DOCSLIB.ORG

The Golden Collar

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Golden Collar The Golden Collar By Shadow-d-husky Steele sat alone in an alley, sulking and feeling sorry for himself. Ever since the dogs found out about his deeds during the serum run, he had been branded an outcast. He had no friends, save Shadow. Shadow was a purebred black and white husky, like Steele, who had moved up in the ranks to become lead dog of one of the sled teams in Nome. Shadow had found Steele sad and alone in the gold dredger (boiler room), where the other dogs left him. He tried to help Steele. "It takes a real dog to have the backbone to admit their mistakes,” Steele remembered Shadow saying. “Is this the legacy you wish to leave of yourself; ‘Steele, the dog who almost sabotaged the serum run and caused the death of half the population of Nome?’ Why don’t you quit feeling sorry for yourself and apologize. Who knows, maybe someday you will even be looked up to again.” Steele appreciated Shadow’s friendship, and even the notion that he was trying to improve his situation. But what did he know? Steele thought his situation was unique; it wasn’t his fault, it was all Balto’s fault. Or was it? All Steele could be sure of at this point was that everyone hated him while at the same time they considered Balto a hero. “That wolfdog gets all the glory and all I get is scorn.” Steele muttered to himself. “If that wolfdog were not around, maybe everyone would take me back.” But Steele would have to do something incredible to win back the respect of the town. Unfortunately the mushers were right; he was losing his edge. He had to cheat to win the race against the opposing team to keep his golden collar. He got lost in the snowstorm and panicked. He even lost in the fight with Balto due to his blind rage. In addition to that, his musher no longer trusted him on the sled team because he panicked and caused the sled crash. They thought that not only had he lost his edge, but that he had also lost his mind. What could he do to win back the respect and admiration of the town? Steele was a dog who had almost always got his way. He always acted on impulse, without thinking of the ramifications, because he never had to take responsibility for his actions. He had been so used to being praised and being the center of attention, that he only saw the world from the perspective of what he wanted. But ever since he had become an outcast he had plenty of time to think about his actions. He no longer constantly had his ego stroked; he was despised by all the dogs in Nome. For the first several days he had plotted his revenge against Balto. But he had also heard about how bad the Diphtheria epidemic was and how it nearly devastated the population of the town. For once in his life, Steele felt a small sense of remorse over his actions. He understood why Balto did what he did, but he still hated him for it. With these thoughts on his mind, he set out to find Balto. Steele spotted Balto, alone, and quickly moved towards him. “Hey, wolfdog!” Steele called out. “We need to have a chat.” “Steele?” Balto said, turning around and expecting the worse. Surely whatever Steele wanted could not be good. Steele closed the distance between him and Balto. “There was a full moon out last night, lobo. Did you howl at it?” Steele teased, not being able to resist antagonizing Balto. “I am sure you mother would approve.” Balto let out a low growl and stared daggers at Steele. Steele had a smug look on his face, satisfied from being able to torment Balto once again. It felt just like old times to Steele, who wanted more than anything for things to be just like old times. “Ooh, I struck a nerve.” Steele smirked. “What’s the matter, wolfie? Can’t take a joke?” Balto, trying to control his temper, wondered what Steele really wanted. Surely he did not come here just to torment him again? “Steele,” Balto replied, trying to keep a cool head. “What do you really want?” Steele was having such a good time aggravating Balto that he had forgot why he went out to seek Balto in the first place. Steele knew what he had to do. “Actually, I am glad you asked, wolfdog.” Steele replied. “I have something for you.” Steele closed more distance between him and Balto, which made Balto back away a few steps. Suddenly, Steele pulled his Golden Collar off and threw it at Balto’s feet. “I think you deserve this more I do. It’s yours.” Steele said. Balto looked at the collar in disbelief. Was this the same Golden Collar that was given to the winner of the sled race, a symbol of achievement and pride? Why would Steele give this to him? “Steele…I don’t know what to say…” Balto replied, still in a state of disbelief. “But I can’t take your collar.” “You’re always so modest, wolfdog.” Steele retorted as he sat down. “But actually, there was something else I wanted to tell you.” Balto was completely off guard and alone. If Steele wanted to get rid of him once and for all, now was the time to do it. It would be so easy, he could rip out his throat and be done with it. But then what? Steele would still be an outcast, and the rest of the dogs of Nome would probably hunt him down. Even more