MYDOGSINTHENORTHLAND

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MYDOGSINTHENORTHLANDBy

EGERTONRYERSONYOUNGAUTHOROF“ONTHEINDIANTRAIL,”“THEAPOSTLEOFTHENORTH,”“THREEBOYSIN

THEWILDNORTHLAND,”ETC.

NewYorkFLEMINGH.REVELLCOMPANY

©1902/2018

LutheranLibrary.org

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CopyrightInformation

Copyright©2018byTheLutheranLibraryPublishingMinistryLutheranLibrary.org

Allrightsreserved.

Whiletheoriginaltextisinthepublicdomain,theformattingandcontentsofthisvolumeareundercopyright.

Pleaserespectthelaborthathasgoneintotherestorationofthiswork.

OriginallyPublished1902byTheFlemingH.RevellCompany,NewYork,Chicago,andToronto.

Unabridged.

225–v3r1

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Dedication

ToMyDearWifeandChildren,–partnerswithmeinmanyofthesceneshereinrelated.

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Contents

CopyrightInformation

Contents

Introduction

I.MyEskimoOrHuskieDogs

II.WithWildEskimoDogsUnderTheAuroras

III.RobberDogsAndAnIndianCouncil

IV.Jack,TheGiantSt.Bernard

V.Jack.AndManyThingsConcerningHim

VI.JackTriumphantInTheBlizzard

VII.JackInCivilization

VIII.Cuffy,TheBeautifulNewfoundlandDog

IX.Voyageur,TheMatchlessLeader

X.Voyageur,TheBroken-hearted

XI.RoverI,TheSuccessfulDogDoctor

XII.RoverII,AlsoCalledKimo

XIII.Muff,TheAffectionateMotherDog

XIV.Caesar,TheCleverRascal

XV.Koona,TheEskimoLeader

XVI.TravelingWithDogsInNorthernWilds

XVII.StillOnTheTrailWithTheDogs

XVIII.OurDogsInSummerTime

XIX.CuiBono?[Forwhosebenefit?]

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AbouttheAuthor

AbouttheLutheranLibraryPublishingMinistry

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Introduction

AllthedogsofwhichIherewritearedead.WasitnotSirWalterScottwhosaid,“Ihatetoloveadog,helivessoshortalife?”YetSirWalterdidlovedogswithraredevotion,asthetraditionsofAbbotsford,aswellasmuchthathehimself haswritten, affirm.When a lad Iwas not allowed to keep a dog.Myfather in his earlymanhood days saw aman smothered to death between twogreat feather beds because he was a hopeless victim of hydrophobia [rabies],causedbythebiteofamaddog.Sonodogwasallowedinourhome.

Fortunatelyforusboys,orratherforthedogs,we(andtherewereonlysevenof us)were all very fond of these prohibited animals, andwere ever ready tolendourjackknivesorskatestoanyneighboringboyifhewouldonlyletusplaywithhisdog.

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Itwasamarvelous transitionfromthatcountryparsonagewhere the joyousbark of a canine friend, “The first to welcome, the foremost to defend,” wasnever heard, to thewild adventurous life in theNorthland. There, in the firstbusiness transaction with my predecessor, I was told that there were a dozendogsandpuppiesofHuskiebreed,outside,anxioustomakemyacquaintance!

Itisatritesayingthat“allthingscometohimwhowaits.”Itwascorrectinthiscaseanyway,for themanwhoasaboyhadperemptorilybeenrefusedthepossessionof the smallestpuppynowentered into theownershipof apackofcunning rascalswhowerequitecompetent to testhispatienceandsharpenhiswits.

IfinNature’sbroaddomainsthereisaplaceforeverything,wethinkthatthenaturalhomeofthelargedogisinthecoldNorthland.There,duringthoselong

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wintershecanworkandthusprovehisrighttoacomfortableliving.Amidsttheblizzardsof theArctic frostsoftenexposed tohardshipsandprivations thatnoothercreature thanmanandhimselfcouldstand, therehe thrives,andenduresandwithhismaster,triumphs.

Foryears,withgreatdogs, I toiledandoftenwith themwas ingreatperils.Muchofmyworkwasaccomplishedbytheiraid.SoIbelieveindogs,andhereinthisbookIhavewrittenofsomeofthemandtheirdeeds.

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I.MyEskimoOrHuskieDogs

They haunt me to this very day those Eskimo dogs! I wake upsometimes in thenightwitha start, for Ihavebeendreaming that the jealous,quarrelsomefellowswereoncemorefightingforwhatseemedtobethehonorofsleepingonmyhead.

Andyettheyweregooddogsfortheirwork,and,Isuppose,takethemallinall,theyhavebeenabletoperformwhatnootherdogsintheworldcouldhaveaccomplished.

Nansen, Greely, Kae, and many others have given unstinted praise to thecourage and endurance, as well as to the sagacity and intelligence of thesenortherndogs,thatgenerallyreceivemorekicksandcursesthancaressesorkindwords.Denizensof thoseArctic regions,whereachronicstateofstarvation isthenormalconditionofalltheinhabitants,wheremightisright,withbothmanandbeast,itishardlytobewonderedat,thatitisnexttoanimpossibilityevertoteachtheEskimodogtobehonest.Stealhewill,frompuppyhoodtooldage.

Thisweakness for appropriation,withmydogsof this breed, toput it thusmildly,wastheconstantcauseofmanyrowsandconflictswiththem.Itwastheultimate reason why, after some winters’ experience and efforts for theirreformation,Iatlengthbanishedthemfrommykennels,asfaraspossible,andfilledupmytrainswithSt.BernardsandNewfoundlandsoramixtureofbreedsinwhichthesepredominated.

StilltheseEskimo,orHuskiedogsfortheyaresometimescalledbyonenameandsometimesbytheother,havejustlywonforthemselvesanameandarecordthatwillcausethemtoholdahighplaceamonganimalsthathavebeenofrealservice to thehumanrace.But fewof themareeverkept formerepleasureorpastime. It is because they are so serviceable toman, and at times absolutelyinvaluabletohim,thattheydeservedlystandinsuchesteemwiththeadmirersofthecaninerace.

ThepureEskimodogisnotdevoidofbeauty.Hiscompactbody,wellfurred;hissharp-pointed,alert-lookingears;hisfoxlikemuzzle;hisgoodlegsandfirm,hard feet; his bushy tail, of which he often seems so proud; and his bright,

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roguisheyes,placehiminnomeanpositionamongtheotherdogsoftheworld.His colorvaries from thepurestwhite to jetblack. I owned two soabsolutelywhitethatnotacoloredhaircouldbefoundoneitherofthem.TheywerenamedKoonaandPa-qua-sha-kun,SnowandFlour,bytheIndians,onaccountoftheirspotlesswhiteness.

Afavoritecolorisakindoflightmouse-grey.Dogsofthiskindare,however,rare,butwhenobtained from thenativesareconsideredofgreater intelligencethanothersandarevaluedaccordingly.Stillthecolor,asageneralthing,isnotoften taken into consideration, or considered as evidence against the purity oftheirblood.

TheworkingweightofmyEskimodogsrangedfromsixtytoahundredandthirty pounds. It seemed rather remarkable that some of the lighter dogswerequiteequalindrawingpowertoothersthatwereverymuchlargerandheavier.Inmyfirstwinter’sexperiencewithdogsintheHudson’sBayTerritories,Iwasthefortunateorunfortunateowneroftwelveofthem.Itwasevidentfromtheirappearancethat,intheeyesofanexpert,theywouldnotallhavebeenclassedaspure bred Eskimo. Still there was enough of that breed in them to dominateeverythingelseandtocausethemtoactinthemostthoroughbredfashion.

Theyhad,incommonwithallotherdogsandtherewerehundredsofthemintheIndianvillagewhereweresidedthehabitofsettingupthemostdiscordanthowlingsthreeorfourtimesduringthenight,especiallyinthewintermonths.

These strange, weird howlings would begin at about nine o’clock. At thathourthepeopleweregenerallyintheirlittlehousesorwigwams,andtheplacewas as quiet asmidnight. Then suddenlywould break on the stillness of thatwintrynight,thedistantwolf-likehowlingsofanEskimodog.

Atfirstitsoundedveryeerie-like,andnotunmusical.ItseemedwhenheardfarawaylikeasuccessionofO-O-O-O’s,longdrawnout,risingandfallingonthe clear frosty air.This alonewould not have been annoying, but the troublewas,itwasthesignalforeverydogwithinhearingandthereweremultitudesoftheminthosedaysofabundanceoffishtotakeupthedolefulnotesandaddtothemeverysoundinadog’sgamut.Thenforafewminutestherewasthemostear-splittingdin thatevermortalsheard.From thedeepvoicesof theolddogsdown to the comical yelps of the little puppies, the air was charged andsurchargedwith all manner of noises, musical and otherwise, that it is in thepowerofdogstomake.Atfirstitnearlydroveuswild.Mydozendogswerejustasbadastheothers.Whenthenerve-breakingdinbegan,vainlywouldIrushoutamong them,armedwith the firstweapons thatcame tohand. Itmadenot the

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slightest difference for howl, roar, squeal, yelp, bark, and make other soundsindescribable theywould,until the spellwasover, even if assailedwith clubs,whips,boot-jacks,inkbottles,whitefish,orwhateverelsecamefirsttohand.Ataboutmidnightthesehorridchoruseswererepeatedandthenagainataboutthreeo’clockinthemorning.

WhenI firstmentionedthisstrangehabitof thosedogs to thegentlemenofthe Hudson’s Bay Trading Company, and spoke of the annoyance theyoccasioned,theyonlylaughedandreplied,“Oh,youwillgetusedtoitandthennevernoticeit.”Andsoitwas,impossiblethoughitseemed.Inafewweekswepeacefully slept while, like fiends just outside our window, these brutes werehowling their loudest, as if in rivalry to the scores of other packs all aroundthem.

IfancyImighthavehadmoreloveforthoseEskimoanimalsifbytraining,coaxing, petting, feeding or punishing, I could have succeeded in conqueringtheir thievishhabits.But itwasanutter impossibility.Steal theyalwayswouldanddid.Anythingeatable,andmanythingsconsidereduneatable,theycouldnotpass by. I have known them to leave their supper ofwhitefish to go and tearsmoked moose-skin moccasins down from a clothes-line and greedily devourthem.An old leather shirtwas considered a daintymorsel, and at times thereseemedtobemorethanevenpoeticjusticeinthefactthat,iftheycouldfindthewhipofacrueldriver, theyspeedilydevouredthelash,evenif itweretenfeetlongandonlymadeofbraidedbuckskinandloadedwithshot!

Sometimeswhenonajourney,andahaltwascalledforarestorameal,iftheIndiandriverswerenotonthealertsomeof thedogswhileapparentlyresting,wouldbeeatingthetracesorharnessofthedogscuddledclosebesidethem.

MygoodwifeandIgottiredoflivingonwhitefishtwenty-onetimesaweekforsixmonthsoftheyear,asourprincipalarticleoffood,andthentheothersixmonthshavingthesamearticleoffoodonlyvariedbythegameofthecountry,such as wild cats, muskrats, rabbits, beaver, venison, snowbirds, and otherthings,with a limited supplyof flour, tainted sometimeswith coal oil. Soonesummer, when I was going into what was then known as the Red RiverSettlement, the goodwife said tome: “Whynot buy a sheep fromone of thesettlersandbringitoutinyourboat?Wecankeepithereinthisstockadedyardwhere there isplentyofgrassuntil thecoldweather.Then itcanbekilledandthefrostwillkeepitaslongasdesired.Alittlemuttonoccasionallywouldbeanagreeable change in our bill of fare, and it would also remind us a little ofcivilization.”

