nothing in the cabin that could of caused it. The fire was out and the embers were gone. 

   It was probablly the wind, thought Balto. But just as he about to settle again his shar ears caught sounds. Long tones. Voices! They were coming from outside the cabin. 

The old dog rose to his paws and hurried to the window, careful not to make a noise. Balto leaned on the window sill and peered through the glass. It was dark outside, the snow in the nightsky floated softly down to the ground. Balto looked to the direction where the voices were coming from. They seemed to be coming from the front of the cabin.

A sense of protective instinct took over Balto. He squinted as he tried to make out what they were saying. As he listened, Balto realized that there were only two of them and they were dogs. One was a female.

Then a poodle appeared from front of the cabin. Her woolly fur was as black as pitch and her trot was quite dainty. The dog pursuing her was more heavy and robust, with the shape of a wolf. His coat was short and less dark then the poodle's. Because the window had been built high, Balto could not see their features. He craned his neck as he listened. The two seemed to be agruing.

The poodle's companion struggled after her, calling out angrily.

   'Wait...Mississippi!

   'OH! Buzz off!' she snarled.

   'I'm sorry that nothing I do is good enough.'

   'What good could a wolf do?'

He didn't reply. The poodle tossed her head up and resumed her trot.

The wolf followed, slowly. His head was down yet his amber eyes burned.

Leaning unnoticed upon the window sill, Balto watched the poodle and wolf disappear into the darkness of the town. 

   'Balto.'

Mr Ground, roused by the voices (Mississippi's probably) was calling him. Balto turned and saw the man still sitting in his chair, surrounded by his family

Shaking his head, sympatheticly Balto flopped back onto bare floor and walked back to the chair. Rig gazed at him, frowning. Balto gazed, prudently back at him. If this man was to be their Musher, why was he entering the race in such a condition? He walked closer to the arm-chair and touched man's hand with his wet noise. Ground patted him. Balto, gently nudged the man's leg.

Ground looked sadly down at it and sighed.

   'I got this in an accident. I couldn't drive for a while, but as it grew better, our wage fell. When we nearly out I had to sell my own dogs, to keep us going. We've still a little with us, but how long for? One day, Sulski came to my cabin and told me about the Trail Run he'd just signed up to enter. He said that prize would be 10 million. It was then I knew I had enter myself, but how? But Mr Sulski then said that that would not matter. He told me...' he paused, patted Balto, 'He told me, they were  wanting you for the race. So I signed up.'

Balto rested his head on the man's hand and licked it.

 

XII

Morning came. The both dog and human were up and having breakfast, when a knock at the door interrupted them.

Nell went to open it.

While they waited, Dingo said to Chilla. 'I hope these humans will let us explore the town before we go.'

Chilla agreed, 'The cabin's so small. It's boring being coped up in here.' she said.

Nell came back. With her was the Mayor of Koyuk... and two poodles with fine, silk collars. The youngest was a female with coal black fur and sour face. Chilla thought she saw her father give her a funny look. The eldest dog, whose fur was honey coloured had a look of importance.

Their owner tapped his hat. 'Hello, Rig. Sorry to barge in now. But I've just been talking to the Doctor, and we were discussing something which concerns you.'

    'I'm not disqualified, am I?' asked Rig, struggling from his chair. The Mayor shook his head, grinning.

    'No, no. But he like to see you this eve, before the Trail Run.'

    'Alright.' Rig said, sighing.' I'll go

Meanwhile the poodles were talking to Balto the family team.

The eldest spoke first. 'Greetings, Sir Balto and Lady Jenna. Allow me to indroduce myself. The name's Ragnel. And might I say! It is a great honer to meet such an regarded ambassador (and his family) from Nome's amiable settlements. The locals here are all indebted to you. And are at your commands.'

Listening to this strange talk, Chilla and her brothers and sisters tried to stop themselves from chuckling. Balto and Jenna meanwhile, looked bewildered. 'Err. Thank you.' he said, finally.

Ragnel bowed. 'A pleasure,' he nodded to his companion,' this is my daughter, Missy.' 