than revenge against Balto, Steele wanted to be accepted among the dogs of Nome once again. He abhorred being an outcast more than anything else. If he apologized to Balto, maybe the other dogs would forgive him. But if he apologized, he would also look weak. And besides, what did the half-breed ever do to deserve an apology? Steele knew what he had to do. “Balto, I…” Steele struggled to swallow his pride, while at the same time trying not to appear weak. However, deep down Steele did feel some remorse, and his face betrayed his feelings. “Balto, I’m sorry.” Balto could not believe what he just heard. Did Steele, the most prideful and vain dog in Nome, apologize to him? Was this just a ploy, some part of a greater scheme to get back at Balto? Steele looked sincere, but Balto also knew Steele was an accomplished liar. But then again, maybe Steele had finally hit rock bottom and was desperate to redeem himself and gain acceptance again. Balto decided to give him the benefit of a doubt. “All is forgiven, Steele.” Balto said with a warm smile. “Thank you.” Steele replied. “Oh, and Balto, don’t rub it in. I still have a reputation to uphold.” Balto chuckled. “Sure thing.” Steele was still a bit confused, as to why Balto did not hate him. After all, he did try to kill Balto and steal Jenna away from him. If Balto had done the same to him, he would be furious. Steele picked up the golden collar and put it back on. “If you do not want it then I will be taking it back.” “By the way, why did you leave me at the bottom of that ravine?” Steele asked. Steele was unhappy, to say the least, when the other dogs left him at the bottom of the ravine after the fight between him and Balto. Though Steele was eventually able to climb up the ravine, the fall had bruised him fairly bad. Steele, being a tough dog, was nonetheless able to make it back to town in order to lie to the other dogs. Steele was still slightly sore from the fall, but he tried to hide that fact. “The medicine had to get back; people were going to die.” Balto replied. “Besides, if I had gone down there you might have finished me off.” Steele looked away and growled, because he knew it was true. “Hey Steele.” Balto replied. “Have you considered apologizing to the rest of the dogs? I think they would take you back and accept you again. Is that not what you want?” “What!? Apologize to them!?” Steele snapped, as he bared his teeth and narrowed his eyes. “They are the ones who abandoned me! They should apologize to me! And I do not need advice from a half breed!” “Steele…” Balto calmly replied. “They abandoned you because they found out you lied to them. They also were angry with you when they found out what had really happened. You owe them an apology.” Steele let out a low growl. He was not going to take that from any dog, much less a wolfdog. But quickly, Steele realized that Balto was right. He did owe them an apology. “You’re right, Balto.” Steele replied with a sigh, hanging his head in shame.” I’m sorry, I still have a difficult time controlling my temper. I will apologize, but I need you to vouch for me. You’re one of only two….dogs….that will do that for me.” Steele struggled to refer to Balto as a dog, because deep down he still harbored hate against him and thought of him as a half-breed. “Walk with me.” Balto said, motioning to Steele with his head. The two dogs started walking towards the dredger, which was on the other side of town.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • VITAL RECORDS from ALASKA DAILY EMPIRE 1921-1925 JUNEAU, ALASKA VOLUME II Compiled by Betty J. Miller Copyright May 1996 All
    VITAL RECORDS FROM ALASKA DAILY EMPIRE 1921-1925 JUNEAU, ALASKA VOLUME II Compiled by Betty J. Miller Copyright May 1996 All Rights Reserved Betty J. Miller 2551 Vista Drive #C-201 Juneau, Alaska 99801 FOREWORD Another two years out of my busy life and Volume II is completed! This reference book covers vital statistical records abstracted from the Juneau Alaska Daily Empire from 1921 through 1925. The response and sales of Volume I (1916-1920) certainly was an encouragement for me to continue the research. I suspect there will be a Volume III sometime in the future. Keep in mind when perusing the alphabetical index that the names appearing there are exactly the way they were printed in the newspaper, i.e. some were incorrectly spelled. Check the variations of spellings for surnames. I've cross-referenced where I detected misspellings. It helps to have lived in Juneau all my life and have an awareness of some of these long-time Juneau family names. Copies of these newspaper articles referenced in this book can be made at the Alaska State Library at [email protected] or 907-465-2920 in Juneau. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wouldn't be able to undertake these projects without the cooperation of the Alaska State Library allowing me to take microfilm from their library for weeks at a time. Once again the Family History Center at the LDS Church allowed me to use their library and microfilm reader whenever I needed—which was a couple hours every day. My wonderful husband helped me proofread while we were on vacation this winter.
