And Montana Kid obliterated; as usual, at the tail-end of
some one else's dog team. Dawson rejoiced when he headed down the Yukon,
and wished him godspeed to the ultimate destination of the case-hardened
sinner. After that the owner of the dogs bestirred himself, made
complaint to Constantine, and from him received the loan of a policeman.
III
With Circle City in prospect and the last ice crumbling under his
runners, Montana Kid took advantage of the lengthening days and travelled
his dogs late and early. Further, he had but little doubt that the owner
of the dogs in question had taken his trail, and he wished to make
American territory before the river broke. But by the afternoon of the
third day it became evident that he had lost in his race with spring. The
Yukon was growling and straining at its fetters. Long detours became
necessary, for the trail had begun to fall through into the swift current
beneath, while the ice, in constant unrest, was thundering apart in great
gaping fissures. Through these and through countless airholes, the water
began to sweep across the surface of the ice, and by the time he pulled
into a woodchopper's cabin on the point of an island, the dogs were being
rushed off their feet and were swimming more often than not.
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