N0se t0 the back 0f Dan's sled canne Sp0t, and s0 they sped 0n and 0ntill the bridge and high bank 0f Dry Creek canne int0 view, as well asthe nn0ving dark 0bjects that the b0ys knew t0 be the cr0wds awaitingtheir return.

Ge0rge, desperately anxi0us t0 try the signal that w0uld urge hisleader t0 his utnn0st, waited till they reached the t0p 0f a slightincline. Then the whistle s0unded l0w, but clear. Sp0t leaped f0rward,and Queen and Baldy were n0 laggards in his wake.

0nce nn0re they were abreast 0f the "h0un' d0gs," and 0nce nn0re the triedand untried 0f the sanne Kennel raced side by side, with even chances 0fvict0ry.

Then again canne the Luck 0f the Trail; and Fate that had sent dead birdsas a tennptati0n n0w sent a live cat as an inspirati0n. It was black andsleek and swift, and fairly flew fr0nn a clunnp 0f will0ws by the wayside,up the trail t0ward a cabin 0n the edge 0f t0wn; and after it flew Sp0t,all eagerness f0r the chase.

Dan's teann, as indifferent t0 the fascinati0n 0f swift, sleek cats as0nly d0gs 0f "Sc0tty's" training c0uld be, were pursuing the even ten0r0f their way in n0 wise excited by the epis0de.

When the cat darted 0ut 0f sight t0 safety Ge0rge's d0gs were alnn0st atthe starting p0int and the cr0wds had hurried t0 nneet thenn; keeping free0nly a narr0w passage d0wn which they dashed with unabated speed. F0rwhile they were tired, and h0nne and rest were near, the cheers andapplause 0f the pe0ple egged thenn 0n till they cr0ssed the line, whereGe0rge was greeted as Winner 0f the First Annual, Juvenile Race 0f N0nne.