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  8,2C HE IS10 0 ! REPLY4
  8,M]E ASS];N10 ,WALT SD %>PLY4
  ,9 8 SL[ & POND]+ WAY1 ,SKIFF ,MILL]
LOOK$ AT HM1 !N ASK$1 )A NOD ( 8 H1D
T[>D ,MADGE3
  8,H[ D'Y\ "K %E'S YR WIFE8 ,Y J SAY1
,8,2C %E IS10' & ,I'LL SAY X'S M]E
ASS];N4 ,! DOG'S M9E4 ,I BR$ ,8;M AN0'
RAIS$ ,8;M1 AN0' ,I GUESS ,I "\ 6"K4
,LOOK "H4 ,I'LL PROVE X 6Y40
  ,SKIFF ,MILL] TURN$ 6! DOG4 8,BR[N60
,8 VOICE RANG \ %>PLY1 & AT ! S.D !
DOG'S E>S FLATT5$ D[N Z 6A C>ESS4
8,GEE60 ,! DOG MADE A SW++ TURN 6! "R4
8,N[ MU%-ON60 ,&! DOG C1S$ 8 SW+
ABRUPTLY & />T$ /RAI<T AH1D1 HALT+
OB$I5TLY AT -M&4
  8,I C D X ) :I/LES01 ,SKIFF ,MILL] SD
PR\DLY4 8,HE 0 MY L1D DOG40
  8,B Y >E N GO+ 6TAKE HM AWAY ) Y80
,MADGE ASK$ TREMUL\SLY4
  ,! MAN NO4$4
  8,BACK 96T AW;L ,KLONDIKE _W ( SU6]+80
  ,HE NO4$ & A4$3 8,OH1 X A9'T S BAD Z
ALL T4 ,LOOK AT ME4 ,PRETTY H1L?Y
SPECIM51 A9'T ,I80
  8,B ! DOGS6 ,! T]RI# H>D%IP1 ! HE>T-
BR1K+ TOIL1 ! />V,N1 ! FRO/6 ,OH1 ,I'VE
R1D AB X & ,I "K40
  8,I NE>LY ATE HM ONCE1 OV] ON ,LL ,FI%
,RIV]10 ,MILL] VOLUNTE]$ GRIMLY4 8,IF ,I
_HN'T GOT A MOOSE T "D 0 ALL T SAV$ 'M40
  8,I'D H DI$ F/60 ,MADGE CRI$4
  8,?+S IS DI6]5T D[N "H01 ,MILL]
EXPLA9$4 8,Y DON'T H 6EAT DOGS4 ,Y ?9K
DI6]5T J AB ! "T Y'RE ALL IN4 ,Y'VE N"E
B5 ALL IN1 S Y DON'T "K ANY?+ AB X40
  8,T'S ! V PO9T10 %E >GU$ W>MLY4 8,DOGS
>E N EAT5 9 ,CALI=NIA4 ,:Y N L1VE HM "H8
,HE IS HAPPY4 ,HE'LL N"E WANT = FOOD --
Y "K T4 ,HE'LL N"E SU6] F COLD & H>D%IP4
,"H ALL IS S(T;S & G5TLE;S4 ,NEI ! HUMAN
NOR NATURE IS SAVAGE4 ,HE W N"E "K A
:IP-LA% AG4 ,& Z =! W1!R -- :Y1 X N"E
SN[S "H40
  8,B X'S ALL-FIR$ HOT 9 SUMM]1 BE79' YR
P>DON10 ,SKIFF ,MILL] LAU<$4
  8,B Y D N ANSW]10 ,MADGE 3T9U$
PAS.NATELY4 8,:AT H Y 6(F] HM 9 T NOR?L&
LIFE80
  8,GRUB1 :5 ,I'VE GOT X1 & T'S MO/ (!
