The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-01-20


though the going was good. he had set
it short fifteen miles. Two more
teams would bring him into Dawson
and to the gold recorders Office. and
Smoke had selected his best animals
for the last two stretches. Sitka Char.
ley himself waited with the eight Male
mutes that would jerk Smoke along for
twenty miles. and for the finish. with
fifteen mile run. was his own team
The gray twilight of morning was
breaking as he exchanged his weary
dogs for the eight fresh Malemutes
Sitka Charley called out the order of
the teams ahead. Big Olaf led. Arizo-
na Bill was second. and Won Schroeder
third. These were the three best men
In the country. In fact, ere Smoke
had left Dawson. the popular betting
had placed them In that order.
AS daylight strengthened Smoke
caught sight of sled ahead, and in
half an hour bis own lead dog was
ieaptng at its TAIL Not until the man
turned his head to exchange greetings
did Smoke recognize him as Arizona
Bill. Won Schroeder had evidently
passed him. The trail. hard packed.
ran too narrowly through the soft
snow, and for another half hour Smoke
was forced to stay in the rear Then
they topped an ice jam and struck a
smooth stretch below. where were a
number of relay camps and where the
SNOW wac nooka1 rr,idalv IN h,., .,,,.,.,,,
swinging his whip and yelling. Smoke
drew abreast Of Arizona Bill. then pull
ed ahead
Bill dropped behind very slowly.
| though when the last relay station
vas in sight he was fully half a mile
in the rear. Ahead punched together,
Smoke could see Big Olaf and Won
Schroeder. Again Smoke arose to his
knees. and he lifted his jaded dogs into
burst of speed such as n man Only
can who has the proper instinct for
dog driving He drew up close to the
tail of Won Schroeder's sled. aud in
this order the three sleds dashed out
en- the smooth going below jam.
where many men and MANY dogs wait
ed. Dawson was fifteen miles away
Won Schroeder. with Ills ten nile re.
lays. had changed five miles back and
would change FIVE miles ahead. So
he held on keeping his dogs at full
leap Big Olaf and Smoke made aying
changes. and their fresh teams imme
diately regained what had been lost
to the baron Big Olaf led past. and
Smoke followed into the narrow trail
beyond
| or Won Schroeder. now behind. he
| had no fear, but ahead was the great
est dog driver in the country To pass
| him seemed impossible. Again and
| again. many times. Smoke forced his
lender to, the others sled tail. and each
time Big Olaf let out another aina and
drew away. Smoke hung on grimly
| The race was not lost until one or the
other won. and in fifteen miles many
things could happen
/ Three miles from Dawson something
did happen To Smokes surprise BE
Olaf rose up and with oaths and leath
er proceeded to fetch out the las
ounce OF effort in his animals. 1t was
a squirt that should have been resery
ed for the last hundred yards insteat
/ of being begun three miles from til,
| finish. Sheer dog killing that it was
| Smoke followed
| They topped Il small jam and strucl
| the SMOOTH going below A sled sho
cut from the side and drew In toward
| him. and Smoke understood Rig Olaf.
terrific squirt. He had tried TO gain (
| lead for the change This fresh team
that waited to jerk him down. th,
home stretch had been private sur
| prise of his
Smoke strove desperately to pas
during the exchange Of sleds Will