smoke bellew-第26节

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And　then；　as　the　lead…dog　caught　the　tail　of　Big　Olaf's　sled；　and　yard　by　yard　drew　up　abreast；　the　great　crowd　on　the　Dawson　bank　went　mad。　　It　WAS　a　great　crowd；　for　the　men　had　dropped　their　tools　on　all　the　creeks　and　come　down　to　see　the　outcome　of　the　race；　and　a　dead　heat　at　the　end　of　a　hundred　and　ten　miles　justified　any　madness。

〃When　you're　in　the　lead　I'm　going　to　drop　off！〃　Joy　cried　out　over　her　shoulder。

Smoke　tried　to　protest。

〃And　watch　out　for　the　dip　curve　half　way　up　the　bank；〃　she　warned。

Dog　by　dog；　separated　by　half　a　dozen　feet；　the　two　teams　were　running　abreast。　　Big　Olaf；　with　whip　and　voice；　held　his　own　for　a　minute。　　Then；　slowly；　an　inch　at　a　time；　Joy's　leader　began　to　forge　past。

〃Get　ready！〃　she　cried　to　Smoke。　　〃I'm　going　to　leave　you　in　a　minute。　　Get　the　whip。〃

And　as　he　shifted　his　hand　to　clutch　the　whip；　they　heard　Big　Olaf　roar　a　warning；　but　too　late。　　His　lead…dog；　incensed　at　being　passed；　swerved　in　to　the　attack。　　His　fangs　struck　Joy's　leader　on　the　flank。　　The　rival　teams　flew　at　one　another's　throats。　　The　sleds　overran　the　fighting　brutes　and　capsized。　　Smoke　struggled　to　his　feet　and　tried　to　lift　Joy　up。　　But　she　thrust　him　from　her；　crying：　　〃Go！〃

On　foot；　already　fifty　feet　in　advance；　was　Big　Olaf；　still　intent　on　finishing　the　race。　　Smoke　obeyed；　and　when　the　two　men　reached　the　foot　of　the　Dawson　bank；　he　was　at　the　others　heels。　　But　up　the　bank　Big　Olaf　lifted　his　body　hugely；　regaining　a　dozen　feet。

Five　blocks　down　the　main　street　was　the　Gold　Recorder's　office。　The　street　was　packed　as　for　the　witnessing　of　a　parade。　　Not　so　easily　this　time　did　Smoke　gain　to　his　giant　rival；　and　when　he　did　he　was　unable　to　pass。　　Side　by　side　they　ran　along　the　narrow　aisle　between　the　solid　walls　of　fur…clad；　cheering　men。　　Now　one；　now　the　other；　with　great　convulsive　jerks；　gained　an　inch　or　so　only　to　lose　it　immediately　after。

If　the　pace　had　been　a　killing　one　for　their　dogs；　the　one　they　now　set　themselves　was　no　less　so。　　But　they　were　racing　for　a　million　dollars　and　great　honour　in　Yukon　Country。　　The　only　outside　impression　that　came　to　Smoke　on　that　last　mad　stretch　was　one　of　astonishment　that　there　should　be　so　many　people　in　the　Klondike。　He　had　never　seen　them　all　at　once　before。

He　felt　himself　involuntarily　lag；　and　Big　Olaf　sprang　a　full　stride　in　the　lead。　　To　Smoke　it　seemed　that　his　heart　would　burst；　while　he　had　lost　all　consciousness　of　his　legs。　　He　knew　they　were　flying　under　him；　but　he　did　not　know　how　he　continued　to　make　them　fly；　nor　how　he　put　even　greater　pressure　of　will　upon　them　and　compelled　them　again　to　carry　him　to　his　giant　competitor's　side。

The　open　door　of　the　Recorder's　office　appeared　ahead　of　them。　　Both　men　made　a　final；　futile　spurt。　　Neither　could　draw　away　from　the　other；　and　side　by　side　they　hit　the　doorway；　collided　violently；　and　fell　headlong　on　the　office　floor。

They　sat　up；　but　were　too　exhausted　to　rise。　　Big　Olaf；　the　sweat　pouring　from　him；　breathing　with　tremendous；　painful　gasps；　pawed　the　air　and　vainly　tried　to　speak。　　Then　he　reached　out　his　hand　with　unmistakable　meaning；　Smoke　extended　his；　and　they　shook。

〃It's　a　dead　heat；〃　Smoke　could　hear　the　Recorder　saying；　but　it　was　as　if　in　a　dream；　and　the　voice　was　very　thin　and　very　far　away。　〃And　all　I　can　say　is　that　you　both　win。　　You'll　have　to　divide　the　claim　between　you。　　You're　partners。〃

Their　two　arms　pumped　up　and　down　as　they　ratified　the　decision。　Big　Olaf　nodded　his　head　with　great　emphasis；　and　spluttered。　　At　last　he　got　it　out。

〃You　damn　chechaquo；〃　was　what　he　said；　but　in　the　saying　of　it　was　admiration。　　〃I　don't　know　how　you　done　it；　but　you　did。〃

Outside　the　great　crowd　was　noisily　massed；　while　the　office　was　packing　and　jamming。　　Smoke　and　Big　Olaf　essayed　to　rise；　and　each　helped　the　other　to　his　feet。　　Smoke　found　his　legs　weak　under　him；　and　staggered　drunkenly。　　Big　Olaf　tottered　toward　him。

〃I'm　sorry　my　dogs　jumped　yours。〃

〃It　couldn't　be　helped；〃　Smoke　panted　back。　　〃I　heard　you　yell。〃

〃Say；〃　Big　Olaf　went　on　with　shining　eyes。　　〃That　girlone　damn　fine　girl；　eh？〃

〃One　damn　fine　girl；〃　Smoke　agreed。





End