“And they would have passed without even hesitating if you hadn’t confused Skookum by yelling at him as if he were deaf. Why, you can’t even start them without nearly jerking the outfit to pieces.” “It’s because of they’re trainin’. They ain’t half broke, I’m tellin’ ye. I know what dogs should do.” “And I’ll show you what these dogs can do, if they’re properly handled. Give me the whip!” The old man complied. “Whoah!” At the sound of the girl’s voice the team froze in its tracks. “Mush!” Instantly, the team started as a single dog. The sled slipped smoothly into motion and the dogs broke into a brisk trot, their plumes a-wave. “Steady!” The trot slowed to a walk. In the distance sounded the tiny tinkle of bells. “Here comes another team!” cried the old man, “Git to ye’re leader an hold him till they’ve passed! Next time, they’ll tangle an’ maybe we’ll have a hurt dog. They’d of tangled before if I hadn’t got there just as I did.” “Get on the sled!” commanded the girl. “I’m driving, now, and I’ll show you something!” Reluctantly the old man seated himself upon the sled. The tinkle of bells sounded nearer. Grasping the tail rope the girl spoke to her father: “You couldn’t pass that other team at a walk. Watch me!” “Mush! Mush!” the command cut clear, and the dogs sprang into a run. “Mush-u! Hi! Hi!” Faster and faster they flew over the hard-packed trail. Directly ahead, seemingly almost upon them in the gloom, a dog team topped a rise. “Mush!” The dogs increased their speed. “Gee!” The single spoken word cut clear, and swerving without a perceptible jerk, Skookum, threw his team to the side of the trail, and the next instant, they flashed past the oncoming team. “That’s drivin’!” called a voice from the darkness behind them, and Lou slowed her dogs to a walk with a word. “Now, what do you say?” asked the girl. “’Twas a foolhardy thing to do,” announced Gordon. “I’d say ye were lucky. But it proves ye’re not fit to drive a race.” The remainder of the trip was made in silence. Enright himself greeted the outfit as it drew up to the roadhouse door, and while her father exchanged greetings with a half-dozen former residents of Slate Creek and Myrtle, the girl managed to call Enright aside. “What’s ailin’ you, Miss Lou? You look like you expected to lose that dog race instead of winnin’ it.” “That’s just it. I’m afraid we will lose it. At least we won’t stand near as good a chance of winning as I thought we would.” “What’s the matter? Dogs gone sick on you?” “No, they’re in tiptop condition. It isn’t that, but just this morning dad informed me that he is going to drive the race! Said it was a man’s job. He just can’t realize that I have grown up. And he don’t know any more about handling those dogs than the man in the moon.” Enright whistled: “Plumb set on it, is he? Did you try to reason with him?”