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This was a capital suggestion, and so, when the time came, I put it intoexecution.

I had no difficulty in buying a fine, large sheep; and my friendly Indianboatmancheerfullypreparedasafe,comfortableplacefor it in thesternof theboat.Ipurchasedagoodsickle,andeverynightwhenwecampedontheshore,Ifoundlittletroubleinsecuringabundanceofwildluxuriantgrassformysheep.Withoutanyaccidentwesucceededinreachingmydistantnorthernhome.

Thesheepwasdulyplacedinthewell-stockadedyardandseemedperfectlysafefromeitherprowlingwolvesorviciousEskimodogs.

Thestockadesweremadeofyoungsprucetrees.Thebarkwaspeeledoffandthey were securely set in a trench dug in the ground. They were from eightinchestoafootindiameter,andfromtwelvetofifteenfeetinheight.Theywereplacedasneartogetheraspossible,andallsecurelyspikedtocross-barsontheinside.

Yet,inspiteofalltheeffortsmadeforthesafetyofmysheep,mynativedogssucceeded in getting in one night. Like wolves they speedily devoured poorNannie,muchtooursorrowandannoyance.Theroguish,cunningrascals!ThenextmorningaftertheyhadthusfeastedonmymuttonthatIhadbroughtwithsuchcarefourhundredmiles, theyprudentlykeptatadistancefromme.Theywouldsitupontheirhaunchesandletmecomewithinaboutahundredfeetofthembut,“Nonearer,thankyou,”theyseemedtosay.Cleverfellows,theyknewtheydeservedagood thrashing,but theyseemed to think itbest toputoff theevildayuntilthemasterhadinameasuregotoverhisangerandwouldbemorelenientinhispunishment.

Wisedogswere they.ForasIcouldnotgetmyhandsuponthemtopunishthem the day the crimewasdiscovered, I did not punish themwhen I did getholdofthem.Iargued,Ithinkjustly,thattheywouldnothavehadtheslightestidea of the reason why they were being chastised. So by prudently keepingbeyondmyreachfortwenty-fourhours,theyescapedaltogether.

Disappointed,butnotdiscouraged,inthisattempttohavesomemuttonforanoccasionalmealinthatgreatNorthland,InexttriedtoseewhatIcoulddowithsomepigs.So thenextsummer,whenImademyannual trip to theRedRiverSettlement, Ibought fromaflourishingfarmeracoupleof littlepigs thatwereperhaps four or five months old. At a mill in the Settlement I purchased aquantity of ground pease and meal and away we started on our homewardjourney.

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Without any mishap we safely reached our destination. Improvements hadbeenconstantlygoingonandIhadalreadybuiltanewlogstable.Init,neartothestallsofmycowsforInowhadtwoofthesevaluableanimals,Ipreparedastrong pen for my little porkers. The lively little fellows were there safelyplaced,andasthedoorofthestablewasmadeoftwo-inchspruceplank,Ifeltthatwewerefairlysureofhavingsomenicefreshporkforthecomingwinter.

Vain prognostications!Whatwas a single door of sprucewood against thesharpteethofadozenEskimodogs!

Ihadnoticedhowalert andnervous thedogseverwerewhen it camenearfeeding time for the little pigs, as they, in the usual manner of their kind,expresseditbytheirlivelysquealingfortheirsupperofsourmilkandmeal.

Asthedayswentby,andnoveryseriouseffortshadbeenmadebythedogstogetintothestable,IbegantofeelthatIhadtheupperhandthistimeandtheywerenottotriumphoverme,astheyhadinthematterofthesheep.

IconfessIwastwoorthreetimesdisturbedsomewhat,ongoingtofeedthepigs, tofindthat inseveralplaces thedogshadwith theirsharp teeth, tornoutthe heavy pieces of wood that had been firmly fastened in between the greatlogs.However,asthatonlyleftthematthebest,aspaceoftwoorthreeincheswide, theywere stillpowerless todoanyharm,and so Ionly laughedat theiruseless toil. Iwasalso interested innoticing thateverymorning therewere somanywell-defineddog tracks around the stable. Itwas evident that theywerenotidleandsotookthesatisfactionwhenitwasdark,togoand,asweusedtosay,atleasthaveagoodsmellofthepigs.

Alasforourboastings!OnemorningwhenIwasgoingouttoseemypiggies,whichforweekshadbeengrowingsofamously,IwasmetbyanIndian,who,inthequiet,coolmannerofhispeople,said,“IthinkyouneednottroubleyourselforhaveMartinbothertowasteanymorefoodonthepigs.”

AwayIhurried.TherebeforemewasMartin,myfaithfulmanofallwork,atthestable.Inthepenbutlittlewasleftofthepigs.Inacornerofthestable,withheadsbloodyand tempers roused,were someofmyEskimodogs.MartinhadcaughtthematthisfeastandhadwiselyblockedtheirwayuntilIshouldarrive.

Keeping a watch on the dogs that were now wild to escape, we made aninvestigation of themanner in which they had won their victory over us thissecond time.Martin,whenattending tohismorningwork,had found thedoorsecurelyfastenedasusual,butrightthroughthosespruceplanksthosedogshadcuttheirwaywiththeirteeth.Theymusthaveworkedinturnsandatagooddealof discomfort to themselves, asmany of the slivers torn offwere quite tinged

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with blood. Yet with all themad frenzy of their natures, when aroused, afterundoubtedlylayingtheirplanstosucceedinthisway,theyhadthustriumphed.The cunning fellows selected a dark, wild, stormy night. We afterwardrememberedhowthewindshadhowledandragedandhadsoaidedthem.Thusthe noise theymust necessarily havemade in their cutting and tearing at thatwood, and their attack upon the pigs, had not been heard even by any of theIndians,althoughsomeof theirdwellingplaceswerenotfardistant.Disgustedandannoyed,Iturnedaway.

“Shallwepunishthedogs?”askedMartin.“Do as you like,” I replied, “butwhat goodwill it do them? Such is their

nature and I amgoing to get rid of them as soon as possible.There are otherkindsofdogswithnoneoftheirmiserableways,andIamgoingtohavethemifmoneyorfriendscansecurethem.”

AtonceIreturnedtothehouse.WhetherMartingavethemathrashingornot,I never inquired. My efforts for the uplifting and the reformation of Eskimodogs, as a class, then and there ceased. I had individual dogs afterward that Icould trustwhen inharness,or tiedsecurely toa treeorpost,but thatwas theextentofmyuseforthem.

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II.WithWildEskimoDogsUnderTheAuroras

“Comeatonce,andcomeasquicklyasyoucan, for Ihave takenanoverdoseofquinineandamafraidIwilldieofhydrophobia!”

SuchwastheuniqueandstartlingcommunicationthatwasbroughttomeonewintrydaybyanIndianhunterfromanIndiansettlementtwohundredmilesaway.

The writer of it was an Indian native helper, who had been placed intemporaryoversightofamissionstationuntilanordainedmissionarycouldbesecuredtotakefullchargeoftheplace.Thisnativeworkerwasnotdestituteofabilityorzeal,buthehadhad themisfortune togetholdofamedicalvolumethatgavearathervividdescriptionofmanyoftheillstowhichthehumanframeissubject.TheIndian,whohadquiteagoodknowledgeoftheEnglishlanguage,read this book with a feeling of horror. He was fascinated by it. It nearlyfrightenedhimoutofhiswits.Hefanciedhewasthepossessorofnearlyeverydiseasethereindescribed.

WithallthemedicineswithwhichIhadfurnishedhimtohealthesicknessesof his people, he liberally dosed himself, until from their effects upon himhereallybecamesick.This,ofcourse,addedtohishorrorandalarm.Heneglectedhiswork and spent his time in feeling his pulse, looking at his tongue in theglass, and industriously dosing himself with every variety of drugs in hispossession.Theclimaxwasreachedwhenhetookanoverdoseofquinine.Theword“hydrophobia,”tohimincomprehensible,seemedatthetimeafittingwordto,representhisfears,aswellashisfeelings,andhencetheremarkableepistlefromhimtome,whichbeginsthischapter.

As speedily as possible I prepared three trains of dogs. Our sleds wereheavilyloaded,principallywithfoodsuppliesforthisIndianandhishousehold.

I secured a capital Indian guide,whose dutywas to run on his snowshoesaheadofourdogs,toindicatethedirection.Therewasbutlittlevestigeofaroad,

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asfrequentblizzardstormssweptthroughthosenorthernwastesandforestsandobliteratedanytrailthatmighthavebeenmadebypassinghunters.

Asiscustomaryandessentialintravelingwithdogsinthatcountry,wehadwith us on our sleds our kettles, provisions, bedding, guns and everythingabsolutelyessential to livingout in theopenair, independentof therestof theworld.We did not see a house on the whole route and only met with a fewhunters through whose hunting grounds we passed. Three times when nightovertookuswemadeourcampinthewoodsandtheresleptwithnoroofoverus.

Abundanceoffurrobesandwarmblanketsmadeourwintrybedsunderthestars.We spent the nights as bestwe could. Sometimes as therewe slept, thecloudsaroseandfromthemaheavyfallofsnowsilentlycovereduslikeagreatwarmblanket,andaddedmuchtoourcomfort.

After various adventures and mishaps, incident to such lands and suchmethodsoftravel,wereachedthesouthernendofalakeaboutthirtymileslong.On the northern end of this lake was situated the mission where lived myhypochondriacal Indian, towards whose house we were traveling. As it wasaboutsundownwhenwecameinsightofthelake,andtherewasabundanceofgoodwoodforawintercamp,wetheredecidedtospendthenightandgooninthemorning.However,erewehadunharnessedourdogs,weheardtheshoutsofIndiansandthemerryjinglingofdogbells.

Itdidnottakelongformymentonotifythesestrangersofourpresence,andveryspeedilywewerejoinedbythem.Tooursurprisewefoundthatthepartyconsistedofmyafflicted friendandacoupleof Indiandogdrivers.Theyeachhadatrainofverylargeandfierce-lookingEskimodogs.Onmyexpressingmypleasure and satisfaction at seeinghim somuchbetter than I had expected, inviewofhisletter,herepliedthatthemedicinebookhadtoldhimthathisdiseasewouldrunitscourseinsomanydays,andsohethoughtthatwhileitwasdoingsohewouldjustrunupandseemeaboutit.

MyIndiancompanions,whomIhadtoldoftheprobablyimaginarycharacterofhis ills,wantedasdidI, to laughathim,butwemanagedtokeepourfacesstraightwhilehetoldusofthevariousdiseasesthathadassailedhimsincewehadseenhimsixmonthsbefore.

I comforted him with the assurance that I had not only food and othersuppliesinmydog-sledsforhim,butmedicinethatwouldspeedilydriveoutofhimallofhisdiseases.ThislatterpieceofinformationsodelightedhimthatheatonceproposedthatIshouldgivethemedicinetohimthenandthere.

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However,thiswasnotmyplanforcuringsuchacaseofimaginarysickness,and so I decided that it would be much more effective and thorough, if wewaiteduntilwereturnedtohishome.ThisdidnotsatisfyhimandthenIhadtotellhimthatImust insistondelay.Asacompromise,however, itwasdecidedthat after a good supper at the camp fire, now brightly burning, we wouldcontinuethejourneyinsteadofcampingthereforthenight.

Thetrailmostofthewayhadbeenverydifficult.Ourloadswereheavyandourdogsweresotiredthattheywereinnohumorforrapidtraveling.Itseemedalmostcrueltopushon,butthisman,withallhisimaginaryills,couldnotthinkofdelay.