    [Show full text]
  • Iditarod National Historic Trail I Historic Overview — Robert King
    Iditarod National Historic Trail i Historic Overview — Robert King Introduction: Today’s Iditarod Trail, a symbol of frontier travel and once an important artery of Alaska’s winter commerce, served a string of mining camps, trading posts, and other settlements founded between 1880 and 1920, during Alaska’s Gold Rush Era. Alaska’s gold rushes were an extension of the American mining frontier that dates from colonial America and moved west to California with the gold discovery there in 1848. In each new territory, gold strikes had caused a surge in population, the establishment of a territorial government, and the development of a transportation system linking the goldfields with the rest of the nation. Alaska, too, followed through these same general stages. With the increase in gold production particularly in the later 1890s and early 1900s, the non-Native population boomed from 430 people in 1880 to some 36,400 in 1910. In 1912, President Taft signed the act creating the Territory of Alaska. At that time, the region’s 1 Iditarod National Historic Trail: Historic Overview transportation systems included a mixture of steamship and steamboat lines, railroads, wagon roads, and various cross-country trail including ones designed principally for winter time dogsled travel. Of the latter, the longest ran from Seward to Nome, and came to be called the Iditarod Trail. The Iditarod Trail today: The Iditarod trail, first commonly referred to as the Seward to Nome trail, was developed starting in 1908 in response to gold rush era needs. While marked off by an official government survey, in many places it followed preexisting Native trails of the Tanaina and Ingalik Indians in the Interior of Alaska.
    [Show full text]
  • And the Legacy of the Serum Run
    Baltoand the Legacy of the Serum Run 1 WADE OVAL DRIVE, UNIVERSITY CIRCLE CLEVELAND, OHIO 44106 216.231.4600 800.317.9155 WWW.CMNH.ORG Nome, Alaska, appeared on the map during one of the world’s great gold rushes at the end of the 19th century. Located on the Seward Peninsula, the town’s population had swelled to 20,000 by 1900 after gold was discovered on beaches along the Bering Sea. By 1925, however, much of the gold was gone and scarcely 1,400 people were left in the remote northern outpost. Nome was icebound seven months of the year and the nearest railroad was more than 650 miles away, in the town of Nenana. The radio telegraph was the most reliable means by which Nome could communicate with the rest of the world during the winter. Since Alaska was a U.S. territory, the government also maintained a route over which relays of dog teams carried mail from Anchorage to Nome. A one- way trip along this path, called the Iditarod Trail, took about a month. The “mushers” who traversed the trail were the best in Alaska. A RACE FOR LIFE JANUarY 27 The serum arrived in Nenana by train, and the relay to the On January 20, 1925, a radio signal went out, carried for stricken city began. “Wild Bill” Shannon lashed the life- miles across the frozen tundra: saving cargo to his sled and set off westward. Except for the Nom e c alling... dogs’ panting and the swooshing of runners on the snow, No m e c alling..
    [Show full text]
  • Vllg.Com Type Supply Balto
    TYPE SUPPLY Balto vllg.com Balto TYPE SUPPLY Balto ABOUT vllg.com I have a longstanding passion for the classic American Gothic typeface style. The style dates back over a century, and like so many things American, its origins can be traced across the ocean and through generations. There have been numerous interpretations of the style, but, frankly, none of them capture the unpretentious, sturdy and versatile soul that I admire so much. I have been working on capturing these attributes in my own version of the style for as long as I have been drawing typefaces. TYPE SUPPLY Balto ABOUT vllg.com In Balto, I have focused on emphasizing the base ideas of the style rather than particular visual attributes, quirks or artifacts of bygone type technologies. This allowed me to rethink many common assumptions about the shapes of the letterforms and the result is a clean, modern typeface that honors the noble history of the American Gothic. TYPE SUPPLY Balto ABOUT vllg.com WEIGHTS & StYLES 8 feature-rich OpenType weights in Roman & Italic Thin Thin Italic Light Light Italic Book Book Italic Medium Medium Italic Bold Bold Italic Black Black Italic Super Super Italic Ultra Ultra Italic TYPE SUPPLY Balto ABOUT vllg.com TYPE SUPPLY Tal Leming / 2014 Hello, I’m Tal Leming. Type Supply is me. Well, technically it’s the Limited Liability publications, brands and so on. It’s a lot of fun and I’m lucky to be able to work with Corporation that I work for. Anyway, I design fonts and lettering. It’s fun.
