The man laughed aloud as the dog staggered to his feet and with lowered tail, wolfed down great mouthfuls of snow. Walking to the tent, he picked up a dried fish and securing a stout club, again approached the dog which ceased eating snow to glare at him with his smouldering amber eyes, and emit low, menacing growls. Marking well the limit of the chain, Dalzene held out the fish. He noticed that the dog’s nostrils quivered as the scent of the food reached him, but instead of taking it from the outstretched hand, Skookum leaped again, straight at the man’s face. Dalzene’s right arm swung and with a vicious crack, the inch-thick club of green wood met the dog’s skull in mid-air. Skookum collapsed in the snow, lay still for a moment, and dizzily regaining his feet, stood swaying weakly. “You will, will you?” sneered the man, “You damned devil, you! I’ll tame you! When I git through with you you’ll know who’s boss! I’ll tame you, or By God, I’ll kill you!” Once more he tendered the fish, but the dog made no move to take it, his half-closed, smouldering eyes glaring at his tormenter sullenly. After a few moments of fruitless trying, Dalzene gave it up for the time being. “If you wasn’t so damn valuable I’d let you starve before I’d give you anything to eat without you took it out of my hand,” he grumbled, “But I don’t dast to take a chanst of losin’ you; I need you in my business. It’s me fer Nome, an’ if I kin pick up a couple more good dogs, with you fer a leader, I’ll git in on them Alaska Sweepstakes. Here’s yer fish, but mind you it’s the last one you git, without you take it out of my hand.” He tossed the fish at the dog’s feet, but the yellow eyes never lowered their gaze, and with an oath, Dalzene stuck the club into the snow, and returning to the tent wrapped himself in his blankets and slept. So utterly body weary was he that it was nearly noon next day before he awoke and lighted the fire in his stove. Tossing a fish apiece to the dogs, he took another and advancing upon Skookum, pulled the club from the snow and approached to the end of the chain. Only for an instant did the yellow eyes rest upon the club, then their gaze centered on the face of the man. Dalzene stretched out his hand, and mincingly grudgingly, with back hair a-quiver with hate, the great dog came forward and took the proffered fish. Dalzene laughed: “Learn some sense did you? Oh, I’ve handled mean dogs before. You better not try any monkey business with me, or I’ll cave in yer ribs.” Returning to the tent, the man bolted a hasty meal, and picking up his rifle, threw a cartridge into the chamber, fastened on his snowshoes, and started for the river.