Page:Silversheene (1924).djvu/237

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to find that Scotty Ellis had not slept at all. He had merely pretended to sleep and then dashed away again. Fearing he had lost valuable time Dick hurried away after the cunning Scotchman. But it was now broad day and he did not fear losing the trail.

Again Silversheene recognized the fact that it was their business to catch up with the Baldy team.

But now there was an added difficulty. Up to this point the trail had not been very hard, but now it became desperate, due to high wind and driving snow. A mile took more out of the team and driver than ten miles had done on the good trail, and here Scotty Ellis's long Alaskan training stood him in good stead. Richard strained his nerves almost to the breaking point and Silversheene barked and whimpered at his team mates, but in spite of them the Scotchman drew steadily ahead. By noon he was two miles ahead and by night he was four miles in the lead. He had now passed all