The girl gave him the name of her hotel, and he continued: “If you say so I’ll come over there this afternoon an’ then you can see me make the map, an’ it will give me a chance to tell you about the trail. There’s some mean places an’ it helps a whole lot to know about ’em.” “Oh, will you? Are you sure you are willing to do that--when it might be the means of my winning the race?” Johnson laughed: “If them dogs of mine can’t win because they can out-run, an’ out-trail yours, you’re welcome to win. I don’t want no advantage. An’ let me tell you that you’re doin’ a good thing by takin’ ’em over the trail. There’s more to that than some folks savvies. There’ll be a lot of ’em entered this year. An’ outside of three or four of us, they ain’t none of ’em be’n over the trail. Here comes Scotty Allen now!” he exclaimed, as they watched the approach of a big team of pure malamutes. “Him an’ a woman down in California is pardners in that team--an’ they’re good dogs, too.” As the driver drew up and halted Johnson hailed him. “Come here, Scotty, an’ meet Miss Lou Gordon from over on the Koyukuk, an’ at the same time take a squint at some good dogs. Look at that lead dog! Some animal! I was just tellin’ Miss Gordon that if I don’t win I’d rather she would than you, or Ayer, or Sapala, or Eskimo John. The rest ain’t got no show, anyhow.” Allen acknowledged the introduction. “I’m sure glad to meet you, Miss Gordon. So you’ve come over to give us a run for our money, eh? That’s the stuff! But don’t you believe for a minute that John here, an’ that pack of wolves he’s drivin’ is goin’ to cut any real figure in the big race. Here’s the team you’ve got to figure on, right here. If you beat out these malamutes, you’ve won the race!” “Hear him rave!” laughed Johnson, “Why, Miss Gordon, them malamutes will be lucky if they don’t set down an’ freeze in before they hit Gold Run. I figure on packin’ extra grub for Scotty, so he can make it in a-foot.” And so it went, the two great dog-mushers exchanging good-natured banter, and the girl enjoying it hugely. “Anyway, I hope the best team will win!” she exclaimed, when they had exhausted their stock of ready repartee. “You said it!” seconded Allen. “You bet!” exclaimed Johnson. “I hope we don’t have to run in the snow. It’s a hard grind in clear weather, but with a blizzard on, it’s fierce.” “You don’t figure on drivin’ the race, yourself!” exclaimed Allen. “If I don’t drive it, one of you will win,” laughed the girl. “My dad wants to drive, but he can’t win.” “Just the same, I hope he don’t let you tackle it,” said Allen, seriously, “It ain’t no woman’s race--the Sweepstakes ain’t.” “It will be a woman’s race this year!” smiled the girl. “You’ll see!” and with the good-natured laughter of the men ringing in her ears, she headed the dogs for town.