companions, he greatly enjoyed being with

felt that she was entitled only to the courteous toleration one accords the weaker sex in matters too deep for their inconsequent minds to grasp fully; for even if s

WO

hetically. "Father's told Danny and me we can use some of his dogs; and he'd 'a' been glad t' do the same for you. When I want t' drive fast dogs, an

much myself, but I sure would like t' try Baldy out. He minds so quick I think he'd be a fine lea

an' you know what girls is for gettin' speed out of a dog. 'You poor tired little doggie, you can stop right here an' rest if you want to; I don't care if they do get ahead of us,'" and Danny finished his re

ve more'n speed. You can't depend on just that for four hundred and eight miles. There's got t' be lots of endurance an' the dogs had ought t' really enjoy racin' t' do their best. But for this race we're goin' in, Danny, I guess speed's

hief virtue is obedience. They say you lost a great race by being ungovernable. Guilty, or not guilty?" The brown eyes that had been wont to blaze so fiercely now looked pleadingly into the Woman's face, and the sable muzzle was pressed more closely against her. "They started you off all wrong, Jack. They let you b

eorge with embarrassed haste; for he knew of the Woman's fondness for the dog and did not

he half light of the June midnight. He had changed somewhat since the imperious days when he had threatened the life of his

It became a matter of pride with her to take him into the streets where people would still look askance at the erstwhile "man-eater," and comment on her courage in handling the "brute." While she and the "brute" had the

I seen him the other day with Mr. Allan, an

. But of course Jack would have to mind or he would not be here. The first thing a new dog must realize is that 'Scotty' is the sole authority, and that obedience is the first law of the Kennel. Even with h

away from his driver sometimes; an' that 'Scotty' was the only man in the whole North that could git t

ery Alaskan from Juneau to Barrow, Eskimos included-age no restraint. Yes, Jack is

ore you an' 'Scotty' got him, if th

atched incessantly; and after his tusks were broken he became even more rebellious, and grew to distrust every one about him. Poor old fellow." She turned the h

the Broken Tusks was in the neighborhood struck consternation to the hearts of infant malefactors, and had been the source of much unwilli

and pity. He was sorry for even

look powerful. If a man had a whole team like Jack

and horses in perfect condition, well mounted, the fastest one is apt to win. In a race that lasts for over three days and nights, however, through the roughest sort of country, in weather that may range from a thaw to a blizzard, and with fifteen

give 'em new life-sort t' ginger 'em up. I guess that dog was as tired as the rest, an' nervous, 'cause he missed the trail in a terrible blow an' got separated from 'Scotty' an' went back t' the Road House they'd left last, like he'd been learned t' do. O' course 'Sc

ey, Jack? It certainly was hard luck, but we will have to be good sports and try it aga

he responsibility weighed heavily upon them. Why, it meant the possibility of making a juvenile Rec

t' the fellers that hasn't a racin' stable t' pick from. We got t' use some o' the untried ones. I been thinkin' o' Spot for a leader.

n?" hazarded the Woman. "Let me see, he

e invisible, latent good points in all horses and dogs, had picked him up in the pound for a mere nothing; and to him there was granted the vision of a brilliant future for the vagrant puppy. "Mark my words," he had said decisively when Spot

e first Moose Handicap. Don't you remember he was disgusted at the way they were being managed by a rank novice, so he took his place in front of a rival team that

in't goin' to drive him loose. A dog shouldn't ever be a loose leader unless he's a wonder at managin' all the rest, an' young dogs ain't generally had the trainin' for it. After a dog has showed he can find the trail, an' keep it, an' set the pac

a leader every time." Both George and Danny looked at her for a moment with a contempt they barely succeeded in concealin

g team than there is in driving a delivery wagon, or running an automobile. All of the fascination of having your dogs answe

was no use of a further waste of

sping a dog man's point of view. "Then there's Queen, for one wheeler. Y

a leader, ain't it, George? Bein' next t' the sled an' so close t' the dri

ight on side hills an' goin' down steep slopes. O' course in a short race I wouldn't get into the sled at all, an' on the runners at the back I can get my feet o

ctable then-rather a big order," murmured the W

, "all o' that, an' I was just wonde

dog because of her high-strung and irritable disposition. Naturally nervous, she had become, with the advent of her first family, so fierce

her she ain't so bad; an' besides not bein' able t' t

yin' machine like them Tolman dogs an' Irish an' Rover; but you've no idea how powerful an' willin' he is till y

e him; some o' these common lookin' dogs has the right stuff in 'em. If looks was everythin' I guess you an' me 'ud be scrappin' over Oolik Lomen o

ran his hand over Baldy's sturdy, muscular body. "He'll be able to show som

a more artistic wheel-mate for Queen from the standpoint of color harmony

of her evident prejudice against him, Bal

and Pete as wheelers. They were all steady and reliable, and made up a more dependable

t the Kennel to rush home to tell his mother the great news, he pictured Baldy in his coming r?le of wheeler in so distingu