Straight as an arrow toward the outer edge of the floe swept the fastest dog team in all the North. Within a minute they had flashed past the men who ran, while those on the bank gasped as the outfit dashed toward the channel that separated the two floes.
“He’ll pile them dogs up in the river!” cried a voice.
“Never I seen such a run!” yelled another. “He’ll never turn ’em!” Seconds counted, now. The doomed man caught sight of the dog team and was running along the edge of his floe which was sweeping past at a terrific speed. Fully thirty feet of madly rushing water separated the two great ice-cakes, and the ten flying malamutes were approaching this channel with the speed of an express train—another moment and they would be in the water!
Suddenly, almost at the edge, it seemed to the breathless watchers, sounded the sharp, clear word of command. Instantly each dog whirled as on a pivot, slid several yards clawing frantically at the ice, and then swerved sharply to the left. Another short command and they halted as if glued to their tracks, while the empty to-
