t of ten minutes for each train, and then the dash back
by the straight route to the mission, a distance, say, of six miles.
Some of the Indians wanted the distance to be at least doubled, but this
could not be allowed. These races and prizes were only designed to
encourage the Indians to be kind and careful with their dogs, as only by
such treatment could they be brought to be of the highest use to them in
that land where they are so much needed.

Amid a good deal of barking, and some growls from some of the more
quarrelsome dogs, the cry of "Marche!" was shouted, and they were off.
Some especially clever Indian trains were the first to respond to the
call and sprang to the front. Some of the drivers were going to run;
others, like Alec, intended to ride, while perhaps the greater number
would ride or run as they judged best in the excitement of the race.
Each driver, Alec included, had a splendid dog-whip, but it was a long
time since a dog of Alec's was struck. Indeed, the first one to receive
a powerful blow was the leader dog of a train beside which Alec was
running. As Bruce came alongside, and was slowly forging ahead, the
vicious brute made a spring at him. Quick as it was, it was observed by
his Indian master, who, although more than twelve feet from him in the
rear, sent out so speedily and accurately that long, heavy, snake-like
whiplash that it caught the brute on the nose with such force that, with
a howl of pain, he turned to the front before any damage had been done.
A few seconds later Alec and this Indian driver sped on right and left
of a couple of trains mixed-up in terrible confusion, while their
drivers, a white man and a half-breed, were in anything but a pleasant
mood. On and on they fairly flew. Alec had been warned to guard
against running into some of the vicious dog-trains, as some of them had
teeth like wolves, and one fierce attack might easily disable one of his
lighter dogs.

Without mishap Alec reached the fort, and found that five trains were
there ahead of him. In a minute or two most of the others arrived.
Even those tangled up had speedily unloosened, and had not lost more
than a couple of minutes by their collision. Exactly as each train's
five minutes expired, away they flew for a long run for Sagasta-weekee.
The ice was in fairly good condition for travelling, although there were
long stretches where it was so absolutely smooth and glassy that some of
the dogs would slip