"Mush," he ordered and the dogs started off up the street while the boys fell in behind.
"Good bye an' good luck to yees," Pete shouted.
"God keep you," the captain called after them.
"Good bye, good bye," the boys called back.
Lucky Hogan had explained the night before that they were to cut across country for a distance of some 250 miles where they would strike the river at about the same distance from the coast. As they left the town the stars above were just beginning to pale while in the east a faint glow told of the coming day.
"If I go too fast let me know heap soon," Lucky called back over his shoulder.
"We will that," Jack assured him.
Although they had started fairly early several teams had left ahead of them and the trail was in fairly good shape. Nevertheless it was hard traveling from the start. The snow was light and dry and the footing anything but secure, and inside of an hour they were both puffing hard.
"That fellow must think we're used to this all right," Jack panted, glancing back over his shoulder at Bob who was a few feet behind.
"Tell him he'll have to slow up a bit," Bob suggested.