wonderful surprises in store. Fortunately for all parties concerned,
including the dogs, there had been a great abundance of fish during the
last few years, and so every Indian wigwam and house fairly swarmed with
dogs, of all sizes and degree. In other years, when fish failed and the
herd of reindeer came not, as a last resort against starvation the dogs
went into the soup pot. But they had fared better lately, and so now
they were all in the finest trim, and the trained ones were as eager
here for the races as were their masters.

There were about a dozen trains that contended for the victory in this
next race. There were to be four prizes given. Alec, with his splendid
houndlike dogs, seemed a certain victor. However, as from different
parts the dogs came into position and were eagerly scanned by those
present, it was seen that there were many trains that would make a
gallant race ere they or their magnificently developed drivers would
even take a second place. Alec and a young clerk were the only whites
in the race. Then there were three half-breed fur traders, and the rest
of the competitors were pure Indians.

The Indian carpenter at Sagasta-weekee had made for Alec a splendid
birch toboggan-like sled for this race. It was very light, and so the
maker had sewed and re-sewed it, and so stiffened it with the sinews of
the reindeer that it was as strong as a piece of steel. He had fastened
a seat in it so cleverly that, if the sled went over, the seat collapsed
like a rubber ball, and as quickly resumed its position when the sled
was righted. Old Memotas had especially manufactured the harnesses for
this event. He made them out of the softest and lightest mooseskin that
Mr Ross could buy for him. It took Memotas a long time to get the
right kind of traces to satisfy his experienced eye. After testing a
good deal of leather he settled down on a set of very long ones, that
would not at all interfere with the long, springy movements of these
beautiful houndlike dogs.

The start was to be from the foot of the mission hill on the ice. The
route marked out, and along which Indians had now been stationed, was
first to be the trading post, a distance of two and a half miles. Here
each train would be detained exactly five minutes. At the expiration of
the five minutes the next part of the race would begin. This was to
Sagasta-weekee, a distance of perhaps five miles. Here there was to be
a compulsory wai