smoke bellew(史沫克·贝罗)-第32节
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dashed ahead into the darkness for the narrow way。
Smoke heard the crash and uproar of their collision； released his
wheeler； sprang to the gee…pole； and urged his team to the right into the
soft snow where the straining animals wallowed to their necks。 It was
exhausting work； but he won by the tangled teams and gained the hard…
packed trail beyond。
VI。
On the relay out of Sixty Mile； Smoke had next to his poorest team；
and though the going was good； he had set it a short fifteen miles。 Two
more teams would bring him in to Dawson and to the Gold… Recorder's
office； and Smoke had selected his best animals for the last two stretches。
Sitka Charley himself waited with the eight Malemutes that would jerk
Smoke along for twenty miles； and for the finish； with a fifteen…mile run；
was his own teamthe team he had had all winter and which had been
with him in the search for Surprise Lake。
The two men he had left entangled at Sixty Mile failed to overtake him；
and； on the other hand； his team failed to overtake any of the three that
still led。 His animals were willing； though they lacked stamina and speed；
and little urging was needed to keep them jumping into it at their best。
There was nothing for Smoke to do but to lie face…downward and hold on。
Now and again he would plunge out of the darkness into the circle of light
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about a blazing fire； catch a glimpse of furred men standing by harnessed
and waiting dogs； and plunge into the darkness again。 Mile after mile；
with only the grind and jar of the runners in his ears； he sped on。 Almost
automatically he kept his place as the sled bumped ahead or half… lifted
and heeled on the swings and swerves of the bends。 First one； and then
another； without apparent rhyme or reason； three faces limned themselves
on his consciousness： Joy Gastell's； laughing and audacious； Shorty's；
battered and exhausted by the struggle down Mono Creek； and John
Bellew's； seamed and rigid； as if cast in iron； so unrelenting was its
severity。 And sometimes Smoke wanted to shout aloud； to chant a paean
of savage exultation； as he remembered the office of the Billow and the
serial story of San Francisco which he had left unfinished； along with the
other fripperies of those empty days。
The grey twilight of morning was breaking as he exchanged his weary
dogs for the eight fresh Malemutes。 Lighter animals than Hudson Bays；
they were capable of greater speed； and they ran with the supple
tirelessness of true wolves。 Sitka Charley called out the order of the
teams ahead。 Big Olaf led； Arizona Bill was second； and Von Schroeder
third。 These were the three best men in the country。 In fact； ere Smoke
had left Dawson； the popular betting had placed them in that order。
While they were racing for a million； at least half a million had been
staked by others on the outcome of the race。 No one had bet on Smoke；
who； despite his several known exploits； was still accounted a chechaquo
with much to learn。
As daylight strengthened； Smoke caught sight of a sled ahead； and； in
half an hour； his own lead…dog was leaping at its tail。 Not until the man
turned his head to exchange greetings； did Smoke recognize him as
Arizona Bill。 Von Schroeder had evidently passed him。 The trail； hard…
packed； ran too narrowly through the soft snow； and for another half…hour
Smoke was forced to stay in the rear。 Then they topped an ice…jam and
struck a smooth stretch below； where were a number of relay camps and
where the snow was packed widely。 On his knees； swinging his whip
and yelling； Smoke drew abreast。 He noted that Arizona Bill's right arm
hung dead at his side； and that he was compelled to pour leather with his
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left hand。 Awkward as it was； he had no hand left with which to hold on；
and frequently he had to cease from the whip and clutch to save himself
from falling off。 Smoke remembered the scrimmage in the creek bed at
Three Below Discovery； and understood。 Shorty's advice had been
sound。
〃What's happened？〃 Smoke asked； as he began to pull ahead。
〃I don't know；〃 Arizona Bill answered。 〃I think I threw my shoulder
out in the scrapping。〃
He dropped behind very slowly； though when the last relay station was
in sight he was fully half a mile in the rear。 Ahead； bunched together；
Smoke could see Big Olaf and Von Schroeder。 Again Smoke arose to his
knees； and he lifted his jaded dogs into a burst of speed such as a man only
can who has the proper instinct for dog… driving。 He drew up close to the
tail of Von Schroeder's sled； and in this order the three sleds dashed out on
the smooth going； below a jam； where many men and many dogs waited。
Dawson was fifteen miles away。
Von Schroeder； with his ten…mile relays； had changed five miles back；
and would change five miles ahead。 So he held on； keeping his dogs at
full leap。 Big Olaf and Smoke made flying changes； and their fresh
teams immediately regained what had been lost to the Baron。 Big Olaf
led past； and Smoke followed into the narrow trail beyond。
〃Still good； but not so good；〃 Smoke paraphrased Spencer to himself。
Of Von Schroeder； now behind； he had no fear； but ahead was the
greatest dog…driver in the country。 To pass him seemed impossible。
Again and again； many times； Smoke forced his leader to the other's sled…
trail； and each time Big Olaf let out another link and drew away。 Smoke
contented himself with taking the pace； and hung on grimly。 The race
was not lost until one or the other won； and in fifteen miles many things
could happen。
Three miles from Dawson something did happen。 To Smoke's
surprise； Big Olaf rose up and with oaths and leather proceeded to fetch
out the last ounce of effort in his animals。 It was a spurt that should have
been reserved for the last hundred yards instead of being begun three miles
from the finish。 Sheer dog…killing that it was； Smoke followed。 His
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own team was superb。 No dogs on the Yukon had had harder work or
were in better condition。 Besides； Smoke had toiled with them； and eaten
and bedded with them； and he knew each dog as an individual； and how
best to win in to the animal's intelligence and extract its last least shred of
willingness。
They topped a small jam and struck the smooth…going below。 Big
Olaf was barely fifty feet ahead。 A sled shot out from the side and drew
in toward him； and Smoke understood Big Olaf's terrific spurt。 He had
tried to gain a lead for the change。 This fresh team that waited to jerk
him down the home stretch had been a private surprise of his。 Even the
men who had backed him to win had had no knowledge of it。
Smoke strove desperately to pass during the exchange of sleds。 Lifting
his dogs to the effort； he ate up the intervening fifty feet。 With urging
and pouring of leather； he went to the side and on until his lead…dog was
jumping abreast of Big Olaf's wheeler。 On the other side； abreast； was
the relay sled。 At the speed they were going； Big Olaf did not dare the
flying leap。 If he missed and fell off； Smoke would be in the lead and the
race would be lost。
Big Olaf tried to spurt ahead； and he lifted his dogs magnificently； but
Smoke's leader still continued to jump beside Big Olaf's wheeler。 For
half a mile the three sleds tore and bounced along side by side。 The
smooth stretch was nearing its end when Big Olaf took the chance。
