Page:Silversheene (1924).djvu/224

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and a cheery word. Then with eager barks and a wagging of his fine plume he would urge the team to a still faster pace. Twice they pulled up to Scotty Ellis and led him a few miles just to feel their mettle. But for the better part of the way Richard let the veteran musher lead. This was his best policy. In the late afternoon Richard noted that Scotty Ellis began whistling and calling out cheery words to his team so he followed suit.

He remembered hearing an old sourdough remark that, although his own heart might be nearly bursting with fatigue, yet he never showed it to the team. So Dick followed the veteran's lead.

Friends and relatives were thinking of him and wishing him luck. He knew that full well. They would all be expecting him to do his best. They looked to him to win. Not only his family and friends, but also his college. Dear old Oregon! Tears filled his eyes as he thought of the old days. How his fellow students had spurred him