Tojudgebyhisappearanceandenergeticactionshewasthehealthiestmaninthe crowd. My Indians would have objected to continuing the journey if thestalwart Indianhadnot soeloquentlydetailedhismultitudinous troubles.So itwas resolved that we should go on, and as the lake was covered with fairlysmoothice,thetravelingwouldnowbemucheasierforthedogs.

Thefrozenlakesandriversalwaysgiveusourbestroadsfordogtraveling.On the sick man’s discovering that I had my medicines with me in my owncariole [carriage],hemadeaproposition toexchangedog trainswithmefor thathomerun.Thiswasthecauseofanexcitingadventureandmuchtrouble.

Hisdogswerelarge,powerfulEskimos,fullofvitalityandmischief.Hehadabundanceoffishandsohisdogswereinasfineconditionassuchdogscouldbe.Fordays theyhadbeenkept tiedup inpreparationfor this long journeyoftwohundredmiles,onwhichhehadstarted.Thethirtymilesrunontheicefromhis home to this place, where we hadmet, had really only limbered up suchanimalsfortheirwork.

Our sleds were all repacked, with some of the heaviest bundles placed onthoseoftheseIndianswhohadmetus.Mytireddogswereunfastenedfrommycariole,andintheirplace,wasattachedthetrainoffourfierceEskimos.

Myownfaithful, cautiousguide,ashecarefully tucked thewarmfur robesaround me in the cariole, handed me a heavy dog whip and said that in allprobability I would have to use it, if those dogs found out that they weredragging awhiteman. Thiswhip had a heavy oak handle, less than two feetlong,whiletheheavy,well-shottedlashwasoverfifteenfeetinlength.

Thesickman,theownerofthesedogs,ashestraightenedthemoutinthetrailontheicewiththeirfacestowardshome,saidtome:

“Nowdonotspeakawordandtherewillbenotrouble.Theywillrunyoutomyhomeinlessthanthreehours.Theywillkeeponthetrailwehavemadein

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comingontheiceeveniftherehasbeenbutlittlesnowinwhichtomarkit.Theydonotlikewhitepeople,butifyoudonotspeaktothem,intheiranxietytogethome,theywillneversuspect.”

IlookedthefiercebrutesoverandthensoplacedmyheavywhipthatIcouldinstantly seize it, ifnecessary, andmadeupmymind that Iwas in forawild,excitingride.

Itwasamagnificentnight.The sunhadgonedown inunclouded splendor,and now the stars were shiningwith a beauty and clearness that only can bewitnessedwhere there isabsolutelynofog,ormist,ordamp.The intensecoldhad cleared away all such obstructions. Before me was the great frozen lakestretching away and far beyond the distant horizon.Tomy inexperienced eye,therewasonthaticyexpansenotthevestigeofaroad.Yetduringthelonghoursofthisintenselycoldnight,withoutasinglehumancompanion,IwasgoingtotrustmyselftothecareoffourEskimoanimals,torunmethirtymilestoalonelyloghouseonthedistantshore.Duringthoselonghours,Iwasneithertocough,norspeakasingleword,forfearoftrouble,orperhapsafiercebattlewiththesesavagebrutesand,ifitshouldtakeplace,whocouldtellwhichsidewouldwinintheconflict?NowondermyspiritsroseandIfeltthatthiswasindeedatripofnoordinaryinterest.

Withtheconsolatorywordsofmyguidethat,afterrestingthewearydogsforanhourortwo,theywouldfollowinmytrail,andwiththehopethattheywouldfindme safe at the end,my adventurous journeywas suddenly begun by theownerofthedogsapplyinghislongwhiplashtothem,whichofcoursestartedthemoffonafuriousgallop.

Itwasindeedagloriousride.Thewell-traineddogsweresplendidlymatched,andsoinperfectunisontheydashedalong.Mycariolewasabouttenfeetlongandeighteenincheswide.Itsbottomwasmadeofinchoakboardsanditssideswereofparchment. I satwellback in the rearendandwassowellmuffled infurs that onlymy eyeswere visible. So narrowwasmy cariole that a certainamountofbalancingwasnecessarywhendashingoveroccasional snow-drifts,whichattimesarefoundevenoutonthegreatfrozenlakes.ButIhadbecomeusedtothiswork,andsohadnofearofanupset,Foraboutfifteenmileswethusspedon.Thedogswouldsometimesdropintoaswifttrotandthenagainresumetheir rapid gallop. Theywere on the home stretch, and so required no furtherincentivetourgethemalong.

Itwasauniquerideandexhilaratingintheextreme.Toaddtothesplendorofthestarryheavensthewondrousauroracamedancingandflashingandblazing

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upbeforemeinthenorthernsky.Itformedintogreatarmieswhichfoughtouttheghostlybattleswithno rude sounds todisturb thenorthern solitudes.Thenwhenapparentlysatisfiedwith thisperformance theyrolledacross theheavensingreat ribbonsof light, fromwhich theyflungout longflagsofpurestwhite,whichseemedasflagsoftrucefromheaventoearth.Thensuddenly,withalltherapidityofelectricalphenomena, theychanged topinkandyellowand then toblood-redcrimsonuntil thewholeheavens seemedaglowwithvivid colors sointense that the snowyparticleson the ice caught the reflection, andwhenwedashed through them it seemed as though they were pools of the blood ofthousandsslain.Thenagaintherewasanothertransformation;andnowasfromthe regions of departed spirits, noiselessly flitted into dim vision the ghostlyforms of multitudes clad in purest white or in robes of pink or yellow. Inrhythmicmeasure, they danced along, just above the horizon and thenwith asudden bound, they flew up into the heavens above us, only pausing in themidwaycourseforasecond, toflashout insomemoregloriouscoloror tobechangedintoformsofmoreravishingbeauty.Whenthezenithwasreachedthegrandesttransformationofalltookplace.Forherecamewholemultitudesfromthosewho seeminglyhadbeenengaged in thecarnivalofblood, to thewhite-robed innocent and unstained spirits of light, In myriads they came, and asthougheveryoneknewitsplacetheyrapidlyformedintheveryzenithaboveusthe crowning glory of the auroral displays, the perfect corona, the grandestvisiontheeyeofmanevergazedupon.Howitscintillatedandblazedaboveus,acrownofsplendor,afitdiademforHim,“onwhoseheadaremanycrowns!”Then,asthewholecoronablazedoutinequalbrightness,theshadowofmydogswas thrown completely under them. These ghostly shadows seemed to startleand stimulate their pace, as, to the solemusicof their little bells, they rapidlysped along. They seemed also to startle something else, for out from a rockyislandonour left, theredasheda splendidblack fox.Hewas indeedabeauty,and sovividwas theAurora that Ihadavery fineviewofhim, ashe rapidlyhurriedacrossourtrailandstruckoutforawell-wooded,rockyisland,perhapshalfamileonourright.

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Thesightofhimverymuchexcitedmydogs.Home,andtheircomradesandkennels,wereforthetimeforgotten,andawayfromthehometrailtheydashedinwild,excitementafterthatfox.Howfartheywouldruninthepursuit,Icouldnot tell, but everymomentwas taking us farther from the trail, and if itwereoncelost,couldwefinditagain?

ThusIhadtodoalotofthinkinginaveryshorttimeandquicklydecidewhattodo.Wehad comeabout half of thedistance and therebeing at least fifteenmilesyettorun,itwasnotsafetobemadlyracingafterafoxoutonthisgreatlake. So I resolved to break the silence, and to turn the dogs into the homestretch,evenifIhadtofightthem.Thepreparationsnecessarywerenotmany.Quicklybracingmyselfonmykneeswithmyrobeswellaroundme,IgrippedtheheavywhipsothatIcould,ifnecessary,usethehandleofitasaclub.ThenIsternlyshoutedtothedogsinIndianlanguagetostopandthenturntotheleft.The instant theyheardmyvoice, they did stop, and that so suddenly, thatmyrapidlymovingcariolewentslidingonandpassedthereardogofthetrain,asfarashis traceswouldallow.Then theycame forme furiously.The leaderof thetrainwasthefiercestofthefour,andheledintheattack.

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Itwascertainlywell forme thathedid so, for swinging theothersaround,broughtthemallintosuchapositionthatonlyoneatatimecouldreachme.Iamleft-handed,andso,ashesprangatme,Iguardedmyfacewithmyrighthandwellwrapped in furs,while I belabored himover the headwith the oakwhiphandle.Threeor fourwell administeredblowswere all heneeded, andwith ahowlhedroppedonthe icewhile thenextonein the train triedhisbest togetholdofme.Onefortunatecliponthesideofhisheadsenthimtumblingoveronhisleader,andthenIhadtofacethethirdoneofthetrain.

Heproved theugliest customerof all, and Ineverbefore imaginedadog’sheadcouldtakesuchapommelingerehewouldgivein.Failingtogetholdofme,hetoretherobesandparchmentsideofthecariole.Itwaswellformethatthetracesofthefourthdog,fastenedtothefrontofthecariole,soheldhimback,that he was unable to domore than savagely growl at me, while he at timesfastened his teeth into everything within reach. His efforts however kept the

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carioletwistinginamosterraticfashion,andsoIhadtokeepupthefightandatthesametimelookwelltomybalancesoasnottobeupset.

With the third dog conquered, I uncoiled the long lash of the whip andshouting“Marche!”Ivigorouslyandpromiscuouslyused iton them.Theydidnot wait for many applications but speedily sprang to their feet. The leaderwheeledaroundtotheleftandawaytheyflew.Atfirsttheyseemedtangledupinthe traces, but trained dogs are wonderfully clever in straightening out fromthesemixupsandsoitwasthen.Ontheyspedtotheleftuntiltheirsharpscentatonceindicatedwhenthehometrailwasreached,andthehomewardjourneywasresumed. Ihadnohesitancy in speakingnow.Asmyvoice inunisonwith thepistol-likereportsof thewhiprangout, theyshowednomoredesireforbattle,butadesperateresolvetoreachhomeasspeedilyaspossible.

Buterethejourneyended,theyplayedmeashabbytrick,andinameasuregot their revengeonme.At thebottomof thehill,onwhich thehouseof thisnativeagentwasbuilt,hehaddugatrenchandtherefixedaheavystockadetobreaktheforceofthewildstormsthat,sweepingoverthelake,driftedthesnowaround his home.This stockadewas fifteen or eighteen feet high. The stormshad so piled up the snowon the lake side that itwas now levelwith the top;whileovertheothersidetherewasadriftofonlyaboutfiveorsixfeetindepth.

Therewasaregulardogtrailaroundbythegatetothehouse,but,ofcourse,Iknewnothingofthis.Thedogsknew,however,andwerealwaysaccustomedtouseit.Butthisnight,asthoughfuriousandrevengefulatthewhitemanwhohadconquered them,whenwe arrivedwithin a fewyards of the house, instead oftakingtheusualroutetheydashedupthislongpackedsnowdriftonthelakesidecarryingmeoverthehighstockadeintothedriftsbeyond.Itwasamadleapof

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overtenfeet.Fortunatelythesnowintowhichweplungedwasdeepenoughtobreakthefall,but,asitwas,Ifelttheeffectsofitforweeks.Withavengeancethedogsstruggledoutofthesnowdrift.Thenupthehilltheyhurriedmetothehouse.Sharpearshadheardourcomingandfamiliarhandsgraspedthedogsandledthemaway,whileIwas,byahalf-frightenedwoman,takenintothemissionhome amongher alarmed little ones,who required any amount of explanationwhyapalefacehadcomeinthatwaywiththeirfather’sdogs.

I was thankful to be under a roof once more, and after a time was able,especially by the presents which I had brought, to make friends of all thehousehold.

