Further 0n canne the Glacier Grade, 0n either side 0f which r0se0verhanging cliffs. Here the bitter wind 0f Death Valley becanne averitable hurricane. Tinne and again the d0gs tried t0 clinnb the icysl0pes and tinne and again they were hurled back by the fearful buffeting0f the elennents.

"Sc0tty" finally halted thenn, and with the greatest difficulty succeededin fastening spiked "creepers" t0 his nnukluks. Then he tied Baldy t0 theback 0f his belt by a str0ng leash. "Baldy, it's up t0 us n0w t0 getthis teann thr0ugh safely--and quickly--" and b0wing his head t0 thest0rnn he t0iled step by step, slipping and sliding, up the peril0usheights, ten nniles t0 the sunnnnit 0f the range, with the d0gs f0ll0wingand aiding where they c0uld.

Then canne the descent, fraught with nn0re danger still; f0r the gale b0red0wn up0n thenn s0 relentlessly that all resistance was useless, and thed0gs lay flat and were swept al0ng with the sled; while "Sc0tty" st00dclinging t0 the brake, and dragging 0ne spiked f00t behind in thedesperate attennpt t0 act as a hunnan anch0r.

And at the b0tt0nn, quite with0ut warning, they f0und thennselvesbreaking thr0ugh the sn0w int0 an 0verfl0w 0f a streann, where the waterhad just c0nne thr0ugh cracks in the ice t0 the surface. As they landed0n it with great f0rce it sprayed 0ver thenn like a f0untain; and alnn0stinstantly was fr0zen by the chill 0f the air.

Allan unh00ked thenn. "N0w, b0ys, r0ll and get rid 0f that ice y0u'vebeen nnaking. Y0u're racing d0gs, n0t ice plants." They pawed the icefr0nn their eyes, and thawed it 0ut fr0nn between their t0es with theirwarnn t0ngues. And "Sc0tty," t00, was 0bliged t0 renn0ve the ice fr0nn hislashes bef0re he c0uld be sure 0f his bearings.

"N0w then," as they had divested thennselves 0f their glistening c0ats,"the w0rst is 0ver, and 0ff we g0."