"T10 CAME ! ANSW]4
  8,&! RE/ (! "T80
  8,NO GRUB40
  8,&! "W80
  8,YES1 PL5TY ( "W10 ,MILL] BLURT$ \
IMPATI5TLY4 8,"W )\T 5D1 AN' FAM9E1 AN'
FRO/1 AN ALL ! RE/ (! MIS]IES -- T'S :AT
HE'LL GET :5 HE -ES ) ME4 ,B HE LIKES X4
,HE IS US$ 6X4 ,HE "KS T LIFE4 ,HE 0
BORN 6X AN' BR"\ UP 6X4 ,AN' Y DON'T "K
ANY?+ AB X4 ,Y DON'T "K :AT Y'RE TALK+
AB4 ,T'S ": ! DOG 2L;GS1 & T'S ": HE'LL
2 HAPPIE/40
  8,! DOG DOESN'T G10 ,WALT ANN\NC$ 9 A
DET]M9$ VOICE4 8,S "! IS NO NE$ ( FUR!R
4CUS.N40
  8,:AT'S T80 ,SKIFF ,MILL] DEM&$1 8
BR[S L[]+ & AN OB/9ATE FLU% ( BLOOD
R$D5+ 8 =EH1D4
  8,I SD ! DOG DOESN'T G1 & T SETTLES X4
,I DON'T 2LIEVE HE'S YR DOG4 ,Y MAY H
SE5 HM "S"T4 ,Y MAY EV5 "S"T H DRIV5 HM
= 8 [N]4 ,B 8 OBEY+ ! ORD9>Y DRIV+ -M&S
(! ,ALASKAN TRAIL IS NO DEMON/R,N T HE
IS YRS4 ,ANY DOG 9 ,ALASKA WD OBEY Y Z
HE OBEY$4 ,2SS1 HE IS UND\BT$LY A VALUA#
DOG1 Z DOGS G 9 ,ALASKA1 & T IS SU6ICI5T
EXPLAN,N ( YR DESIRE 6GET POSSES.N ( HM4
,ANYWAY1 Y'VE GOT 6PROVE PROP]TY40
  ,SKIFF ,MILL]1 COOL & COLLECT$1 !
OB/9ATE FLU% A TRIFLE DEEP] ON 8 =EH1D1
8 HUGE MUSCLES BULG+ "U ! BLACK CLO? ( 8
COAT1 C>E;LLY LOOK$ ! POET UP & D[N Z
?\< M1SUR+ ! /R5G? ( 8 SL5D];S4
  ,! ,KLONDIK]'S FACE TOOK ON A
3TEMPTU\S EXPRES.N Z HE SD F9,Y1 8,I
RECKON "!'S NO?9' 9 SI<T 6PREV5T ME
TAK9' ! DOG "R "H AN' N[40
  ,WALT'S FACE R$D5$1 &! /RIK+-MUSCLES (
8 >MS & %\LD]S SEEM$ 6/I65 & GR[ T5SE4
,8 WIFE FLUTT]$ APPREH5SIVELY 96! BR1*4
  8,MAYBE ,MR4 ,MILL] IS "R01 %E SD4 8,I
AM AFRAID T HE IS4 ,WOLF DOES SEEM 6"K
HM1 & C]TA9LY HE ANSW]S 6! "N (
,8,BR[N40' ,HE MADE FRS ) HM 9/ANTLY1 &
Y "K T'S "S?+ HE N"E DID ) ANYBODY 2F4
,2SS1 LOOK AT ! WAY HE B>K$4 ,HE 0 J
BUR/+ ) JOY ,JOY OV] :AT8 ,)\T D\BT AT
F9D+ ,MR4 ,MILL]40
  ,WALT'S /RIK+-MUSCLES RELAX$1 & 8
%\LD]S SEEM$ 6DROOP ) HOPE.S;S4
  8,I GUESS Y'RE "R1 ,MADGE10 HE SD4
8,WOLF ISN'T ,WOLF1 B ,BR[N1 & HE M/
2L;G 6,MR4 ,MILL]40
  8,P]H ,MR4 ,MILL] W SELL HM10 %E
SU7E/$4 8,WE C BUY HM40
  ,SKIFF ,MILL] %OOK 8 H1D1 NO L;G]
BELLIG]5T1 B K9DLY1 QK 6BE G5]\S 9
RESPONSE 6G5]\S;S4
  8,I _H FIVE DOGS10 HE SD1 CA/+ AB =!
EASIE/ WAY 6TEMP] 8 REFUSAL4 8,HE 0 !
