“Of course it would!” agreed the girl, and as they ate she found herself telling this kindly stranger all about herself, her hopes and ambitions, and her fears. And she listened while he told of the unexplored country along the Colville and its tributaries, and of how he believed himself upon the verge of a big strike. “But is it worth it?” she asked, “Is the gold worth it all? Is it worth enough when you get it to pay for all the years of cold, and darkness, and hard, hard work? Don’t you realize that up here we are missing it all?” “Missing it all?” asked the man, softly, “Missing all what?” “Why, missing everything--missing _life_!” It seemed a long time before he answered: “Maybe we are,” he said, “Maybe we are missing--life. I’ll think about that--and if I find the answer, I’ll tell you. You are coming back to Nome, of course?” “Oh, yes. I’m just taking the dogs over the trail, so it won’t be all new to them when the race starts. I’ll reach Candle tonight, and rest all day tomorrow. The return trip I will make in two days. I’m going to really drive coming back.” The man nodded: “That’s right. Make them do it. Force them and crowd them as if you were driving the race. They told me at Shungnak that the race starts the thirteenth, that will give them plenty of time to rest up in Nome, and it will show them what’s expected of them.” “You know dogs,” said the girl. “Yes,” he answered, “I know dogs. But, that is only half of it. Dogs know me. And that is the real secret of handling dogs. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you that I could take those dogs of yours and handle them as well as you can yourself. Dogs know all about a man the moment they scent him. It’s a sense we don’t know anything about, but it’s there. They know a lot more about us than we know about them. A dog knows a vicious man the instant he scents him, he knows the good-natured, easy going man, that he can take advantage of, and he knows the man he can trust and respect. He will work his toe nails off for the right man--because he trusts him. For the others, he will do just as little as he can get by with. He will do just enough to keep from under the club of the vicious man, and he will shamelessly loaf for the good-natured man who pampers him.” The girl nodded: “I believe that. I believe every word of it. I have been handling dogs for several years, and I know it’s true. I should like to talk more about dogs,” she added, “but, really, I must go. I want to make Candle tonight.” “You’ll make it all right,” he answered. “Can I look you up in Nome?” “Oh, do!” cried the girl, “I’d love to have someone to talk to--someone who knows dogs, and who knows the real North--the country beyond the Yukon. Dad is so busy finding out about boilers that I hardly ever see him.” “I’ll be waiting for you day after tomorrow evening,” he promised. “You will be too tired to talk dogs or anything else, but I’ll be looking for you. I want to see how your team stands the trip.”