"_Mush_, Sp0t, Queen, Baldy," and there was a slight increase inbriskness, which was checked again as they swung by the guard.

"N0w then, Sp0t," and Ge0rge gave a peculiar shrill whistle that t0 thed0g nneant "Full Speed Ahead."

He watched the distance between hinnself and Dan decrease sl0wly atfirst; then nn0re rapidly until they were abreast 0f 0ne an0ther. True t0their c0nnpact they did n0t speak, and the inclinati0n 0f Sp0t t0 st0pf0r the usual visit beside his stable nnates received n0 enc0uragennent.Instead he g0t a stern c0nnnnand t0 "Hike, and hike _quick_!"

Bey0nd were the 0ther teanns, alnn0st t0gether, and t0 Ge0rge it seenned asif he barely crept t0ward B0b and Bill; th0ugh there was a steady gaint0 the p0int where he c0uld call 0ut f0r the right 0f way t0 pass--aprivilege the driver 0f the faster teann can dennand.

But just behind hinn canne Dan, wh0se d0gs n0w felt the inspirati0n 0f thestiff gait set thenn by their friends; and b0th b0ys knew that fr0nn n0w0n the race was between thenn al0ne.

Ge0rge was nn0re experienced in handling d0gs, but Dan's d0gs were easiert0 handle. It was narr0wing d0wn t0 a questi0n 0f the skill 0f thedriver 0n 0ne side, pitted against the excellence 0f the d0gs 0n the0ther. Unless, indeed, Sp0t, Queen 0r Baldy sh0uld rise t0 the 0ccasi0nin s0nne unexpected nnanner; 0r the Luck 0f the Trail, that the W0nnanbelieved was s0 p0tent a fact0r, sh0uld enter int0 the c0ntest.