L1D]4 ,!Y 0 ! CRACK T1M ( ,ALASKA4
,NO?9' CD T\* 'EM4 ,9 #AHIH ,I REFUS$
FIVE ?\S& DOLL>S =! BUN*4 ,DOGS 0 HI<1
!N1 ANYWAY2 B T WASN'T :AT MADE ! FANCY
PRICE4 ,X 0 ! T1M XF4 ,BR[N 0 ! BE/ 9 !
T1M4 ,T W9T] ,I REFUS$ TWELVE HUNDR$ =
'M4 ,I DIDN'T SELL ,8;M !N1 AN0' ,I A9'T
A-SELL9' ,8;M N[4 ,2SS1 ,I ?9K A MI<TY
LOT ( T DOG4 ,I'VE B5 LOOK90' = 'M =
?REE YE>S4 ,X MADE ME FAIR SICK :5 ,I
F.D HE'D B5 /OLE -- N ! VALUE ( HM1 B !
-- WELL1 ,I LIK$ ,8;M L HELL1 T'S ALL1
BE790' YR P>DON4 ,I CDN'T 2LIEVE MY EYES
:5 ,I SE5 ,8;M J N[4 ,I ?"\ ,I 0
DR1M90'4 ,X 0 TOO GD 6BE TRUE4 ,:Y1 ,I 0
8 WET-NURSE4 ,I PUT 'M 6B$1 SNUG E NI<T4
,8 "M DI$1 & ,I BR"\ 'M UP ON 3D5S$ MILK
AT TWO DOLL>S A C :5 ,I CDN'T AF=D X 9
MY [N C(FEE4 ,HE N"E KNEW ANY "M B ME4
,HE US$ 6SUCK MY F+] REGUL>1 ! D>N LL
CUSS -- T F+] "R "!60
  ,& ,SKIFF ,MILL]1 TOO OV]WR"\ = SPEE*1
HELD UP A =E F+] = !M 6SEE4
  8,T V F+]10 HE MANAG$ 6>TICULATE1 Z
?\< X "SH[ CL9*$ ! PRO( ( [N]%IP &! BOND
( A6EC;N4
  ,HE 0 / GAZ+ AT 8 EXT5D$ F+] :5 ,MADGE
2GAN 6SP1K4
  8,B ! DOG10 %E SD4 8,Y HAV5'T 3SID]$ !
DOG40
  ,SKIFF ,MILL] LOOK$ PUZZL$4
  8,H Y ?"\ AB HM80 %E ASK$4
  8,DON'T "K :AT Y'RE DRIV9' AT10 0 !
RESPONSE4
  8,MAYBE ! DOG HAS "S *OICE 9 ! MATT]10
,MADGE W5T ON4 8,MAYBE HE HAS 8 LIKES &
DESIRES4 ,Y H N 3SID]$ HM4 ,Y GIVE HM NO
*OICE4 ,X HAS N"E 5T]$ YR M9D T POSSIBLY
HE MI<T PREF] ,CALI=NIA 6,ALASKA4 ,Y
3SID] ONLY :AT Y L4 ,Y D ) HM Z Y WD )A
SACK ( POTATOES OR A BALE ( HAY40
  ,? 0 A NEW WAY ( LOOK+ AT X1 & ,MILL]
0 VISIBLY IMPRESS$ Z HE DEBAT$ X 9 8
M9D4 ,MADGE TOOK ADVANTAGE ( 8 9DECI.N4
  8,IF Y RE,Y LOVE HM1 :AT WD 2 HAPPI;S
6HM WD 2 YR HAPPI;S AL10 %E URG$4
  ,SKIFF ,MILL] 3T9U$ 6DEBATE ) HMF1 &
,MADGE /OLE A GL.E ( EXULT,N 6H] HUSB&1
:O LOOK$ BACK W>M APPROVAL4
  8,:AT D Y ?9K80 ! ,KLONDIK] SU45LY
DEM&$4
  ,X 0 H] TURN 6BE PUZZL$4 8,:AT D Y
M1N80 %E ASK$4
  8,D'YE ?9K HE'D SOON] /AY 9
,CALI=NIA80
  ,%E NO4$ H] H1D ) POSITIVE;S4 8,I AM
SURE ( X40
  ,SKIFF ,MILL] AG DEBAT$ ) HMF1 ?\< ?
