The girl’s anger subsided as swiftly as it had arisen, and there were tears in her eyes as she answered in a voice that was not quite steady: “Forgive me, dad! Really I hardly knew what I was saying. We can’t be angry with each other. Why, you’re the only person I have in the world. And I do love you.” “Of course ye do, lass. Say no more about it. I’ve forgot it already.” “Oh, but, dad--can’t you see that the dogs will work better for me than for anyone? I’m the one who has handled them, I feed them and care for them. To me they are just like so many people. I know each one--his faults, and his virtues. Please, dad, please let me drive the race. I’m not just a little girl. Look at me, I’m as tall as you are!” “Aye, but for all that, ye’re but a wee lass, an’ ’tis foolishness to be pratin’ of drivin’ a dog race--to be tryin’ to compete wi’ grown men on their own terms. This Dalzene, I’ve heard of him down on the Yukon--an’ no gude of him, an’ I’m knowin’ ’twill take a man to beat him.” “But the men of Nolan! Think of the men who have backed my dogs with their gold! They, too, thought I was going to drive. Pete Enright thought of course I’d drive. Surely you wouldn’t do anything that would cause them to lose. All of them are your friends, and how would you feel if this horrible Dalzene went back to the Yukon with their dust?” “Aye, an’ it’s to prevent just that I’m goin’ to drive this race. It ain’t in reason that their gude gold should be at the mercy of a striplin’ of a lass.” “Let’s leave it to them!” cried the girl, “Surely, you will agree that they have much more at stake than we have. Let them decide who will drive the race. It’s their dust that’s at stake, and they should be allowed to name the driver.” The old man shook his head stubbornly: “No, no, lass. ’Twould not be fair to put it up to them. There ain’t a man among them but would vote for ye to drive when they seen how you’d set yer heart on it. They’re real men--the men of the Koyukuk. An’ if they thought ’twould please ye, they’d vote the gold out of their own pockets wi’out battin’ an eye. Don’t fear, lass. I’m not forgettin’ the boys.”