Therestofthepartyarrivedduringthenight.Themedicinesadministeredtothesickmanprovedefficaciousandhe,atthisdate,isstillaliveandvigorous.

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III.RobberDogsAndAnIndianCouncil

The contrast between the old experienced guides, with whom Imademost of my journeys, and the inexperienced Indians, whom I was sometimesobligedtotakewithme,wasverygreatindeed.Thebestguideswerenotalwaysavailable.Theyweregreathuntersandwereoftenawayintheirdistanthuntinggrounds.TheywerealsoindemandbythegreatHudson’sBayCompany,whichrequired the very best guides for the prosecution of theirwidely extended furtrade.Theresultwas,thatIwassometimesobligedtostartwithmenwhoknewbutverylittlemoreofthedutiesrequiredofthemthanIdidmyself.

Suchtripswouldbespeciallyunfortunate,if,asitsometimeshappened,Iwascompelledtomakeuseofthesemenwhenvariousdiseaseshadmadesadhavocamongmydogsandthesurvivorshadbeensohardlyworkedandhadsufferedsomuch,thatitwouldhavebeencrueltysosoontoputthemonthetrailagain.Theresultwas,thatwhilegivingmydogsarestattimes,Ihadtohirenotonlyincompetentguides,butalsotrainsofnativedogsthatoftensorelytriedme.

AqueerlotofIndianstheywere.ButIbecameinterestedinthemassoonasthey stated the reason of their coming. They were a deputation from thenorthwestern side of LakeWinnipeg, and they had been sent to askme to gooverandmeetthemincouncil,andadvisethem,asIhaddoneotherIndianswhohadmadetreatieswiththeGovernment.

The great in-rush of white settlers and adventurers into Manitoba and theNorthwest Territories, in the early [eighteen] seventies, greatly troubled theIndians. They feared that in spite of all the fair promisesmade to them, theywere in danger of losing their lands, the hunting-grounds of their forefathers,without a fair compensation.Puttingourselves in their places,wecan see thattheyhadmuch toperplexand trouble them.Theyused tocome tome in theirbewilderment and askme to explainmany of the singular, and to themmostincomprehensible,doingsofthesestrange“palefaces.”Sometimestodrawthem

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out and hear their quaint way of putting things, I would ask for definiteinformation as to the actions of the “palefaces,” who had so sadly unsettledthem.

They were not slow to tell me what they had seen, and as I listened Iwondered if the busy enterprising white man, as he was rushing hither andthitherthroughthatthenwildcountrywheretherightsoftheIndianswerestillunquestioned, ever knew how often sharp eyeswere upon him, behindwhichwasasuspiciousredIndian,inwhosehandswasatrustygun.

Thattheseredmenremainedsoquiet,bothontheprairiesandintheforests,considering the numbers of greedy adventurerswho invaded their abodes, eretreatiesweremadewith themand their rights assured, redoundsverymuch totheircredit.

“Weseehim,”saidone,"thatpalefacewithhis littlepan,andhegoupanddownourriversandlakes,andhestopontheshoresandheputsandinthatpan,andhewhirl it roundand round so fast that someof the sandkeep flyingoutwiththewater.Thenwhenonlylittleleftinthebottomofthatpan,thatmanputsitonwhitepaperandhelooksatitforsometimethroughlittleroundthingshetakesoutofhispocket.Thenhethrowsitallawayandthenhetriesagain,andthen he goes somewhere else and tries same as this, and then when night iscomingonandhethrowshislastsandaway,hesaysbadwordsandgoesbacktohiscamp.

“Thensomeotherdayanotherwhitemancomesintoourcountry,andtherebethree,fourofthem.Andtheypitchtheirtentbythegreatrockswherethereare some linesofwhite rockmixedwith the rest.There somedays thesemenwith their hammers and chisels, hammer and break away pieces of thiswhiterock[quartz].Thentheybreakitupfineandtheydomanythingswithit,allverystrangetous.Thentheytryinsomemoreplacesallaroundtheircampandsomeeven gomiles away, looking for this white rock, and they bring to the campsome loads of it on their backs.They then allwork at it andwhen done theythrowitallaway,and then theysaysomemorebadwords,and then they takedowntheirtentandgosomewhereelse.”

I listened to these andother recitals of their perplexities, and assured themthat the Government of the Queen, through the Governor-General, would seethatherIndiansubjectswerehonorablydealtwith,andthatthesepushingwhitemen would not be allowed to rob them of their mines, fisheries, forests orwaterfalls.

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Mywordswerereceivedwithgreatsatisfaction,especiallywhentheyfoundout that I had already assisted another tribe in helping them to make anadvantageoustreatywiththeGovernment.

Theyweresovery importunate that Ishouldcomeandtellat theircouncil-fire,alltheseassuringthingsthatIhadtopromisetomakethemaspeedyvisit.Theywerehighlyelated,thatisforIndians,withthesuccessoftheirvisit,andhavingreceivedsomegifts,theyspeedilyreturnedtotheirdistanthome.

MyfieldofworkwasalreadyextendedoveranareaequaltoallEngland,andthisnewplace,fromwhichthisdelegationhadcome,wasquitebeyondwhatIhadconsideredmyfield.Butthepromisehadbeengivenanditmustbefulfilled.

I had someout-stationson thewestern sideofLakeWinnipeg at that date,andsoIresolvedtomakeatour,whichwouldincludeallmywork,andenableme, at the same time, tomeet these disturbed Indians and quiet their fears inreferencetotheirlands.

Thedistemperhadkilledoffanumberofmydogs,andothershadsufferedseverely inaveryhard journey justended;so inhiringmyIndiancomrades, Inotonlyengagedthreewhoknewthatwesterncountry,butIalsohiredthreeoftheir dog-trains as well. This gave my own dogs a much needed rest, but Imissedthemmuchbeforethetripended.

We carriedwith us abundant supplies, forwewere going into new regionsandwere none too sure as to the condition or abundance of the food at thoseplaces.Reindeerhadbeenkilledingoodlynumbersthatwinter,bymyIndians,soIhadalargebagofvenisoncookedforthislongtrip.Atwo-bushelbagoffat,nutritious bunswas also prepared. These,with the usual supplies of themoresubstantialfood,madeusunusuallypleasedwithouroutfit.

Weleftourhomeveryearlyinthemorningandwithourfreshdogsmadeacapitalday’srun,consideringourheavyloads.Wemadeourcampintheforeston the eastern shore of the lake, in the snow where a dense balsam groveaffordedusprotectionfromthebitingcoldwind.

Longerethestarshadfadedbeforethelightofthecomingdaywewereonourway.Wewerenowcrossingthegreatlakeandwerespeciallyanxioustogettotheothersideerenightshouldovertakeus.Soverywideisthisgreatlake,atthe place where we were crossing, that it requires many hours of rapid dogtraveling tomake the journey from shore to shore.About half-way acrosswestruck a little island, on whichwe found a few dead trees, still standing.Wequicklycutdowntwoorthreeofthemandsoonhadagoodfireofburninglogs,atwhichamuchenjoyeddinnerwaspreparedandeaten.Thejourneywasthen

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resumedandrapidlydidwepushon,inourendeavortoreachthewesternshoreintimetomakeourcampthereintheforestbeforethedarknessfelluponus.Toourgreatdisappointment,awintryhazesettleddownbetweenusandthedistantshore.Whilewewere still able to continue our journey, the Indian attendantsbecame quite bewildered, and missed by some miles, the place at which wewished to strike the land.Darkness fell upon us before the Indian running onaheadwasable to announce thatwehad reached the shore.We found thatwehadarrivedataplacewherethebold,highbanksroseupperpendicularlyfromthewater,nowofcourse,convertedintosolidice.

Aftersomefruitlessattemptstofindaplacewhereitwaspossibletoclamberupwithourdogtrainsintotheforestabove,wegaveuptheprospectofhavingadecent camp in thewoods that night and beganmakingwhat preparationswecouldtospendthenightthereontheice.Fortunatelyforus,thebankswereofclay,andthefiercestormsofmanysummershadsoeatenintothem,thatmanytrees,growingonthetop,hadhadthesoilsowashedawayfromtherootsthattheyhad fallenheadlong to theshorebeneath.Hereamidst the snowdrifts thathadaccumulatedandnearlyburiedthesefallentreesoutofsight,wevigorouslypliedouraxesandcutoutaquantityoflogsandbrancheswithwhichtomakeafire.

Inordertomakeafireontheice,thatwillcontinueburninglongenoughforthe cookingof a supper, and the thawingout of frozen fish forourdogs, it isnecessaryfirsttolayafoundationoflogs,thegreenerandthemoredifficulttoburn thebetter,onwhich theactual firecanbebuilt,Thesupplyofwoodwaslimited,orratherverydifficulttoobtain,soburiedwasitinthesnow.

Wesucceededatlast,however,evenifwehadnolightbutthestars,andthey,owingtothehaze,werefarfrombeingasbrilliantasusual.Whenatlengthourfire was brightly blazing out there on the ice, it was a picturesque sight. Buttherewasnotimeformeresentiment,asweknewfullwellthattheinstantthefireburntdown through its foundationof logs, the steamfrom themelting icewould extinguish it. Hence everybody was busy and no time was lost inpreparingoursupperorthawingthefishforthedogs.Everythingwentofftooursatisfaction.SomeoftheIndians,refreshedbytheirsuppers,hurriedoff,andbythelightofthestillblazingfirecutafreshsupplyofwood,includingaquantityofgreen logs foranewfoundation.Thisgaveus themeans forabrilliant firewithwhichtoprepareourbedsforafewhours’neededsleepandrestontheice.

Suddenlyourpleasantanticipationsofaquiet,restfulnight,whichwemuchneeded,wererudelyscatteredtothewinds.Rushingintoourmidstwithoutthe

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slightestintimationoftheirapproach,thereappearedhalfadozenwildlookingIndiansaccompaniedbyoveradozenofvicious,half-starvedHuskiedogs.Themengreetedusmosteffusively,whichwasasignthattheywerethinkingofthebig supper theyexpectedus togive them.Thewolfishdogs,however,didnotevenhave thepoliteness to greet us, but after a sudden fierce attackuponmyhired dogs, whom they drove away from the fire, they at once set upon andbegan todevoureverythingeatable, inwhich theycouldfasten their teeth.MyIndians were indignant, and instantly seizing their whips and firebrands, theyvigorouslyassailedthesewolfishdogsandatlengthsucceededindrivingthemafew yards from the fire.We saw that we were in for amiserable night, withvariedexperiencesthatwouldbeanythingbutpleasant.

WhiletwoofthemenwithwhipsandclubskepttheinvadingEskimobeastsout of the camp,withmy other Indian I chattedwith these visiting strangers.They toldme that theyhadcomefromtheCumberlanddistrict to fish throughtheiceonLakeWinnipeg,andhuntwhatgametheycouldfindintheforestsontheshore.Theysaidthattheyhadhadverylittlesuccessandwereveryhungry.

Igave thema liberal supplyof foodandapackageof tea,andaftera longchat politely requested them to return to their own camp, which was somedistanceupthecoast,andfromwhichtheyhadseenourcampfire.Itsbrightnesswasthecauseofthisvisit.Invainmyprotestationsandkindlyrequestfortheirdeparture! The fact of our being tired andweary andwanting the night’s restneverseemedtohaveenteredintotheirminds.Whattheysaidwas:

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“Wearesogladtohavemetthe‘blackcoat’thefriendoftheIndian,thatwemuststaywithhimaslongaswecan.”