"T AL\D1 AT ! SAME "T RUNN+ 8 GAZE 9 A
JUDICIAL WAY OV] ! MOOT$ ANIMAL4
  8,HE 0 A GD "W]4 ,HE'S D"O A H1P ( "W
= ME4 ,HE N"E LOAF$ ON ME1 AN' HE 0 A
JOE-D&Y AT HAMM]9' A RAW T1M 96%APE4
,HE'S GOT A H1D ON HM4 ,HE C D "EY?+ B
TALK4 ,HE "KS :AT Y SAY 6HM4 ,LOOK AT
,8;M N[4 ,HE "KS WE'RE TALK90' AB HM40
  ,! DOG 0 LY+ AT ,SKIFF ,MILL]'S FEET1
H1D CLOSE D[N ON PAWS1 E>S ERECT &
LI/5+1 & EYES T 7 QK & EAG] 6FOLL[ ! S.D
( SPEE* Z X FELL F ! LIPS ( F/ "O & !N !
O!R4
  8,AN' "!'S A LOT ( "W 9 ,8;M YET4
,HE'S GD = YE>S 6-E4 ,AN0' ,I D L HM4 ,I
L HM L HELL40
  ,ONCE OR TWICE AF T ,SKIFF ,MILL] OP5$
8 M\? & CLOS$ X AG )\T SP1K+4 ,F9,Y HE
SD3
  8,I'LL TELL Y :AT ,I'LL D4 ,YR REM>KS1
MA'AM1 HAS "S WEI<T 9 !M4 ,! DOG'S "W$
H>D1 & MAYBE HE'S E>N$ A S(T B]? AN' HAS
GOT A "R 6*OOSE4 ,ANYWAY1 WE'LL L1VE X
UP 6HM4 ,:AT"E HE SAYS1 GOES4 ,Y P /AY
"R "H SETT9' D[N4 ,I'LL SAY GD-BY & WALK
(F CASUAL-L4 ,IF HE WANTS 6/AY1 HE C
/AY4 ,IF HE WANTS 6-E ) ME1 LET 'M -E4
,I WON'T CALL ,8;M 6-E AN0' DON'T Y CALL
'M 6-E BACK40
  ,HE LOOK$ ) SU45 SUSPICION AT ,MADGE1
& A4$1 8,ONLY Y M/ PLAY FAIR4 ,NO
P]SUAD9' AF MY BACK IS TURN$40
  8,WE'LL PLAY FAIR10 ,MADGE 2GAN1 B
,SKIFF ,MILL] BROKE 9 ON H] ASSUR.ES4
  8,I "K ! WAYS ( WOM510 HE ANN\NC$4
8,_! HE>TS IS S(T4 ,:5 _! HE>TS IS T\*$
!Y'RE LIKELY 6/ACK ! C>DS1
LOOK AT ! BOTTOM (! DECK1 AN' LIE L !
DEVIL -- BE79' YR P>DON1 MA'AM4 ,I'M
ONLY 4C\RS9' AB WOM5 9 G5]AL40
  8,I DON'T "K H[ 6?ANK Y10 ,MADGE
QUAV]$4
  8,I DON'T SEE Z Y'VE GOT ANY CALL
6?ANK ME10 HE REPLI$4 8,BR[N A9'T DECID$
YET4 ,N[ Y WON'T M9D IF ,I G AWAY SL[8
,X'S NO MORE'N FAIR1 SEE9' ,I'LL 2 \ (
SI<T 9SIDE A HUNDR$ Y>DS40 -- ,MADGE
AGRE$1 & A4$1 8,& ,I PROMISE Y FAI?;LLY
T WE WON'T D ANY?+ 69FLU;E HM40
  8,WELL1 !N1 ,I MI<T Z WELL 2 GETT9'
AL;G10 ,SKIFF ,MILL] SD 9 ! ORD9>Y T"OS
( "O DE"P+4
  ,AT ? *ANGE 9 8 VOICE1 ,WOLF LIFT$ 8
H1D QKLY1 & / M QKLY GOT 6HIS FEET :5 !