    [Show full text]
  • A Reindeer Story Faith Fjeld
    The Alaska Sámi: A Reindeer Story Faith Fjeld Rev. Tollef Larson Brevig and Julia Johnson Brevig, left, and, right, Mr. and Mrs. Tautuk, Inupiaq apprentices of the Alaska Sámi herding instructors. Vesterheim Archives. At the turn of the twentieth century, a dramatic story Yup’ik Inuit Peoples is on the left. The Sámi and the Inuit unfolded in western Alaska. The heroes of the story were have much in common. They share an animistic spiritual reindeer and reindeer herders. Together they survived storms at relationship to nature. Their physical survival in a tough sea, starvation on mountain passes, and thousand-mile trips by climate has been based on maintaining this relationship, as sled through blizzards. Along the way they encountered gold evidenced by the ceremonial traditions that are still connected miners, missionaries, and businessmen. Some of the herders with fishing, hunting, gathering, and herding. The images joined the Gold Rush and got rich, and some of the reindeer on the equipment they use, the pictographs on Sámi noiade teamed up with Santa Claus and became famous. None of this drums, the Inuit dances, and the Sámi yoiks express a common could have taken place without the Sámi. worldview that makes relatives of Arctic peoples.1 The Sámi are the indigenous people of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Russian Kola Peninsula. They call their The Great Death and the Reindeer Project homeland Sápmi [“sahp-mee”], which is also known as During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, trappers and Lapland or Finnmark. They were brought to Alaska to teach traders came to Sápmi and began the slaughter of wild animals reindeer husbandry to the Inuit.
    [Show full text]
  • {TEXTBOOK} the Bravest Dog Ever: the True Story of Balto
    THE BRAVEST DOG EVER: THE TRUE STORY OF BALTO PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Natalie Standiford | 48 pages | 01 Oct 1999 | Turtleback Books | 9780833545367 | English | New York, NY, United States The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto PDF Book Grasshopper on the Road. Who can resist that? Feb 12, Courtnie rated it it was amazing Shelves: , for-the-boys. Nov 12, Chloe Farrell rated it it was amazing Shelves: favorites. Bunny's First Spring. The town decided to do a dog sled I love this book. The Happy Lion. Still in print after more than twenty years, it's a story that will never age. Angus and the Ducks. Students can create a class book about being brave. Poppleton in Spring. How was this trip with the dogs different for Kasson? A Pocket for Corduroy. The book is a comprehensive, interactive workbook that offers creative solutions, cutting-edge therapies, and allows owners to customize a program for their individual dog. Paperback —. Return to Book Finder. What is "one" step he takes to solve this problem? Last in the little stack of books I bought for my niece for her birthday. Marley and the Great Easter Egg Hunt. When you buy a book, we donate a book. Brighty of the Grand Canyon. Can Balto find his way through the terrible storm? Add to Cart. View 1 comment. It was in the middle of the winter in Nome, Alaska in when some children came down with diphtheria, a deadly disease that was contagious, but could be treated with the proper medication. The story plays on the emotions by focusing on a family with two sick children and then telling the story of Balto, the lead dog of the last team which made heroic strides This book has earned its way into being called a classic of children's early readers.
    [Show full text]
  • Who Was the True Hero?
