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Lieutenant Pollock that went。
The Mono trail ran along the level creek…bed； and； less than two feet in
width； was like a groove； walled on either side by the snow… fall of months。
The problem of how forty…odd sleds and three hundred dogs were to start
in so narrow a course was in everybody's mind。
〃Huh！〃 said Shorty。 〃It's goin' to be the gosh…dangdest mix…up that
ever was。 I can't see no way out； Smoke； except main strength an' sweat
an' to plow through。 If the whole creek was glare…ice they ain't room for
a dozen teams abreast。 I got a hunch right now they's goin' to be a heap
of scrappin' before they get strung out。 An' if any of it comes our way you
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got to let me do the punchin'。〃
Smoke squared his shoulders and laughed non…committally。
〃No you don't！〃 his partner cried in alarm。 〃No matter what happens；
you don't dast hit。 You can't handle dogs a hundred miles with a busted
knuckle； an' that's what'll happen if you land on somebody's jaw。〃
Smoke nodded his head。
〃You're right； Shorty。 I couldn't risk the chance。〃
〃An' just remember；〃 Shorty went on； 〃that I got to do all the shovin'
for them first ten miles an' you got to take it easy as you can。 I'll sure
jerk you through to the Yukon。 After that it's up to you an' the dogs。
Saywhat d'ye think Schroeder's scheme is？ He's got his first team a
quarter of a mile down the creek an' he'll know it by a green lantern。 But
we got him skinned。 Me for the red flare every time。〃
IV。
The day had been clear and cold； but a blanket of cloud formed across
the face of the sky and the night came on warm and dark； with the hint of
snow impending。 The thermometer registered fifteen below zero； and in
the Klondike…winter fifteen below is esteemed very warm。
At a few minutes before midnight； leaving Shorty with the dogs five
hundred yards down the creek； Smoke joined the racers on Number Three。
There were forty…five of them waiting the start for the thousand…thousand
dollars Cyrus Johnson had left lying in the frozen gravel。 Each man
carried six stakes and a heavy wooden mallet； and was clad in a smock…
like parka of heavy cotton drill。
Lieutenant Pollock； in a big bearskin coat； looked at his watch by the
light of a fire。 It lacked a minute of midnight。
〃Make ready；〃 he said； as he raised a revolver in his right hand and
watched the second hand tick around。
Forty…five hoods were thrown back from the parkas。 Forty…five pairs
of hands unmittened； and forty…five pairs of moccasins pressed tensely
into the packed snow。 Also； forty…five stakes were thrust into the snow；
and the same number of mallets lifted in the air。
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The shots rang out； and the mallets fell。 Cyrus Johnson's right to the
million had expired。 To prevent confusion； Lieutenant Pollock had
insisted that the lower centre…stake be driven first； next the south…eastern；
and so on around the four sides； including the upper centre…stake on the
way。
Smoke drove in his stake and was away with the leading dozen。
Fires had been lighted at the corners； and by each fire stood a policeman；
list in hand； checking off the names of the runners。 A man was supposed
to call out his name and show his face。 There was to be no staking by
proxy while the real racer was off and away down the creek。
At the first corner； beside Smoke's stake； Von Schroeder placed his。
The mallets struck at the same instant。 As they hammered； more arrived
from behind and with such impetuosity as to get in one another's way and
cause jostling and shoving。 Squirming through the press and calling his
name to the policeman； Smoke saw the Baron； struck in collision by one
of the rushers； hurled clean off his feet into the snow。 But Smoke did not
wait。 Others were still ahead of him。 By the light of the vanishing fire
he was certain that he saw the back； hugely looming； of Big Olaf； and at
the south…western corner Big Olaf and he drove their stakes side by side。
It was no light work； this preliminary obstacle race。 The boundaries
of the claim totalled nearly a mile； and most of it was over the uneven
surface of a snow…covered； niggerhead flat。 All about Smoke men
tripped and fell； and several times he pitched forward himself； jarringly； on
hands and knees。 Once； Big Olaf fell so immediately in front of him as
to bring him down on top。
The upper centre…stake was driven by the edge of the bank； and down
the bank the racers plunged； across the frozen creek…bed； and up the other
side。 Here； as Smoke clambered； a hand gripped his ankle and jerked
him back。 In the flickering light of a distant fire； it was impossible to see
who had played the trick。 But Arizona Bill； who had been treated
similarly； rose to his feet and drove his fist with a crunch into the
offender's face。 Smoke saw and heard as he was scrambling to his feet；
but before he could make another lunge for the bank a fist dropped him
half…stunned into the snow。 He staggered up； located the man； half…
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swung a hook for his jaw； then remembered Shorty's warning and
refrained。 The next moment； struck below the knees by a hurtling body；
he went down again。
It was a foretaste of what would happen when the men reached their
sleds。 Men were pouring over the other bank and piling into the jam。
They swarmed up the bank in bunches； and in bunches were dragged back
by their impatient fellows。 More blows were struck； curses rose from the
panting chests of those who still had wind to spare； and Smoke； curiously
visioning the face of Joy Gastell； hoped that the mallets would not be
brought into play。 Overthrown； trod upon； groping in the snow for his
lost stakes； he at last crawled out of the crush and attacked the bank farther
along。 Others were doing this； and it was his luck to have many men in
advance of him in the race for the northwestern corner。
Down to the fourth corner； he tripped midway and in the long
sprawling fall lost his remaining stake。 For five minutes he groped in the
darkness before he found it； and all the time the panting runners were
passing him。 From the last corner to the creek he began overtaking men
for whom the mile…run had been too much。 In the creek itself Bedlam
had broken loose。 A dozen sleds were piled up and overturned； and
nearly a hundred dogs were locked in combat。 Among them men struggled；
tearing the tangled animals apart； or beating them apart with clubs。 In
the fleeting glimpse he caught of it； Smoke wondered if he had ever seen a
Dore grotesquery to compare。
Leaping down the bank beyond the glutted passage； he gained the
hard…footing of the sled…trail and made better time。 Here； in packed
harbours beside the narrow trail； sleds and men waited for runners that
were still behind。 From the rear came the whine and rush of dogs； and
Smoke had barely time to leap aside into the deep snow。 A sled tore past；
and he made out the man； kneeling and shouting madly。 Scarcely was it
by when it stopped with a crash of battle。 The excited dogs of a
harboured sled； resenting the passing animals； had got out of hand and
sprung upon them。
Smoke plunged around and by。 He could see the green lantern of Von
Schroeder； and； just below it； the red flare that marked his own team。
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