Page:Hendryx--Connie Morgan with the Mounted.djvu/281

Rh muttering and grumbling the men made it fast to the sled, and pulled it out onto the trail.

"Her bottom needs scrapin'," complained one, "she's listed to port, an' she don't tow true."

"You can't worry and keep your health," grinned Connie.

"We can pack them blankets handier," said one of the men. "We hain't used to no sled."

"You will be before you get through with it," encouraged the boy. "'Cause that sled is your meal-ticket, and if you don't show up at feeding time with it there ain't going to be any feeding time, see? Now get!"

When the cumbersome outfit was well on its way Connie left the cabin and, circling widely around the four toiling men, came into the trail ahead of them.

"Your dinner will be waiting for you where you camped in the scrub the second night out from Hart River cabin!" he called and, cracking his whip loudly, headed his dogs over the back-trail.

Connie arrived at the appointed place hours ahead of the four marauders. Toggling his dogs to prevent them picking up stray poison balls he ate his dinner and then, one by one, carried the four