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Show 85 the canyon, and turned back toward them. They could see Bixby point at them triumphantly. "Run," Josh yelled. "C'mon, Chinook, faster!" They began to lope down the precipitous trail, the travois careening along behind as they came. Fortunately they had left the switchbacks, and ahead there was a long slope to the floor of the canyon below. Cap was ahead, holding his side painfully as he sped along. He glanced back and, saving his breath, motioned for Josh to speed up. As he ran, Josh kept one eye on the hovering helicopter, dreading the sound of a shot from where it hung out beyond them. He took Chinook's collar, helping him on with the load. Obviously worn out, the malamute responded by digging in harder, straining and surging down the trail. Instead of shooting, however, the helicopter swooped past them, washing them in its wind, and dropped slowly to settle into a clearing near the bottom of the ledge trail. Cap stood at a wide spot in the path, breathing hard, as Josh trotted up. Josh looked around desperately. "Where can we go?" he groaned. "They're waitin' down at the bottom for us." Cap glanced back up the ledges from where they had come. "One thing's sure, we can't go back up there." Then he pointed, his face lighting up. "Maybe off there." From where they stood, the mountain slope was mild enough that they might be able to leave the trail, strike downhill away from the thieves by the helicopter, and still reach the canyon floor. |