BALDY OF NOME 



coming, meditated a moment, and then 

 dashed down the steep bank into the over- 

 flow of the Springs. The water was very 

 warm, and deep enough so that he had to 

 swim, and he felt that he had selected an 

 ideal place for his Declaration of Inde- 

 pendence. But "Scotty," shouting direc- 

 tions to have the other dogs unhitched, 

 started in pursuit. Fisher left the hard, 

 well-beaten track, and struck out for some 

 small willows and alders where the snow 

 had drifted in feathery masses. He broke 

 through the crust frequently, but knew 

 that a man would have more difficulty 

 still in making any headway. Finally 

 "Scotty" turned back toward the house 

 and Fisher sat down to think over his little 

 victory. He was tired and panting, but he 

 felt that he had scored a point, when, to 

 his amazement, he saw "Scotty" again 

 coming toward him, and now on snow 

 shoes. He plunged forward, and relent- 



[35] 