Sotheysettowork,andwithmykettlescookedthefoodwhichIhadgiventhem.Seeingthatitwasimpossibletogetridofthem,Iheldabriefconsultationwithmymen as to the bestmanner of saving our supplies from that pack ofcunningrascals.Howinnocenttheylooked,sittingouttherebunchedtogetherontheice,andjustwaitinguntilwewouldgotosleep.Twoofthementurnedupthe sleds, and, sleeping between them and their loads, they managed to getthroughthenightwithbutthelossofafewfishandthecuttingofnumerousdeerskinthongs,towhichtheloadsaretiedonthesleds.

Myguideandmyself tookchargeof thebagofcookedsuppliesandplacedthemunder theoutercoveringsofourbeds,whichwereunrolledandarrangedforuson the ice.Asonotheroccasions,underalmostsimilarcircumstances, IplacedcloseathandanumberofstickswhichIcoulduseasclubs,aswellasmyheavydog-whip.

OurIndianvisitors,atlengthseeingthatwewereanxioustogetsomesleep,left us. But not so their dogs. Vainly my men tried to drive the half-starvedbrutesaftertheirmasters.Theycarednotforthecallssoundinginfrontofthem,ortheclubsandexecrationshurledatthemintherear.

Itwasnow longaftermidnight.Our fires in severalplaceshadburntdownthroughtheirlogfoundations,andthehissingsteamfromthemeltingicebelowgradually extinguished the flames, that were, on the higher places, bravelystrivingtokeepuptheirbrightness.

Darkness at length settled upon us and soon the fun began. In spite of ourwatchfulnessthoseEskimodogsprovedtoomuchforus.Theywalkedoverus;theysatdownuponus;theyfoughtacrossus.Wakingup,IwasasthoughIhadhad the night mare.We threw our clubs at them; we thrashed themwith ourwhips;wechasedthemfaroutonthelake,buttheywerebackaboutassoonaswewere.Wethoughtweweregoodwatchmenandthatatleastsomeofuswereonthealertallthetime.Butitwasallinvain.Thosedogsgotourvenisonandbunsandmanyotherthings.Oneofthemateseveralfeetofftheendofoneoftheheavywhiplashes,andanotherdevouredorcarriedoffthemoccasinsofoneofthemenwhohadputthemtodrywhenthefirewasbright,andhadforgottentoremovethemwhenthefirewassuddenlysmotheredbythesteam.Wewereademoralized lot of travelerswhen the first grey shadowsofmorning came thenext day.Mymen called in their timid dogs from the distance, and we weregrateful thatnoneof themhadbeendevoured.Weharnessed themup, tiedon

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our loads or what was left of them and departed with a firm resolve that, ifpossible, in the future we would try to reach a forest camp, where, if againassailedbysuchdogsas these, thathadsoover-matchedus,wewouldat leasthave the trees inwhichwecouldhangupoursupplies,and ifnecessaryclimbintoourselves.

Withsuppliesverymuchdiminished,ourenthusiasmcooled,andourconceitbelowzero,asregardsability toovermatchHuskiedogs,weproceededonourway.WewereaquietpartyonlyonequestionthatIcanremember,beingaskedthatday.Itwassomethingaboutlikethis:

“If theEvilOneshouldcometotroubleusintheformofananimal,whichonewoulditlikelybe?”

Theguidesaid,“Huskie;”andweallaffirmativelychorused,"Che-ka-rna.".Towardsnightwereachedoneofourdistantoutposts.Hereweexchangeda

fewpoundsofteaforsomefishandrabbits,andIlivedonthem,inplaceofthesuppliesthenativedogshadappropriatedtothemselves.Aftersomedays’visithere, the journey was resumed and, after varied experience, generally moreannoyingthanpleasant,withthesehireddogs,onthedayappointedwereachedthevillageoftheIndianswithwhomthecouncilwastobeheld.

Thenativeswhohadvisitedmehadevidentlyreturnedwithglowingaccountsoftheirinterview.Wefoundthepeopleinaveryexcitedconditionandeagertohearwhatthe“blackcoat”hadtosaytothemonthisall-importantquestion.

Theygaveusa salute fromallof theirguns thatwereavailable, and freelyoffered us the pipe from their own mouths. Never having acquired the“fumigatory art,” Iwas obliged to transfer the calumets tomymen, and havethemdoallofthesmokingexpectedofme,asbyproxy.Singulartorelate,thismymenwereeverwillingandevenanxioustodoforme.

Ourfirst importantdutiesafter thenoisywelcomeswereoverandthepipeshadbeendulypassedaround,wastosecureoursledswiththeirimportantloads.MyIndiandriverssecurelyfastenedtheirdogswithastickandtwothongsinthemanner described elsewhere.The villagewas so infestedwith hungry lookingdogs, that we decided our only safe way was to put our sleds and loads notneeded upon an empty fish staging at least eight feet above the ground.Heretheywerefortunatelysafe.

Thegreatcouncilwasnothelduntil allhad returned to theirwigwamsandhadtheireveningmeal.Thentheimportantgatheringtookplace.TheseIndianshadbuiltalogcouncilhousewhichwouldholdseveralhundredpeople.WhenIwasescortedintoit,thesightwaspicturesqueintheextreme.Nearthecenteron

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araisedplatformofearththecouncilfirewasburning.Groupedarounditwerethe chiefs and principal men of that band of Indians, as well as somedistinguishedvisitorsfromotherplaces,whohadcomefor informationon thisimportant question, which was agitating the minds of many Indians of thedifferenttribes.AllhadbroughtouttheirfinestIndiancostumesandmanyweregorgeouslyarrayed.

The calumet, or pipe of peace,was then litwith a good deal of ceremony.Afterbeingpassedaroundandawhiffortwodrawnbythemall,itwasreturnedtotheprincipalchief,whohandedittohispipe-bearer.Thenthespeech-makingbegan and lasted for several hours. Indians are natural orators. They have areadiness of utterance, a fluency ofwords, a play of fancy and a, richness ofillustration,thatis,at times,veryremarkable.GiveanIndianoratorathemeinwhichheisinterestedandtimetomeditateuponit,andhewillmakeaspeechthatmanyanoratorinhighlycivilizedlandsmightenvybutcouldseldomequal.

Indiansareverycourteousaswellasdignifiedindebate.Aspeakerisneverinterruptedwhile giving his address. To his remarks all give themost earnestattention,nomatterhowmuchtheirviewsmaydifferfromhis,orhowirritatingtheymayseemtoawhiteman.Suchathingasabruptlyinterruptingthespeakerinthemidstofhisorationisunknown.

Anotherremarkablefactisthetenacityoftheirmemoriesandtheabilityofaspeaker to reply to theaddressofanopponent.Sucha thingas takingnotes isunknown among them, and hence their good memories have to be dependeduponandareveryrarelyquestioned.

Inthiscouncilwhichwevisited, thereweremanydivergentviewsastothecharacter of the demands to bemade on theGovernment for the surrender oftheir lands.Oneveryamusingrequest,whichat firstwasurgedasanessentialrequisite in return for ceding away their country, was that every one of themshould be permitted to ride free on the “smokewaggons,”which the palefaceswould after awhile be running through their country.They seemedquite glumanddisappointedwhenIcandidlytoldthemthatthisfavorwouldnotbegrantedto them.I told themthat,muchas itcostus tobuydogsandrundog trains, itwouldcostthewhitemensomuchmoretoruntheserailroads,thateverybody,withperhapstheexceptionoftheheadchiefs,whentheywenttomeetthegreatGovernor on council business, would have to pay for the pleasure of riding.Theywerestillvery loath tosurrender thispoint,onwhich theyhadevidentlysettheirhearts.

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In the discussion which followed I had to explain that in no lands whererailroadswererunning,werethesefavorsgrantedtothepeople,andappealingtothe chiefs, I tried to show them what an injury it would be to them as acommunity,whenbyandbysettledontheirreserves,if,say,whentheyoughttobe planting potatoes or sewing their grain, they were off riding through thecountry on these railroads.Why, they would soon be starving for food. Thisargumentandthefactthat, inallprobability,thechiefsthemselveswouldhave“passes,”fortheirbusinessvisitstotheGovernor,broughtthemovertomysideofthinking,andsofromthemwehadsomemostamusingimpromptuorationsonthediredisasterthatmightoccuratcriticaltimes,becausethepeoplewereoffgaddingaboutthecountry,insteadofbeingathomemindingtheirownbusiness.

About midnight the council ended, after the calumet had made its roundsagain,andwordsof thankshadbeenuttered to thewhitebrother:“who,” theysaid, “had come so far to quiet their minds, and whose heart was so goodtowardsthem.”ThentheIndians,oneafteranother,withdrew,andwithmymenIwasleftaloneinthecouncilhouse.Nearthesmolderingembersofthecouncilfire,my bedwas unrolled and prepared forme.My traveling companions laydownnearme in their rabbit-skinblankets,andsoonwewere fastasleep.Thenextdayweresumedourjourney,andaftermakingafewvisitstootherplaces,wereachedourhomewithoutanyspecialadventure.

The next year, when the Government officials met these Indians, for thepurpose of making a treaty with them, they were agreeably surprised anddelightedwiththepromptnessandintelligencewithwhichtheIndiansdiscussedthe various provisions of the treaty being made with them. They were alsosurprised that these Indiansdidnotmakea stubborndemand for free rides foreveryoneoftheminthe“smokewaggons.”Thiswassoremarkableincontrasttothe actions of Indians in other places that some of the white Commissionerscouldnotbutaskthereasonofthemoderationoftheirdemands.

“Oh,”theysaid;“thatisallright.Wetalkedthatoutatourbigcouncilwitha‘black-coat,’andwetherefoundthat itwouldnotdotohavethepeopleridingaboutthecountry,whentheyoughttobehomelookingaftertheiraffairs.”

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IV.Jack,TheGiantSt.Bernard

“APoorMissionary’sdog;pleasedon’tstealhim.”

This was what was engraved on the brass plate that was securelyfastened to the collar-like strap that was on his neck. He was a magnificentSt.Bernarddog,andhisnamewasJack.Formorethanamonthhehadbeenenroute, and during that time, in various styles of conveyances, he had traveledover three thousand miles. He had been accompanied by a very beautifulthoroughbredNewfoundlanddog,whosenamewasCuffy.Theywereboth thegiftoftheHon.SenatorSanford,ofHamilton,Ontario.

Sick and disgusted with the native Eskimo and mongrel dogs of thatNorthland,withtheirmanyshortcomingsandwretchedtricks,Ihadwrittenouttofriends incivilizationtocometomyrescuebysecuringformesomeof thelarge,valuabledogsthatfriendsweremerelykeepingforpleasure.Thesewouldbeof great service tome in theworkwhichnecessitatedmy journeying somethousandsofmileseverywinterwithmydogtrains.Myappealscausedagreatdealofmerrimentat the time,souniquedid theyappear tosome.Afewgoodfriendswhocouldappreciate the situation respondedsokindlyandgenerouslythatitwasnotlongereIhadthefinestdogsinallthatgreatcountry.

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With them it was a very great pleasure to travel. Possessing all the goodqualitiesoftheEskimodogsandyetnoneoftheirthievishhabits,Icouldrelyonthem in any emergency, knowing full well that they would do, without fail,everything that could, with reason, be expected from dogs. Including youngdogs,Ioftenhadasmanyasthirtyinmypossessionatthesametime.Thismayseema largenumberforamissionary tohavehad,but itmustberememberedthatnotonlydidIgenerally require four trains forefficientworkwhenonmylongwinterjourneys,but,inaddition,thereweredutiesatthehomeMissionthatrequiredtheservicesofgenerallyacoupleofstrongtrains.