    'Missisippi!' corrected she, crossly. Her father took no notice.

    'Err...what can we do for you, Ragnel?' Balto asked.

   'Oh, we came to inform you of the terms and conditions.'

   'Terms and conditions?'

   'Yes, the rules of the race. It's to begin tomorrow. Your destination is the town of Anchorage. It lies south east. You will be Nulato, then down river to Kaltag. Carry on to Grayling then cut across to Red Devil and straight down to Anchorage, across the rivers.' He paused for breath.' Each mushers wil be given a stack of flags. One with green, one will be blue and one red. With these they must mark every mile with them until you get to Anchorage. There now, any questions?'

    'Yes,' Balto said, slowly,' we would like to know who are our competitors.'

    'Ah, the human mushers are Mr Sulski and Mr Maximous. Their leaders are called Lurth and Nero.'

   'Thanks Ragnal.' said Balto, greatfully.

Just then the Mayor called out.

    'Ragnel! Missy! Heel.'

    'We must be going, now. If there's anything else you need know, just call.' Ragnal said. He bowed again, then he and Mississippi left to follow their master.

After they'd gone, Rig said to his wife. 'Well, dear. How about we all spend the afternoon together outside, before I go to the Clinic. The dogs will like that?' Nell asked him where too. Ground thought for a few moments. At last he said. 'We'll go out the town. We can take the dogs with us. They need a good long run.'

Nell agreed. Chilla, who'd been listening, wagged her tail in delight! At last we're going out. She thought.

She waited, patiently, as the Grounds finished their breakfast, cleared the table and went to put on their winter clothes. When they came back, they brought with them a dozon leads. Chilla groaned aloud! Her mother gave her a hard nudge. Moodily, she let Nell clip her collar. Once the dogs were ready, the Grounds opened the door and led them outside.

***

The area around Koyuk was not as wide as Nome's. Nor was it barren. Trees specked the blankness of the snow ground. About half a mile away from them stood a small glade of pine trees.

Once their leads were taken off, Chilla and others bolted out over the snowy plain. Soon, they were laughing, playing and racing together. The Grounds watched them, smiling.

As she ran near it, Chilla stopped to look at the glade. It looked lovely, that it was if someone had planted it that way. The trees were arched and between their roots, was a small pool. As she gazed at it, Chilla caught a movement! A large, dark shape suddenly appeared from behind a pine, padded towards the pool and started to drink. Chilla stared. It was a wolf!

She backed away. The wolf's ears pricked. It lifted its head, looked around...and saw her. For a long time moment the creature gazed at her, eyes flashing. Then, it ran towards her. Chilla gasped. She turned to run, when a shrill voice stopped her tracks.

   'Wait Chilla!'

Chill's eyes widened in disbelief. 'Aleu!?' 

   'Where's Papa?'

 

 

XIII

Kodi couldn't believe his eyes. Running back with Chilla was no other then Aleu, his sister whom he had long given up ever to see again. 'Aleu!!!' he shouted out and rushed to greet her.

Aleu gasped as Kodi sprang on her. They rolled like that about, laughing and giggling as they did. Once he had his sister on the ground, Kodi licked her face. Aleu nipped him, playfully.

    'Kodi! You know I never liked you doing that.' she said.

Nothing's changed, thought Kodi.

    'You wouldn't refuse Mom, would you.' he teased, nodding to their parents.

    'Mama! Papa!

    'Aleu!!!!!!'

They all grouped around her. Licking, kissing and laughing. 

Amid their rejoicing, Kodi suddenly caught sight of the humans. Rig, Nell and Jonny. All three were staring at them. Wether in horror or astonishment, Kodi couldn't quite know. Aleu saw them too. Ignoring everyone else, Rig limped up to her. Aleu backed away. Then halted! She remained still as Ground drew closer. The man stopped in front of her  and slowly, he held out his arm. Aleu reached over to sniff it. The was a pause. She licked it. Then gently, buffed his hurt leg with her nose.

Mr Ground smiled. He nodded to her and then others. 'You're all from the same bloodline. We could use another in our

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