Smoke squared his shoulders and laughed non-committally.
"No you don't!" his partner cried in alarm. "No matter what
happens, you don't dast hit. You can't handle dogs a hundred miles
with a busted knuckle, an' that's what'll happen if you land on
somebody's jaw."
Smoke nodded his head.
"You're right, Shorty. I couldn't risk the chance."
"An' just remember," Shorty went on, "that I got to do all the
shovin' for them first ten miles an' you got to take it easy as you
can. I'll sure jerk you through to the Yukon. After that it's up
to you an' the dogs. Say--what d'ye think Schroeder's scheme is?
He's got his first team a quarter of a mile down the creek an' he'll
know it by a green lantern. But we got him skinned. Me for the red
flare every time."
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