Mygoodwifewasalsotheownerofacapitaltrain,thatwasgenerallykeptwellemployed,underthechargeofanefficientdriver,intakingheraround,as,onhermissionsofcomfortandhelpfulness,shevisitedthewigwamsandotherlowly homes of the Indians, where sickness prevailed. All the wood, somewinters, required for thegreat stoves in thechurch, schoolhouse,andMissionhome,was dragged from the adjacent forests bymydog trains. In addition tothis,afterIhadbeeninthecountrysometime,Ikeptseveralcows,andforthreeyears tried the risky experiment of keeping a couple of horses in those highlatitudes.Ofcourse,Irequiredalargequantityofhay.Allthis,whichhadbeencutanddriedduringtheshortsummermonths,indistantmarshyplacesandolddried-up beaver meadows, was dragged home to my stables by the dogs onspecially prepared sleds. It will thus be seen how essential for efficient workgooddogswouldbe,andsoIwelcomedthecomingofJackandCuffywithgreatanticipationanddelight,andneveroncedideitherofthemfailordisappointme.

Jack, when he reached his prime, was thirty-three inches high at the fore-shoulder.

Hisweight averaged fromone hundred and eighty to two hundred pounds.Likeallmydogs,hisweightwasatthelowestpointwhenwereturnedfromourlongtoilsometrips,oftenofweeks’duration.Ididnothavetheslightesttroublein breaking him into his work in the harness. A few kind words and a littlepatience,andfromthathournobetterdogwaseverharnessed.TheonlybattlesIever hadwith himwere aboutCuffy, his companion. Thesewill be describedlater.

Jack’splacewasseconddoginthetrain.Hecouldleadsplendidlyandwouldrespondtothevariouscallsaspromptlyasawelltrainedhorsedoestothereins,but he was of too affectionate a nature, and he and his master were on toointimatetermsoffriendship,forhimtobeassignedtothepostof leadershipifthe trail on which we were going were a dangerous one, and Jack became

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possessedwiththeideathathisbelovedmasterwasrunninganyriskofdisasterorperil.Intheveryworstspots,hewouldsometimessuddenlywhirlroundwiththewholetrain,andwitharush,wouldcometotherearofthesled,whereIwasriding,andshovinghisgreatfaceinmine,wouldaswellasanydogcouldputit,say:“Master,thisisaveryriskyplace,andsoIhavejustcomebackforaminutetoseeifyouareallright.”

This,ofcourse,wasverykindandthoughtfulonthepartofJack,buthewasonlyadog,andsodidnotrealizethatinsucherraticmovementshewas,whileshowinghis solicitude forhismaster, verymuchadding to the risks thatwerebeingrun.Soaftersomeamusing,andtwoorthreeveryriskyadventures,Jackwas relegated to the place of the seconddog in the train.Cuffy had the placebehind him, while a powerful and well trained dog had the dangerous andresponsiblepositionofsleighdog.Thesleighdogismoreliabletoaccidentandinjurythananyotherdoginthetrain.Hisquickeyeandactivemovementstotherightortotheleft,inthenarrowcrookedtrail,musteverguardthesleighfromstrikingagainstthetrees,whichattimesaresonumerousandsoprovokinglyintheway.Thenifthethreedogsinfrontofhimhaveintheirfoolishnessdashedonbetweentwotreesgrowingsoclosely together, that it isdoubtful if there isroomforthesleightopassthroughwithoutinjury,itisthedutyofthislastdoginthetraintosoquicklystopandthrowhimselfback,thatthethreedogsaheadofhimareassuddenlybroughttoastandstillasthoughpulledupwithalasso.Sowelltrainedandintelligentaresomeofthesesleighdogs,inthiswork,thatitseems as though they can judgewithin a very few incheswhether the narrowpassage is sufficientlywide for the sleigh, forwhich theywell know they areheldresponsible,topassthrough.

Themarvelous leader ofmyown favorite trainwasVoyageur, a great one-eyeddogofunclassedbreed,moroseandunsociable,butthepeerlessleaderforanumberof years.Ofhim Iwill have something to sayof interest in anotherplace.

Distempers and other diseases played sad havoc at times among the dogs.Someyearsatleastathirdofmytraineddogswouldbethuscutoff.Soitwasalwaysnecessarytohaveanumberofyoungonescomingtofullsize,totaketheplaces of those that had fallen. Thework of breaking in these new dogswassometimesaverydifficulttask.Whiletherewerethose,likeJackandCuffy,thattooknaturallyandquickly to thework, therewereothers thatoffered themostdesperateandstubbornresistanceeretheysurrenderedandbecameserviceable.Intheworkofbreakinginobstinateyoungdogs,IfoundthatJackwasmybest

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assistant.Hedelightedinthework,anditwassimplymarvelousattimestoseetheclevernessandthoroughnesswithwhichhesecondedmyefforts.TheplanIgenerallyadoptedinbreakinginabig,stubbornyoungdog,wastoharnesshimup in a trainwith three strong,well trained ones in front of him and Jack inharnessbehindhim.When“Marche!”,thewordfor“Go!”,wasshouted,theolddogs would, of course, at once spring to advance. This the new dog wouldgenerallyattempttoprevent,bystubbornlybalking.Mostdesperatelywouldheexertallofhisstrengthtoholdhisgroundagainsttheeffortsofthedogsinfront.ThiswasJack’sopportunitytoshowwhathecoulddoinspeedilybringingtheyoungdogtohissenses.

“Goforhim,Jack,”wasallIhadtosay.WitharushandaroarJackwouldspringatthestubborndog,andwithmorenoiseandfurorthanactualbiting,hewouldsofrightenthenowterrifiedyounganimal,thathewasgladtospringtohis feet and make the most desperate effort to get beyond the reach of theenormousdogthatwasmakingitsolivelyinhisrear.Aslongastheyoungsterkeptgoingonstraightinthetrail,Jackdidnotmolesthim,butitoftenhappenedthatastubborndoghatedtoyieldquickly,andsotriedvariousothertricks.Onewastotrytorunaheadofthesteadydogsinfront.ThisJackeasilyprevented.Sometimeshewould rush forward, and suddenly seizing the transgressorbyahindlegorhistail,wouldspeedilydraghimbackintohisplace.Atothertimeshewould throwhimselfbackwith such force that thedelinquentwas speedilyjerkedbackintoline.Thuseverytrickorartificeoftheyoungdogwouldbesopromptly met and defeated that it was not long ere the training lessons werecompletelylearned,andtheyoungdogwasthoroughlyfittedforhiswork.

ItwashighlyamusingtowatchJack’skindlypatronizingwaytowardsthesedogs, as soonas theywere conqueredand then letoutof theirharness.Whilethey were being broken in, he had appeared to be the personification offierceness and anger; now, however, that they had surrendered, in dog-likefashionhe licked their facesandbruisesandwaseffusivelyaffectionate inhisdemeanor towards them. Some of them were, at first, not much inclined toreceive these friendly advances, but eventually, perhaps after he had fought abattleortwointheirdefense,theycametobeverymuchattachedtohimastheirfriend,whiletheyneverquestionedhistitleastheirmasterinthepack,nomatterofhowmanygreatdogsitconsisted.

Jackwasveryhelpfultousinthecoldwintrymorningsinthecamps,whenwe determined to resume our journey long before daylight. It was veryprovoking when we ascertained that some of the dogs could not be found.

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Cunningwhiteoneswerelyingsomewhereinvisibleinthesnow,andwouldnotrespond to the calls of their names, no matter how endearingly bawled out.Others,ofadarkerhue,wellknowingthattheircolorwouldbetraythemiftheyremainedintheirnestsinthepurewhitesnow,had,theinstantthattheynoticedanymovement at the camp, noiselessly skulked away into thedarkness of thedensebalsamtrees,andtherewereequallydeaftothecallingoftheirnames,nomatterhowwellgarnishedwithaffixesorprefixes.Theseskulking tricksweremostannoying,inadditiontothelongdelaystheysometimesoccasioned.Itwasaverygreat satisfaction tomy Indiandriverswhen Jack at lengthgrasped thesituationandprovedhimselfequaltoanytwoofthemeninhuntingdownandpromptlybringinginthemiserableoffenders.

QuitefairlyJackwasaprivilegedcharacteramongthedogs,forheandCuffyalwayssleptclosetomeinthecamp,ontheoutsideofmyrobes.Whenthemenbeganharnessinguptheirtrains,itwassoonseenwhichdogsweremissing.Anhonesteffortwasgenerallymadebythementocapturethem,beforetheywouldappeal tome for Jack to come to their help.When, however, itwas seen thatsomewerestillundiscovered,Jackwasspeedilysettowork.AllIhadtodowastoshowhimoneoftheemptycollars,andtotellhimtogoandfindthedogthathadtheheadthatoughttobeinitOnegoodsmellatitwasallthatherequired,andthenhewasoffwitharush.Roundandroundthecamphewouldgo,untilhestruckthetrailofthedogforwhichhewassearching.Whenthiswasfoundajoyousbarkgaveusthenewsthathewasontherightscent,anditwouldnotbelongbeforethetruantdogwouldbedrivenintothecamp.Jackwasgivenafewminutestorest,duringwhichhewaswellpraisedforhissuccess.Thenanotherempty collar was shown him and again he was off. Sometimes an ugly dogwouldshowfight,butheneverdid it thesecond time,soseverewouldbe theshakingthatJackwouldgivehim.Thus,onebyone,theskulkerswouldberuninuntilthetrainswerefullandtheday’sjourneycouldbebegun.

AsJackandCuffywere the twodogs thatwereallowed toshareourhomelifewithus,andasourguardianssleptinsideofthehouseeverynight,whennotawayon longwinter trips, itwasbut right that theyshouldbebettercared forthanthosedogsthatwerenotaccustomedtothewarmthofthehouse.Soeverynight,aftermycampbedwasmadeandIwassnuglytuckedinbymyloyalandmost attentive Indians, Jack quickly stretched out his great body at my back,whileCuffy preferred to cuddle down on the robes atmy feet.Doubtless sheselected thisplaceasgenerallyagreatblazing firewasburningnot fardistantfrommyfeet,andshewasanxioustoenjoyitswarmthaslongasitcontinued.

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Next tomeon the other side from Jack,myguide and the Indian dog driverswouldcuddledownundertheirwarmrabbit-skinrobes,andsleepverysoundly,althoughattimesthenightsweresobitterlycoldthatIusedtothinkthatIwasreallyfreezingtodeath.

Weoccasionallyallowedsomeoftheyoungerwell-behaveddogstosleepatthefeetoforaroundtheIndians,butasaruletheyhadtodigholesinthesnowandsleepthereasbesttheycould.Itwasaqueerfactthattheywouldnotsleeptogetherandthusaidinkeepingeachotherwarm.EvenJackandCuffy,althoughveryfondofeachother,nevercaredtosleepneartoeachother.