    Who Was the True Hero? Leonhard Seppala Shaktolik to Golovin 91 miles Lead dog: Togo At 48 years old, Leonhard mushed a team of Siberian Huskies. Togo, a 12-year-old husky was his lead dog. He had left Nome with the intent of intercepting the serum at Nulato. He wasn’t aware that the relays had sped the serum along the trail. Leonhard had left Isaac’s Point on the north side of Norton Bay that morning. Having traveled the 43 tough miles with a tail wind, he almost passed Henry Ivanoff outside of Golovin. They passed the serum on the trail and Seppala now turned his team around and headed back up the trail into the wind. The temperature was -30 degrees below zero as he faced a strong wind and darkness. To save valuable time, Leonhard risked the 20 mile sea ice crossing between Cap Denbigh and Point Dexter in a blinding blizzard. He relied on Togo to keep them safe and on the course, and he was not disappointed. On the North shore of Norton Bay, he stopped at an Eskimo sod igloo where he had spent the previous night. He put the dogs in the kennel and fed them well. Then took his sled inside and warmed the serum and himself, hoping the storm would lessen. Early Sunday morning the temperature was -30 degrees below zero with a raging wind. Once again, he headed out in conditions that otherwise would not have been tempted unless it was a matter of life or death. When he reached Dexter’s Roadhouse at Golovin, his dogs dropped in their tracks from exhaustion.
    [Show full text]
  • Balto 60-Minute History and Health Lesson Interactive Video Conference Grades: K-12 (Or Balto Fans of Any Age!)
    The Story of Balto 60-Minute History and Health Lesson Interactive Video Conference Grades: K-12 (or Balto fans of any age!) TEACHER GUIDE Balto: A History of Humans, Huskies, and Health in Alaska Description Objectives Why is this famous husky from Alaska found • Use a maP to locate Alaska and measure at the Cleveland Museum of Natural the distance between key stoPs in the History? Join our historians for this heroic Serum Run. tale of doGs and mushers in Alaska, from the • ComPare and contrast conditions in 1925 Serum Run to the Iditarod of today. Alaska with those in Cleveland in the Discover facts about the disease diPhtheria, 1920’s, and describe methods of and why the outbreak in Nome, Alaska is so transPortation used in both areas • famous. Experience how humans and Identify the pathoGen that causes diphtheria, and the difference between huskies survive in harsh Arctic conditions a vaccine and antitoxin today with a collection of authentic Iditarod • List ways that ProPer equiPment can gear! Uncover the Cleveland connection to help doGs and humans exist in extreme Balto and how he has become the cold “sPokesdoG” for this unique event in • Describe how cooPeration and Cleveland history. teamwork can comPlete an almost impossible job Ohio’s Learning Standards Kindergarten: GeograPhy – Spatial ThinkinG and Skills Grade 1 & 2: History – Historical ThinkinG and Skills Grade 3: Government – Civic ParticiPation and Skills Grade 4: Economics – Production and ConsumPtion Grade 5: GeograPhy – Spatial ThinkinG and Skills Grade 6: Government
    [Show full text]
  • The Race Against Death.Pdf
    *>•, AGAINST 4t STORYWORKS History and science Why were dogsled teams necessary to save a town from disease? \\ij LOOK FOR WORD NERD'S 6 WORDS IN BOLD As you read this article, look for information about medicine and transportation in 1925. W^V^SCHOLASTIC.COM/STORYWORKS • 4¿.OVEMBER/DECEMBER 20 1 2 5 rom his apartment window, Dr. Soon after the Alameda had steamed off, Curtis Welch watched as the an Eskimo family with four children arrived last ship of the fall season of in Nome. The youngest had fallen ill, and the 1924, the Alameda, pulled away doctor guessed the child was suffering from a from the dock in Nome, Alaska. mild infection. By morning, the child was dead. In a few weeks, the freezing Within weeks, three other children in winter weather would almost completely cut off Nome died. Then, on Tuesday, January 20, the town of Nome from the rest of the world 1925, Dr. Welch checked in on a 3-year-old boy until spring. The town's only link with the rest named Billy Bamett, who had been admitted of Alaska would be one frozen and windswept to the hospital two weeks earlier with a sore dogsled trail. throat and fever. The boy had developed thick. The Alameda had brought the doctor his winter supplies: cotton This map shows the route the mushers took as they rushed balls, ether, tongue depressors, to get the medicine to Nome. The medicine's journey began in thermometers, and medicines. Only Anchorage, Alaska's biggest city, and was transported by train to Nenana.