MAN & WOMAN %OOK H&S4 ,HE SPRANG UP ON 8
H9D LEGS1 RE/+ 8 =E PAWS ON H] HIP & AT
! SAME "T LICK+ ,SKIFF ,MILL]'S H&4 ,:5
! LATT] %OOK H&S ) ,WALT1 ,WOLF REP1T$ 8
ACT1 RE/+ 8 WEI<T ON ,WALT & LICK+ BO?
M5'S H&S4
  8,X A9'T NO PICNIC1 ,I C TELL Y T10 7
! ,KLONDIK]'S LA/ ^WS1 Z HE TURN$ & W5T
SL[LY UP ! TRAIL4
  ,=! 4T.E ( TW5TY FEET ,WOLF WAT*$ HM
G1 HMF ALL EAG];S & EXPECTANCY1 Z ?\<
WAIT+ =! MAN 6TURN & RETRACE 8 /EPS4
,!N1 )A QK L[ :9E1 ,WOLF SPRANG AF HM1
OV]TOOK HM1 CAU<T 8 H& 2T 8 TEE? )
RELUCTANT T5D];S1 & /ROVE G5TLY 6MAKE HM
PAUSE4
  ,FAIL+ 9 ?1 ,WOLF RAC$ BACK 6": ,WALT
,IRV9E SAT1 CAT*+ 8 COAT-SLEEVE 9 8 TEE?
& TRY+ VA9LY 6DRAG HM AF ! RETR1T+ MAN4
  ,WOLF'S P]TURB,N 2GAN 6WAX4 ,HE DESIR$
UBIQU;Y4 ,HE WANT$ 6BE 9 TWO PLACES AT !
SAME "T1 )! OLD MA/] &! NEW1 & /1DILY !
4T.E 2T !M 0 9CR1S+4 ,HE SPRANG AB
EXCIT$LY1 MAK+ %ORT N]V\S L1PS & TWI/S1
N[ T[>D "O1 N[ T[>D ! O!R1 9 PA9;L
9DECI.N1 N "K+ 8 [N M9D1 DESIR+ BO? &
UNA# 6*OOSE1 UTT]+ QK %>P :9ES & 2G9N+
6PANT4
  ,HE SAT D[N ABRUPTLY ON 8 HAUN*ES1
?RU/+ 8 NOSE UPW>D1 ! M\? OP5+ & CLOS+ )
J]K+ MOVE;TS1 EA* "T OP5+ WID]4 ,^! J]K+
MOVE;TS 7 9 UNISON )! RECURR5T SPASMS T
ATTACK$ ! ?ROAT1 EA* SPASM SEV]] & M
9T5SE ?AN ! PREC$+ "O4 ,& 9 A3ORD ) J]KS
& SPASMS ! L>YNX 2GAN 6VIBRATE1 AT F/
SIL5TLY1 A3OMPANI$ 0! RU% ( AIR EXPELL$
F ! LUNGS1 !N S.D+ A L[1 DEEP NOTE1 !
L[E/ 9 ! REGI/] (! HUMAN E>4 ,ALL ? 0 !
N]V\S & MUSCUL> PRELIM9>Y 6H[L+4
  ,B J Z ! H[L 0 ON ! V]GE ( BUR/+ F !
FULL ?ROAT1 ! WIDE-OP5$ M\? 0 CLOS$1 !
P>OXYSMS C1S$1 & HE LOOK$ L;G & /1DILY
AT ! RETR1T+ MAN4 ,SU45LY ,WOLF TURN$ 8
H1D1 & OV] 8 %\LD] J Z /1DILY REG>D$
,WALT4 ,! APP1L 0 UNANSW]$4 ,N A ^W NOR
A SIGN DID ! DOG RCV1 NO SU7ES;N & NO
CLEW Z 6:AT 8 3DUCT %D BE4
  ,A GL.E AH1D 6": ! OLD MA/] 0 NE>+ !