Jack thoroughly enjoyed the holidays, which were absolutely necessarybetweenthelongwinterjourneyswhichwerebeingmadetovariousplaces,sodistantandremote,inthedifferentpartsofthatvastregionofcountry.Whileathiswork,heneverwouldshowanysignsofwearinessordiscouragement.Totheverylasthour,nomatterhowfiercetheblizzardsorhowwretchedthetrails,hisheadwasupandhis traceswere taut.Otherdogsmightandoftendidbecomediscouraged,andbybothvoiceandwhiphadtobeurgedoninthelaborioustoil,butJackwasgametotheendofthejourney.However,whentheworkwasdoneand he was oncemore stretched out on the wolf-skin rug in the study in theMission home, he seemed to know that he hadwell earned his rest andmostthoroughlydidheenjoyit.Forthreeorfourdayshejustwantedtobeseverelyletalone;afterthathewashimselfagain,readytorompwiththelittleones,towhomhewasmost loyally attached, or to tease the Indian servant girl in thekitchen, inways that at timesnearlydroveherdistracted,butwhichprovokedeverybodyelsetolaughter.Invariouswayshewasusefulaboutthehouse.Whencoming in after a heavyday’swork, footsore and tired, all I had todowas toshoutout:“Slippers!”AtonceJackunderstoodandimmediatelythesearchfortheslippersbegan.Assometimes,totryhisskill,theyhadpurposelybeenhid,itwasamusingtoseehowdiligentlyhesearchedeveryroominthehouseuntilhefoundthem.Thelongerthesearch,thegreaterseemedthepridewithwhichheproudlybroughtthemtome.Onedaywhenhewasoutinanotherroom,whileIwasinmystudy,Icalledout:“Slippers,slippers!”Jackatoncebeganhisusualsearch.Hehuntedevery room.Hebothered thewomenfolksuntil theyhad toopenclosetsanddrawersforhim.Failingcompletely,atlengthhecameintothestudy,asitweretoreporthiswantofsuccess.Atoncehisquickeyesdetectedthelonglookedforslippersonmyfeet.Hegavemealookwhich,ifithadbeenonahumanface,wouldhavebeencalledoneofdisgust.Thenturningroundhehaughtilylefttheroomanddidnotreturntoitagainthatday.Afterthat,whenI

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called“Slippers,”whilehewastooloyaltodisobey,healwayscameatoncetothestudyandexaminedmyfeetforthecalled-forarticles.Iftheyweretherehewould give me a look that seemed to say: “It is a pity that my master isbecomingsoabsent-minded.”

Noshoutingofslipperswouldcausehimtopaytheslightestattentionduringtherestofthatday.

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V.Jack.AndManyThingsConcerningHim

Jack’s household duties were by no means confined to huntingslippers.WhileheandCuffywerealwaysallowed tocome into thehouse, itwaswellunderstoodbyhimthathewasever tobeon thewatch thatnootherdogs,exceptbyspecialpermission,weretobeallowedtocrossthethreshold.Hewasalsoallowedtogotochurch,butwoetotheIndiandogthatdaredtoenterthedoor.Heveryseldomtrieditasecondtime.

Inthatnortherncountry,inthemidstofitsgreatforests,woodwasusedaloneasfuel.Andasthewintersweresevenoreightmonthslong,weusedagreatdealofit.Then,asitwasgenerallyofalightflashykind,itwasquicklyconsumedinourgreatironboxstoves.Theresultwasthatthelargewood-boxesinthehouseshadtobefrequentlyfilledfromthegreatpilesthatwerecutoutside.Thisworkofcarryinginwoodwasquitelaboriouswhenitfelltothelotoftheservantgirl,whohadtodoitifnomenwerearound.Oneday,whentheworkhadbeenfelttobespeciallyburdensome,itwassuggestedthatperhapsJackcouldbeinducedtoaddthisaccomplishmenttohismanyothercleverattainments.Atoncetheeffortwasmade.Akindofbeewasorganized,andamidstlaughterandfun,anumberofthefamilywereallbusilyengagedincarryinginwood.Jackalwayslovedtobe in every frolic, and so, of course, he was invited to take part in this one.Proudlydidhetakeinhismouththebilletofwoodassignedtohimandatoncecarryitintothekitchenandplaceitinthewood-boxasdeftlyasdidtheothers.It was not long before he understood thework perfectly and became such anadept at it that it was not necessary for any one to be with him when thusemployed.Whenthesupplyofwoodranlow,allthatwasrequiredwasforsomemember of the family to say: “I wonder if that big lazy dog knows that thewood-boxisempty?”

Thiswas all thatwouldbe said.Atonce Jackwas atwork.Hewould firstopen thekitchendoor and fasten it open.Thenhe industriouslyworked away,

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carryinginstickafterstick,untiltoldthattherewasenough.Hewasveryproudandhappywhentoldthathehaddonewell.Itwasnoeasytask,asthesticksofwoodwereatleastthreefeetlongandeachweighedseveralpounds.

Jacksoonlearnedthatweconsideredthisoneofhiscleveraccomplishments,andsowhenhewishedtoespeciallyshowofforwinsomeextracomplimentsorfavorsheindustriouslywenttoworkcarryinginwood.

TherewashardlyalongwinterjourneytakenbutJackgaveussomethingtolaughat,orcausedus tobe intensely interested insomenewexhibitionofhissagacity or skill.My Indian drivers all learned to love him for hismarvelousstrengthandstayingpowers.Stillitwasevidentthattheywerealittleafraidofhim,onaccountofhisenormoussize.OnlyoncedidIeverseeanIndiandriverliftawhip,asthoughtostrikehim.Theblowneverfell.Jacksawthemovement,andalthoughhewastheseconddoginthetrain,hewhirledroundsosuddenlyon theman, draggingKoona the leaderwith him, that that Indian had no orerelishfordrivingthemissionary’strainthatday.

Hegaveusagreatfright,andthenagoodlaugh,onebitterlycolddaybyhisfalling through the thin ice in a great crack on Lake Winnipeg. During thepreviousnight,aswelayinourcampinthesnow,inthewoodsontheshore,wewere frequentlydisturbedby the loudbooming reports, likedistant thunderorheavy artillery. In response tomy inquiries frommy Indian comrades, all theanswer I receivedwas the laconic: “Ice cracking, big cold, openplaces,muchdanger,takecare.”

This,when amplified,means that although the ice is several feet thick, yetwhenthecoldreachesacertainintensity,sogreatisthecontractionthattheiceburstswithtremendoussuddennessandpower,sothatgreatopeningsorcracks,as they are called, are formed which are often many miles in length, butgenerallyonlyafewfeetinwidth.Tothetravelershurryingon,especiallyinthegloomofnight,thesecracksareverydangerous,asthewateratoncerushesupevenwiththeice,andsometimemustelapseereitfreezessufficientlyhardtosupportanyhunteror travelerwhomayhappen tocomealong.Whatmakes itthe more dangerous is the fact that there is not the slightest evidence of itsexistence,untiltheunfortunatetravelerisaboutfallingintoit.Theresultistherearesomenarrowescapesand,attimes,someveryseriousaccidents.OnenightIhadtakentheplaceofmyguide,whohadsobadlyinjuredhiskneethathewasunabletodohiswork.

WhileIwasrunningonaheadofmytrains,facingtowardstheNorthStar,Ihappenedtoglancedownattheglassysurfaceofthefrozenlake,overwhichwe

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werenowrapidlytraveling.Atonce,Iwasalmoststartledbythevividnessofthereflectionof thestars, inwhatat firstseemed tobe the ice,buta fewyards infrontofme.OnIhurried,andjustasIwasabouttoplungeintoit,tomyhorrorIsaw that it was open water! Suddenly stopping myself, I whirled round andshouted,“Chasquaw!” tomydogsandIndians,whowerecloseatmyheels. Itwas awonder, even to theold experienced Indians, how I had escaped.Therewasnot the leastcoatingof iceon theplacidwater, thatherestretchedout forunknownmileseachsideofusandwassomeyards inwidthbeforeus. Itwasveryevidentthatithadburstopenwithinanhourortwoatthemost.Wehadtomakealongdetourerewefoundaplacewherethecrackwasnarrowenoughtoletuscrossand the journeycouldbe resumed.Onanotheroccasion,wehadaqueeradventurewheretheicewasthinandJack,breakingthrough,hadanarrowescape.We were traveling on LakeWinnipeg and it was a bitterly cold day.During the previous night, we had heard enough booming on the great icyexpansetoputusonourguardagainstthesegreatcracksandopenings,butallprecautions avail but little when these openings freeze over and the driftingsnow,swirlingalong,makestheiceofhalfaninchorsolookexactlylikethatwhichissixfeetthick.Onthisoccasion,theroguishKoonawastheleaderofmytrain. Jackwas in the secondplace,whileCuffyandCaesarwerebehind.Theguide,thatmorningwasalight-footedfellowwho,Indian-like,couldruneasilyover ice so thin that noordinarywhitemanwoulddare to thinkof following.Whilespeedingon,wecametooneof thesecracks, thatmusthaveopenedupnotmanyhoursbefore.The icehad formedupon itwith sufficient strength toallowtheguide,whowasseveralhundredyardsaheadofme,tocrossoveritinsafety.Whenmytrainreached it, thenewicehelduntilKoonahad justbarelyreachedthefirmoldiceontheotherside.AtthatinstantitbrokeunderJack,anddownhewentinthecoldwater.Poorfellow!hewascompletelysubmerged,andalthoughbutforaninstant,itwasquitebathenoughundersuchatemperature.Itwasastonishingtoseehowwellthedogsknewhowtoactinsuchanemergency.Koonaheldontohisgripontheice,withallthestrengthhehad,whilethedogsbehindJackatoncepulledback,aswellastheircollarsandtraceswouldallow.Theresultwas,thesetauttracesbeforeandbehindJackkepthimwellupinthewater.

Speedilywemovedtogethimoutwithoutpermittinganyotherdogstofallin. A sled was at once unloaded and unfastened. This the cautious IndiansshovedoutontheunbrokeniceatonesideofJack,takingcarethatoneendofitreached to the firm ice in front,while the rear endwasonold ice sufficiently

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firmtokeepitfrombreakingthrough.ThentwooftheIndianscautiouslywentouton this improvisedbridge, and seizingholdof the traces in front and rear,they soonhad the shiveringdogupon the sledbetween them.CarefullywereCuffy andCaesar, the two dogs behind Jack, guided over on the same bridgewithout anymishap.Hangingon to the cariole towhich theywere attached, Isafely followed, and in like manner all of our party crossed. Jack was in adeplorable condition. His glossy coat, usually of inky blackness, was nowturning to snowywhiteness, as Jack Frost speedily began to exert his terriblepower.Wewereatleasttwelvemilesfromshore,andofcoursenothingcouldbedoneoutthereontheiceforthenoblefellow,thatsopitifullyyetmutelylookedtomeforhelp.

“Fortheshore,”wasthecry,“andanewflannelshirttotheIndianwhocangettherebeforetheOokemou(master)andhaveafireburningatwhichtheicecanbequicklymeltedfrompoorshiveringJack.”

Atoncewewereoff.AnewflannelshirtisagreatthingtoanIndian,andsowhipswereout,andtheirpistol-likereportsrangoutinunisonwiththedrivers’cheerycallstotheirdifferenttrains.AtfirstJack,sohamperedbytheweightofhis icy load, seemed dazed and discouraged; then he roused himself up andappearedtorealizethathislifedependeduponhisquicklygettingtothatdistantshore,andsohesprangtohisworkwithanenergythatwontheadmirationofusall.Heseemedtotaketherestofhistrain,aswellasthecariole,andhismaster,in that race for his life.No other trainwaswithin a half of amile,whenwedashedupfromthelakeintothewelcomeforest,andsonoshirtwaswonthatday.

Asrapidlyaspossibleouraxeswereatwork,andasoneIndianafteranotherarrived,drydeadtreeswerequicklycutdownandagoodfirewassoonburningonthespot,fromwhichthesnowhadbeenclearedaway.Beforethisbrightfireabuffalorobewasthrowndown,andJack,stillencasedinice,andaboutaswhiteasthespotlessKoona,wasplaceduponit.Ihadfearedthatitwouldrequirenotlessthantwoofustoholdhimnearenoughtothefire,inorderthattheicemightbespeedilythawedoff.

