had managed to make a pig of himself, as he was trying to eat his breakfast, when the signal started to make his jaw involuntarily open and close. His food consequently, went everywhere.

“Morse!” the telegrapher groaned, seeing the mess his dog had made, “What am I going to do with you?” He walked over to start cleaning up the dog food. “I haven’t got time for this today. I’ve got dozens of other towns to spread the news to.”

Morse just hung his head in shame. The telegrapher sighed, and patted him on the head.

“Oh, it’s all right, boy,” he said. “How could I stay mad at you on a day like, today?” Morse looked up, and smiled at his master. But, it didn't last, as he saw him go right back to work. Morse just groaned as the telegraph started again. “Heh, heh. Gotta love that Balto, eh boy?”

…

“Welcome to your new home, Balto!” Rosie’s mother said to him.

“Isn’t it great he’s gonna live with us, now?” Rosie exclaimed.

“It sure is,” her father replied, “we weren’t the only ones who wanted to give this lonesome mutt a home,” he said, as he gave Balto a pat on the head.

“Well, we insisted,” Rosie’s mother added. “Besides, it seems like he and Jenna get along pretty well.”

“They sure do,” Rosie cooed, “I think they’re in love.”

Jenna smiled at her new house mate. “I hope you enjoy your new arrangement,” she said to him.

“Yeah,” Balto said with a slight smile, looking around his new home, “I’m sure I will.”

Somehow, Jenna thought she heard a bit of resentment in his voice. She wasn’t quite sure, until she looked to Balto to find that his smile was slowly vanishing, and he was hanging his head low. “What’s the matter?” she asked.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Balto replied.

“Don’t you like it here?” she responded, a bit surprised.

“Oh! It’s not that, Jenna” Balto said quickly, “I’m sure I’m going to love it, but it’s just a big change for me,” he said. “All I’ve ever known is...life on the boat with Boris. I guess I never really realized what I was giving up.”

“Balto,” Jenna replied, “Boris will always be your friend. Sure, you may not live with him anymore, but now you have the love of everybody in town. And now you have us. You have a family...and you have me!”

“I know Jenna. But...it's just so different. How am I ever..." He looked to Jenna to find her giving him a convincing look. It was then that he realized he really did have her, and everything else he ever wanted. “Oh, Jenna, you’re right,” Balto said. “I love it! It’s great to finally have a home.”

It was now nightfall, and everyone in the household seemed to be ready to get settled down. Just then, a loud knocking was heard at the front door. ”Who could that be?” Rosie’s mother thought out loud, as she went to answer it. She opened the door to find an unfamiliar serious looking, tall man at her doorstep.

“Good evening, madam,” the man spoke.

“Can I help you?” she asked him.

“Yes you can, actually. I don’t know if you know who I am, but-”

“Oh, I’ve seen you before!” she said. “You’re Steele’s musher, aren’t you?”

“Yes, that’s me,” he replied.

“Very nice to meet you,” she said, offering him a handshake. “I heard that you were in the hospital for your injury. Are you feeling all right?”

“Yes, I am. I was just released from the hospital this morning. The doctor said I had a mild concussion. Nothing too serious. I'm just supposed to take it easy for the next week or so.”

“I see,” she said. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Well, I’ve heard that you folks are Balto’s new owners. My business here involves him.”

"What about him?" she asked.

"Well, it's actually sort of a long story. Do you mind if I come in?"

"I suppose," she said. "Right this way."

“Thank you.”

She led him through the doorway, and took his coat as he came in. “Honey, we have a visitor,” she called.

Her husband came into the room just as she spoke. “Oh!” he said in surprise. “You’re the musher, are you not?”

“Yes I am,” he replied, “and you must be Rosie’s parents.”

By now, Balto, Jenna and Rosie had peeked into the room to see what was going on.

“Yes we are,” said Rosie’s father.

“He’s here over some matter about Balto,” his wife explained.

“Ah,” he said, as he seated himself at the table in the room.

“Come, sit down,” Rosie’s mother beckoned. The musher took a seat. “Can I get you anything?” she asked.

“Oh, no thank you. I’m fine,” he said, in his naturally serious voice.

“So,” Rosie’s father began, “what is it about Balto that concerns you?”

“Well,” he began, setting the tone for the matter at hand, “as you both know, my team and I have won quite a few races with Steele at our lead over the years.”

“Of course,” Rosie’s mother answered, “you’re the best team around!”

“Well, yes,” he continued, “but at the moment, those days look as though they may be numbered, unfortunately.”

“How can that be?” Rosie’s father asked. “After the feat your team pulled off last night, it would seem they’re strong as ever! You’re not thinking about retiring, are you?”

“Oh no, of course not,” the musher replied, “but I’m afraid I don’t have a team at all without a lead dog.”

“How is it that you don’t have one?” Rosie’s mother pleaded, “Is there something wrong with Steele?”

“In a way,” the musher said sadly. “I heard about him coming back home a few nights ago, but he’s apparently disappeared...You see he seems to have run away. I don’t know why, but there was word that he was last seen running towards the outskirts of town last night.”

“Oh, my!” said Rosie’s mother.

“Well, hold on,” her husband said, “is it possible that he may come back? Dogs can be like that sometimes. They'll run for an open door, but still manage to find their way back, eventually.”

“I’m afraid not,” the musher replied. “Wherever Steele is right now, he’s either terribly lost, or just doesn’t want to be found. We’ve been searching for him all day, both in, and a great distance around town. There’s no sign of him anywhere...he’s gone.” The couple could sense the sadness in his voice. “I’m surprised too...this isn’t like him. He was just so loyal.”

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry,” Rosie’s mother said sympathetically. “I hope he’s all right.”

“So do I,” the musher replied. “But anyhow, I’ve decided the best thing I can do right now is to carry on, and make do without him as best I can,” he said. “But, I can’t very well do that without a good lead dog...that’s where Balto comes in.”

The threesome standing in the doorway all looked at each other.

“Not just any dog can do it," the musher continued. "The dog must be, in a sense, a born leader. In addition, the teaching of many of the needed skills usually must begin as early as puppy hood.”

Balto listened intently from a distance, grinning lightly.

“But, I think you can both agree with me when I say that Balto showed many of those qualities just last night, as he led the team back on his own, without any commands being given, and without any instruction whatsoever. It amazed me to hear that,” he said. “So, with that in mind, if it’s all right with you folks, I would like to make Balto a part of my team. I’ve decided he’d be a perfect new lead dog for us!”

Balto, Jenna and Rosie gasped in excitement. Balto was stunned! Again, he wondered if he was dreaming.

“Oh, how wonderful!” Rosie’s mother exclaimed.

“So, do you approve?” the musher asked.

“Well, hold on now,” Rosie’s father said. “If we say yes, just what does this mean for us? We just took Balto into our home. Now, you're asking us to give him away?”

“Now wait," the musher replied. “It's not as big as a commitment as it sounds. It is true that normally, we are busy as a team the whole year 'round, but I have taken into consideration that he is yours, and I'm sure you don't want to give him up so soon. So, I would make every effort to keep him with you folks as much as I can. You see, the racing season is about 6 months long a year, and we usually only run a few races a month. During this time, I would need him quite a bit to prepare for each one. But, I'd be willing to let him stay with you folks for at least a couple days between races, and when he's in training, you can come and visit any time you'd like. Also, when the races are out of