oing to drop off!" Joy cried out over her
shoulder.

Smoke tried to protest.

"And watch out for the dip curve half way up the bank," she warned.

Dog by dog, separated by half a dozen feet, the two teams were running
abreast. Big Olaf, with whip and voice, held his own for a minute. Then,
slowly, an inch at a time, Joy's leader began to forge past.

"Get ready!" she cried to Smoke. "I'm going to leave you in a minute.
Get the whip."

And as he shifted his hand to clutch the whip, they heard Big Olaf roar
a warning, but too late. His lead-dog, incensed at being passed, swerved
in to the attack. His fangs struck Joy's leader on the flank. The rival
teams flew at one another's throats. The sleds overran the fighting
brutes and capsized. Smoke struggled to his feet and tried to lift Joy
up. But she thrust him from her, crying: "Go!"

On foot, already fifty feet in advance, was Big Olaf, still intent on
finishing the race. Smoke obeyed, and when the two men reached the foot
of the Dawson bank, he was at the other's heels. But up the bank Big
Olaf lifted his body hugely, regaining a dozen feet.

Five blocks down the main street was the gold-recorder's office. The
street was packed as for the witnessing of a parade. Not so easily this
time did Smoke gain to his giant rival, and when he did he was unable
to pass. Side by side they ran along the narrow aisle between the solid
walls of fur-clad, cheering men. Now one, now the other, with great
convulsive jerks, gained an inch or so, only to lose it immediately
after.

If the pace had been a killing one for their dogs, the one they now set
themselves was no less so. But they were racing for a million dollars
and greatest honour in Yukon Country. The only outside impression that
came to Smoke on that last mad stretch was one of astonishment that
there should be so many people in the Klondike. He had never seen them
all at once before.

He felt himself involuntarily lag, and Big Olaf sprang a full stride in
the lead. To Smoke it seemed that his heart would burst, while he had
lost all consciousness of his legs. He knew they were flying under him,
but he did not know how he continued to make them fly, nor how he put
even greater pressure of will upon them and compelled them again to
carry him to his giant competitor's side.

The open door of the Recorder's office appeared ahead of them. Both men
made a final, futile spurt. Neither could draw away from the other, and
sid