"There's one thing about Baldy," admitted George freely, "you don't have
t' jolly him along all the time. Why, even with Spot I have to say
'Snowbirds' an' 'Rabbits' every little while when I want him to go
faster, an' then you should see him mush. You know that's what Father
says t' Tom, Dick 'an' Harry, an' Rover an' Irish. It's fine with any of
'em that's got bird-dog blood, an' you know Spot's part pointer. O'
course they don't have t' really see snowbirds an' rabbits, but they
just love t' hear about 'em, an' begin t' look ahead right away. An' if
they do happen t' see 'em, they pretty nearly jump out o' their harness,
they're so crazy for 'em."
"Baldy's part bird-dog, too," said Ben, "but I been watchin' him close,
an' it ain't anythin' outside that makes him want t' go; it's more like
he feels a sort o' duty about doin' the very best he kin fer any one
that's usin' him. He's allers willin' t' do more'n his share; an' he's
lots happier when he's workin' hard than when he's just lyin' idle in
the stable, or bein' trotted out by Matt fer a walk."
"I wisht I was like that," muttered Danny gloomily. "That bein' happiest
when you're workin' hard must be great; but I guess it's only dogs an'
mebbe some men that's like that. I don't know o' any boys that's got
such feelin's."
[Illustration: NOME, ALASKA, FROM BERING SEA]
When the day of the Boys' Race arrived, a day clear, and beautiful, and
only a degree or two below zero, it seemed as if all of Nome had decided
to celebrate the momentous occasion; going in crowds to the starting
place, which was a broad, open thoroughfare on the outskirts of town.
Pages:
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52