d wrest their honour from them. Whips are
flying now in earnest, and the dogs of other trains are waking up to
realise that there is fire in their masters' eyes and strength in their
arms and a burning sting at the end of the heavy lash. With terrific
rushes they make their desperate efforts to forge to the front. Alec,
excited now to the highest pitch, calls as never before to his dogs:

"Marche! Bruce, up! Up, Wallace! and you Gelert, and my bonny Lorne.
Ho! ho! Away, away, my bonny dogs! Away! away!"

Grandly did they respond. They too have caught the enthusiasm of the
hour, and as in clock-like unison in those long, light traces they
stretched themselves out and fairly flew over the icy surface, they
seemed to lift the light sled and its driver as a thing of naught.

Steady, Alec! Keep well balanced now. You have shaken off every sled
that started in this last dash with you, but there are stubborn
competitors ahead, and there are rough places where an upset at such a
speed means disaster as well as defeat. But he thinks naught of these
things; his Scottish caution has gone to the winds, and with dauntless
courage he keeps up his cheering cries. Rapidly does he gain on a
powerful train ahead of him, and just as he begins to fly past it the
vicious leader turns and springs at Bruce. He fails in his attempt on
account of the slippery ice, and falls directly in front of the oncoming
train.

"Marche! Bruce!" shouts Alec, and with a mighty bound the gallant
fellow responds and springs directly over his prostrate assailant.
Quickly follow Wallace, Gelert, and Lorne. With a stunning blow Alec's
sled hits the still struggling brute. Well now is it for Alec that the
cautious builder of that light sled had strengthened it with deerskin
sinews till it was tough and strong. And so it stood that fierce shock,
and, with its sturdy occupant unseated, over the great dog, with
undiminished speed, it goes. Before him now are the two great trains of
the half-breeds. These are the men and trains about which Memotas
whispered his words of caution. And well is it for Alec that he was put
on his guard. Before them for a mile or so is the narrowest part of the
route. The good ice in places did not average more than from fifty to a
hundred feet across. Plenty of room, anyone might say, for three dog-
trains to rush by [it] at the same time. Yes, if all are fair and
honourable, but not wide enough for the safety of