    [Show full text]
  • Balto Finishes Strong
    Next Week: The origins of music Issue 08, 2018 Founded by Betty Debnam Mini Fact: The Iditarod race Gunnar “Iditarod” is the name of a ghost town Balto Kaasen, along the trails. Many experts believe it shown with means “distant place.” Balto, was an The Iditarod begins in Anchorage with Finishes assistant to the a ceremonial start. The race truly begins fastest musher the next day from Willow. in Alaska, The Iditarod Strong Leonhard Trail runs for about Seppala. 1,049 miles. It varies year by year On March 3, about 70 daring mushers, When it was Gunnar Kaasen’s turn, he because obstacles or sled dog racers, and about 1,000 dogs chose his favorite husky, Balto, and put him may arise, forcing will meet in Anchorage, Alaska, for the official at the front of his sled for the next-to-last leg mushers to break opening of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. of the relay. They set out on new trail. The Iditarod (eye-DIT-uh-rahd) is one of Feb. 1 into a blizzard, running The race keeps Kovalchek Frank by photo the most challenging races in the world. It starts toward a town called Port going until the last in Anchorage and crosses more than 1,000 miles Safety, where the last musher team comes in. The fastest winning time of Alaskan wilderness. It ends up in Nome. was waiting. was eight days, three hours, 40 minutes This week, The Mini Page learns about However, the musher and 13 seconds, set in 2017. The last racers a legendary sled dog who was the hero of a in Port Safety had received can take nearly three weeks to come in.
    [Show full text]
  • Interim Assessment ©Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying Is Not Permitted
    MAP Practice Read Genre: History Article Read the history article. Then answer the questions that follow. Race to the Rescue by Lisa Torrey 1 In the winter of 1925, a deadly disease broke out in Nome, Alaska. The disease was a serious threat to the children who lived there. Only one kind of medicine could stop the disease from spreading. However, the medicine was in Anchorage, Alaska. Anchorage was nearly 1,000 miles away from Nome. 2 People were in a hurry to get the medicine from Anchorage to Nome. There was an old mail route called the Iditarod Trail. It linked the two towns. But the trip along the route would be very hard. The route was covered with snow and ice. The howling winds were bitter cold. Rough mountains covered part of the route. 3 Their only hope was to use sled dogs. Sled dogs could endure the long, cold journey. They could get the medicine quickly to Nome. The Journey Begins 4 More than 20 mushers, or drivers, put together teams of sled dogs. Each team played a key part in the relay to race the medicine to Nome. The first team soon left Anchorage on the first leg of the trip. 5 Reporters wrote articles about the heroic race to deliver the medicine to Nome. People all Statue of Balto in New York City around the world read these reports in newspapers. They followed each leg of the journey. They became caught up in the drama that was taking place in Alaska. They cheered for the dog sled teams.
    [Show full text]
  • “Balto” Hero OR VILLAIN?
    Please return this copy to the Bistro so others may share ~ “Balto” Hero or villain? Read along with us as we search for the truth about Balto. Was he the hero of this crazy race against nature and time? Or, was he just one of the 150 sled dogs in the journey to bring the lifesaving diphtheria serum to the children of Nome, Alaska? The quest to accomplish the mission was plagued with white-out conditions, gale-force winds, cracking ice, and temperatures of 60° to 70° below zero. Balto, the dog sled team leader certainly didn’t ask for the task. But at the urging of his musher, Gunnar Kaasen, Balto and his teammates were anxious to begin their journey. Gunnar knew that Leonhard Seppala and his dog Togo were also waiting for their chance to earn Hero status for their involvement in delivering the serum to Nome. The stage is ready and set to accommodate the true hero. Written and compiled by, Emmett (Don) Mason, Kentucky Colonel Mason’s Missives, 8/20/2020, Volume 29, Balto, Hero or Villain? 1 Forward It was years ago that I visited New York and fell in love with Manhattan and its Central Park, arguably one of the most famous parks in the world. The park sits on 840 acres of high-dollar land in Manhattan between 5th and 8th Avenue and 59th and 106th Street. Manhattan is the smallest of the five boroughs (a smaller city within the massive New York metropolitan area) but still manages to draw over 40 million visitors each year.
    [Show full text]