BALDY OF NOME 



their trumpets. There was a hush of ex- 

 pectancy now that was almost as discon- 

 certing as the noise and clamor through 

 which they had just come. They were 

 mad to be off, but "Scotty's" voice, 

 "Steady, boys, steady," kept them quiet. 

 Suddenly the notes of a bugle rang loud 

 and clear, a flag fluttered and fell, and the 

 team between the stands dashed down the 

 ice, followed by prolonged shouts of 

 goodwill. An almost interminable wait 

 followed, ten full minutes of nearly un- 

 controllable excitement on the part of the 

 dogs, when at last the signal to start came 

 to them also. "Scotty's" "All right, Boys! 

 Let her go!!" was music to their ears, and 

 eagerly leaping forward, they, too, to the 

 sound of wild cheers, had hit the Trail 

 for the Arctic. 



It was blowing a gale, and the tempera- 

 ture had dropped to six degrees below 

 zero, but not one owner and not one driver 



[48] 



