Mego’s sons, as was natural with such a parent, and with Allan’s training since they were born, behaved with perfect propriety; and there were many compliments for Dan’s team, which manifested a polite interest in the development of affairs.

Shortly Dan returned with somewhat encouraging information about the rival teams.

“Bob’s got three dogs better matched ‘n yours as t’ size,” he remarked judicially, “but his leader, old Nero, ’s most twelve, you remember, ’nd wants t’ stop an’ wag his tail, an’ give his paw t’ every kid that speaks to him.  Bill’s got some bully pups, but his sled’s no good; it’s his mother’s kitchen chair nailed onto his skiis.  Jimmie’s team’s a peach, an’ so’s his sled; but Jim drives like a—­like a girl,” finished Mr. Kelly scornfully, with the tone of one who disposes of that contestant effectively and finally.  “For looks an’ style, I can tell you, George, there ain’t any of ’em that’s a patch on my team.  Some Pupmobile!”

He glanced proudly at the wide-awake dogs who showed their breeding and education at every turn, and then toward George’s ill-assorted collection:  Spot, rangy, raw-boned, and awkward, Queen fretful and mutinous, and Baldy so stolid that it was evident he was receiving no inspiration from the enthusiasm about him.

“Of course you can beat me drivin’ without half tryin’, George, an’ if Spot’s feet wasn’t so big, an’ Queen didn’t have such a rotten disposition, an’ Baldy knew he was alive, it ’ud be a regular cinch for you.  But the way things is, believe me, I’m goin’ t’ give you a run for your money, with good old Mego’s ‘houn’ dogs.’”

Both George and Dan had, of course, like all small boys in Nome, at one time or another, made swift and hazardous dashes of a few hundred yards, in huge chopping bowls purloined from their mothers’ pantries; and drawn by any one dog that was available for the instant, and would tamely submit to the degradation.  An infantile amusement, they felt now, in the face of this real Sporting Event that was engaging the attention of the entire town.  And to complete the feeling that this was indeed no mere child’s play, the Woman came to them with two cups of hot tea to warm them up, and steady their nerves on the trail.  This they graciously accepted and drank, in spite of its very unpleasant taste; for “Scotty” always drank tea while giving Matt the last few necessary directions before a race.

“All ready, boys, time to leave,” called the Big Man cheerily.  “Peril and I will go ahead, and charge the multitudes so that you can get through.”

The Allan girls pressed forward hurriedly to give George two treasured emblems of Good Luck—­a four-leaf clover in a crumpled bit of silver paper, and a tiny Billiken in ivory, the cherished work of Happy Jack, the Eskimo Carver.

Equally potent charms in the form of a rabbit’s foot, and a rusty horseshoe were tendered Danny by his staunch supporters.