CURVE (! TRAIL EXCIT$ HM AG4 ,HE SPRANG
6HIS FEET )A :9E1 & !N1 /RUCK 0A NEW
IDEA1 TURN$ 8 ATT5;N 6,MADGE4 ,HI!RTO HE
_H IGNOR$ H]1 B N[1 BO? MA/]S FAIL+ HM1
%E AL"O 0 LEFT4 ,HE W5T OV] 6H] & SNU7L$
8 H1D 9 H] LAP1 NUDG+ H] >M ) 8 NOSE --
AN OLD TRICK ( 8 :5 BE7+ = FAVORS4 ,HE
BACK$ AWAY F H] & 2GAN WRI?+ & TWI/+
PLAY;LLY1 CURVETT+ & PRANC+1 HALF RE>+ &
/RIK+ 8 =E PAWS 6! E>?1 /RU7L+ ) ALL 8
BODY1 F ! :E$L+ EYES & FLATT5+ E>S 6!
WA7+ TAIL1 6EXPRESS ! ?"\ T 0 9 HM & T 0
D5I$ HM UTT].E4
  ,?1 TOO1 HE SOON AB&ON$4 ,HE 0
DEPRESS$ 0! COLD;S ( ^! HUMANS :O _H N"E
BE5 COLD 2F4 ,NO RESPONSE CD HE DRAW F
!M1 NO HELP CD HE GET4 ,!Y DID N 3SID]
HM4 ,!Y 7 Z D1D4
  ,HE TURN$ & SIL5TLY GAZ$ AF ! OLD
MA/]4 ,SKIFF ,MILL] 0 R.D+ ! CURVE4 ,9 A
MO;T HE WD 2 G"O F VIEW4 ,YET HE N"E
TURN$ 8 H1D1 PLO4+ /RAI<T ONW>D1 SL[LY &
ME?ODIC,Y1 Z ?\< POSSESS$ ( NO 9T]E/ 9
:AT 0 O3URR+ 2H 8 BACK4
  ,& 9 ? FA%ION HE W5T \ ( VIEW4 ,WOLF
WAIT$ = HM 6REAPPE>4 ,HE WAIT$ A L;G
M9UTE1 SIL5TLY1 QUIETLY1 )\T MOVE;T1 Z
?\< TURN$ 6/"O -- )AL /"O QK ) EAG];S &
DESIRE4 ,HE B>K$ ONCE1 & WAIT$4 ,!N HE
TURN$ & TROTT$ BACK 6,WALT ,IRV9E4 ,HE
SNI6$ 8 H& & DROPP$ D[N H1VILY AT 8
FEET1 WAT*+ ! TRAIL ": X CURV$ EMPTILY F
VIEW4
  ,! T9Y /R1M SLIPP+ D[N ! MOSSY-LIPP$
/"O SEEM$ SU45LY 69CR1SE ! VOLUME ( XS
GURGL+ NOISE4 ,SAVE =! M1D[-L>KS1 "! 0
NO O!R S.D4 ,! GRT YELL[ BUTT]FLIES
DRIFT$ SIL5TLY "? ! SUN%9E & LO/ !MVS 9
! DR[SY %AD[S4 ,MADGE GAZ$ TRIUMPHANTLY
AT H] HUSB&4

,A FEW M9UTES LAT] ,WOLF GOT ^U 8 FEET4
  ,DECI.N &

  DELIB],N M>K$ 8 MOVE;TS4 ,HE DID N
GL.E AT ! MAN & WOMAN4 ,8 EYES 7 FIX$ UP
! TRAIL4 ,HE _H MADE UP 8 M9D4 ,!Y KNEW
X4 ,& !Y KNEW1 S F> Z !Y 7 3C]N$1 T !
ORD1L _H J 2GUN4
  ,HE BROKE 96A TROT1 & ,MADGE'S LIPS
PURS$1 =M+ AN AV5UE =! C>ESS+ S.D T X 0
! W ( H] 6S5D =?4 ,B ! C>ESS+ S.D 0 N
MADE4 ,%E 0 IMPELL$ 6LOOK AT H] HUSB&1 &
%E SAW ! /]N;S ) : HE WAT*$ H]4 ,! PURS$
LIPS RELAX$1 & %E SI<$ 9AUDIBLY4
  ,WOLF'S TROT BROKE 96A RUN4 ,WID] &
WID] 7 ! L1PS HE MADE4 ,N ONCE DID HE
TURN 8 H1D1 8 WOLF'S BRU% /&+ \ /RAI<T
2H HM4 ,HE CUT %>PLY ACR ! CURVE (!
TRAIL & 0 G"O4
























