“Scotty” watched with some amusement her efforts to keep up with the others on the slippery ice, and when he thought she was becoming tired he stopped her, and let her run free.  When she realized that she was out of the team her amazement and chagrin were plainly manifest.  She sat down in the snow while she figured out a plan of campaign for the restoration of her rights; and then was off immediately in pursuit.  “Scotty” had brought Fisher back into the wheel with Baldy; and Jemima, without pausing, jumped over Fisher’s back between him and Baldy, to the growling disgust of the latter.  Of course all three became “tangled in the riggin’,” and the sled slipped up and over them.

The Woman, thinking the dogs were hurt, gave a frightened scream, Ben was nearly thrown out by the sudden jolt, and “Scotty “—­yes, “Scotty” said something short and forceful, which was most rare; though swearing much or little seems almost as invariable a part of dog mushing as it is of mule driving.  Jemima was lifted out, the tow-line straightened, and another start was made; but after trotting along steadily for a time she gave a second sudden leap, and was between the two dogs just in front of the wheelers.  Once more things were badly mixed, and the untangling process had to be repeated.  “Scotty” was annoyed, but interested; for the usual rebukes had no effect on Jemima who was still agreeably but firmly bent upon being an active member of the team.

Again and again she tried the same move till she had been ousted from every position she had endeavored to fill.  And then, more in sorrow than in anger, she abandoned the unsuccessful tactics, stepped up beside Kid, and, keeping pace with him, ran at the head of the team until they drew up before the door of the Nugget Road House, where they were to spend the night.  Jemima believed in preserving appearances.

When they were settled, the Woman with “Scotty” and Ben went into the barn to see the dogs fed, and said if Jemima showed any inclination, because of her frustrated plans, to destroy Road House property, or refuse food, her name should be changed to Emmeline.  But Jemima, at least to her own satisfaction, had demonstrated her ability, as well as her unswerving determination, so she ate dried salmon and corn meal porridge with zest, and slept soundly, content to leave the rest to Allan’s sense of justice.  Baldy looked distrustfully at the sleeping Jemima, and thought approvingly of the absent Mego—­for Baldy was somewhat primitive in his ideas of the hitherto gentle sex.

Shortly afterward the other team came—­and then followed the excitement and confusion that was the inevitable accompaniment of the arrival of Pete Bernard and his howling huskies.

What an untrained lot they were—­fierce and unapproachable—­for no one ever handled them but Pete, and he had no time to give to their higher education.  If they had the strength to pull, he would see that they did it; he never used a dog physically unfit, and was perfectly willing to go through with them any of the severe hardships they were forced to endure.  Did he not, without hesitation, drive them mercilessly through black night and raging blizzard to bring a freezing stranger to the hospital—­a man whose one chance lay in skilled care?