Whenthetemperatureisfortyorfiftybelowzerooutintheopenair,thereisnotmuch thawingpower,exceptverynear to theblaze,andmostdogshaveavery decided objection to being found so close, where there is any danger oftheirwhiskersbeingsinged.SoInaturallyfearedtrouble,andperhapsfailureinmyefforts to savemynobledog.Veryquicklyhoweverwereour fears turnedinto laughter, for Jack at once displayed an intelligence and cleverness that

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simply amazed us all, wise as we all knew him to be, for no sooner did heunderstandthatthatbuffalorobeandfirehadbeendesignedforhim,thanheatonceproceeded tomake theverybest possibleuseofboth.At first hemovedaroundonallofhisfeet,keepingdifferentpartsofhisbodyasneartothefireashecouldwithoutburninghimself.Afterawhileheseemedtothinkthatthiswasnotsatisfactory,andsohesteadiedhimselfuponhishindlegs,andthere,likeagreatdancingbear,hekeptjumpingaroundbeforethefiercefire,turningeverypartofhimselftothebright,warmflames.

Under thepowerof the fierceheat, thegreatchunksof ice speedilymeltedandrandownhishindlegsontotherobe.Thiswaterbotheredhimatfirst,buthe alertly moved to dryer places, keeping, however, as close to the fire aspossible. From the other side of the fire, the Indians andmyself watched hismarvelousmovements.Tosaythatwelaugheduntilwecried,isputtingitverymildly.But littlecaredJackforour laughter. Itwasseriousbusinesswithhim,and seriouslyand thoroughlydidheattend to it,until everybitof the icewasmelted,andallthatcoldwaterwasdriedofffromhisnowglossycoat.Duringallthe timehehadbeenattending to thiswork,notoncehadhecondescended tonoticeanyoneofus,orevenapparentlytolookatus.Andofcourseweweresopleasedtoseehimsoabletodotheworkwithoutusthatwetookverygoodcarenot to bother him in anyway.When hewas satisfied himself, that hewas allright, we speedily harnessed him again in his place, and the journey wasresumed.Jackwasnonetheworseforthisducking,buthewaseverafterwardalittle cautious where the ice seemed insecure. This adventure, with Jack’smarvelouscleverness inhoppingaround that fire in thewoods tomeltoff thaticycoatofmailandso thoroughlydryhimself,wasoneof theprincipalcampfirestoriesamongtheIndiansformanyayear.

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The frequent changingof themaids in the kitchen,was always amatter ofperplexity to Jack. The dog was suspicious of these unknown Indian girlscoming in, and so familiarly handling the various utensils of their work. Sixmonthswasaboutalltheygenerallyremainedwithus,asinthattimetheywere,ifnotbefore,marriedofftoambitiousyoungbachelorIndians,whowerealwaysmost anxious to secure, as theirwives, the girlswho had been trained by themissionary’swife. So Jack had to bewarned to be on his good behavior andpermitthesenewcomerstohavethefreedomofthehouse.Itwasinterestingtoseehowheatfirstwatchedthemandspeedilyfoundoutwhereitwaspossibleforhimtohavesomequietfunattheirexpense.Ifagirlwerespeciallyanxioustokeepthedoorsshut,Jacktookgreatdelightinfrequentlyopeningthem.Thishewouldpersistindoinguntilcomplaintswerelodgedagainsthimandhehadtobewellscoldedforhisconduct.

Onesummerwehadafat,good-naturedIndianservantgirl,whomwecalledMary. Jack, at first couldnot find anywaybywhichhe could annoyher.Shetreated himwith absolute indifference andwas not in the least afraid of him.Thisseemedtohumiliatehim,asmostoftheothergirlshadstoodinsuchaweofthegiganticfellowthattheyhadgivenwaytohimineverything.Maryhoweverdidnothingofthekind.Shewouldshout,“Getoutofmyway!”asquicklytohismightiness as she would to the smallest dog on the place. This very muchoffended Jack, but he dared not retaliate, even with a growl. Mary had oneweakness,andafterawhileJack found itout. Itwas thespotlesswhitenessofherkitchenfloor.Mrs.Younghadpromisedsomeextrareward toMary, ifshekeptherkitchenneatandclean.Soanxiouswasthegirltowinthisgift,aswellas theapprovalofhermistress, that itseemedas thoughshespentall the timeshecouldsparefromotherdutiesinscrubbingthatkitchenfloor.Insomeway,utterlybeyondourken,Jackdiscoveredthis,andperhapshumiliatedbythefactthatMaryhadcomeoutbestinsomeschemeshehadalreadytried,heseemedtotakethegreatestdelightineithermarchinginwithhisfeetasdirtyashecouldmakethem,orwithhisgreatbodydrippingwetfromaplungeinthelake.

Of course the clean floorwas quickly ruined,much toMary’s disgust andJack’sdelight.

At other times, when Jack noticed that Mary was about to commencescrubbingthefloor,hewoulddeliberatelystretchhimselfoutonit,andquietlyresistanyattempt,onherpart, togethimtomove.Invainwouldshefeedtheotherdogs,orbyloudcallsgetthemexcitedandbarkingfuriouslyoutside.Jackhad been fooled once or twice in this way, and so now he resisted all her

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schemestomakehimmove.Once,whenshedid,bysomeclevertrick,gethimout,shefastenedthedoorsosecurelythatallhisrattlingofthelatchavailedhimnothing.Gettingdiscouragedinhiseffortstoopenthedoorintheusualway,hewent to thewood-pile, and seizing a big billet in hismouth he came, and sopounded thedoorwith it, thatMary,seeing that therewas imminentdangerofthepanelbeingbrokenin,wasobligedtoopenthedoorandlethimin.

Jackmarchedproudlyinwiththestickofwoodinhismouth.Whenhehaddepositeditinthewood-box,hecoollystretchedhimselfoutonthespotwherehewouldbethebiggestnuisance.PoorMarycouldstanditnolonger.Generallyshe had rather enjoyed pitting her wits against him and had made but fewcomplaints.However, this trickofJack’s inpoundingagainst thedoorwas toomuchforherpatience,andsoMary,leavingthebigfellowstretchedoutonherkitchenfloor,marchedintomystudy,andinvigorous,picturesquelanguage,inhernativeCree,toldusofthetricksandschemesofthatJacktoannoyherandhinder her in her work. Of course, when he had gone thus far, he must bereproved and stopped. In doing it we used Jack’s love for our little ones toaccomplish the object. Jack’s love and loyalty and obedience toSagastaookemou,astheIndianslovedtocallthebrightlittlefouryear-oldboyinourhome,was thoroughandcomplete.The slightestwishof the little ladwaslawtoJack.Here,onthisoccasion,itwastested.AssoonasMaryhadfinishedher complaints, I turned to the little fellow,whowas busy playingwith sometoys, and said to him, “Eddy, go and tell that naughty Jack that hemust stopteasingMary.Tellhimhisplaceisnotinthekitchenandthathemustkeepoutofit,”EddyhadlistenedtoMary’sstoryandhadapparentlyunderstooditwellenough to feel that Jack was in the wrong, and so he gallantly came to therescue.AwayhemarchedwithMary,whiletherestofus,nowinterestedinthematter, followed in the rear to see how the thing would turn out. While weremainedintheroomadjoiningthekitchen,andoutofsightofJack,EddyandMarywent on into the kitchen, leaving the door open behind them. Thuswedistinctly heard what the boy said. Marching up to Jack, where he was stillsprawledoutonthefloor,andspeakingwiththeauthorityofaking,hesaidasheseizedhimbyoneofhisears; “Iamashamedofyou, Jack.Younaughtydog,teasingMarylikethis.Soyouwon’tletherwashherkitchen,younaughtydog!Getup!”Jackatonceobeyedthechildandwasthusledbyhisearintothestudy.Here the child gave him another lecture on the naughtiness of his conduct,ending up by saying, “Now, Jack, you keep out of the kitchen.” And to aremarkabledegreethisorderwasobeyed.

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VI.JackTriumphantInTheBlizzard

Suchwas the pathetic cry of a fine young Indian lad when he and IfoundourselveslostinablizzardstormoutonLakeWinnipeg,onewildfiercewintryday.Wehadstartedawayfromourhomeseveraldaysbefore this,onawintertripofseveralhundredsofmiles.Wewereeachdrivingasplendidtrainofdogs. We had no guide or experienced Indian attendant. It was a riskyexperimentweweremakingbutIdidnotseemywaycleartodootherwise.

The fact was, word had come from headquarters that there would be noappropriationsfortripstooutsidepaganIndiansthatyear.ThatmeantthatIwastoremainateaseinmyquietlittlecozyhomeandconfinemyworkandtoiltooneor twobandsof Indians, all ofwhomwere aboutChristianized,while thepooruncivilizedpaganwanderers in their lonelyhuntinggrounds, far away inthewilderness,were to be again left neglected and forsaken.This I could notstand. I had become deeply attached to these far-off Indians, whom I hadgenerallymanagedtovisittwiceayear,onceinsummerinmycanoe,andonceinwinterwithmydogtrains.Sogratefulhadtheybeenandsocordiallyhadtheyreceived theGospel, that I resolved that as far as itwas inmypower Iwouldtaketherisks,andatanysacrificekeepupthework.Sothiswasthesituation.Withoutanyexperiencedguidefornomoneyhadcomeforthepayofone,hereIwaswithnocompanionbutayoungIndian,andwetwocaughtoutinablizzardfarawayfromlandongreatLakeWinnipeg.

Aslongastheweatherhadkeptfavorablewehadsucceededinmakinggoodprogress,andbegan to think thatwewereprettygood travelers.Westruck thedifferentheadlands,andsucceededinreachingwellknowncampingspots.Therebeing only the two of us, thework of preparing thewinter camp and cuttingsufficientwoodfor thenecessary fuel, togetherwithall theothercamp labors,madeitveryhardonus.Howeverwewerebothenthusiasticoverourwork,andsoweperseveredanddidnotfaresobadly.Weeachhadatrainofsplendiddogs.Withtheexceptionoftheleaderofmytrain,allofourdogswereSt.BernardsorNewfoundlands.ThisleaderofmytrainwascalledKoona,whichistheIndiannameforflour.Hewaswellnamed,forhewaswhiteasthedrivensnow.Hewas

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well trained and did not require a runner ahead of him, asmany dogs do.Hethoroughlyunderstoodthemeaningsofthedifferentwordsusedindogdrivingandwouldaspromptly respond to themasawell trainedhorseanswers to therein.Hehadbeensoseverelypunishedduringhisbreakinginthathewastimidaboutactingonhisownresponsibility.

Asoursupplyofwoodhadbeenratherlimitedwestartedonemorningveryearly,onwhatwehadhopedwouldhavebeenasuccessfulday’s runofaboutsixtymiles.Ourcamp,whichhadbeenonlyaholeduginthesnow,hadbeenfarfromcomfortable,andsowewerenotverysorry tobeoncemoreontheway.Foratime,firstbystarlightandthenbythelightofabrilliantmorning,wespedontowardsthenorth.Toshortenthejourneywehadstruckfaroutinthegreatlake,butnotsofarbutthatwecouldstillkeeptheheadlandsofthegreatpointsinsightforourguidance.

Duringthelastnighttherehadbeenquiteaheavyfallofsnow.Itsomewhatimpededourrapidprogressbutourdogsweregoodandaslongastherewasnowindtoliftupthislightsnowwedidnotmuchmindit,Itwasabitterlycoldday,butwehadsoarrangedourloadsonoursledsthatwecouldeasilyjumpoffandrun until the vigorous exercise so warmed us that we much enjoyed thesubsequent ride. Thus onwe sped untilmanymileswere between us and ourcampofthepreviousnight,Aswejourneyedon,thewindinfitfulgustsbegantoblowaroundus.Atfirstitwasnotalarmingandwedidnotmindit.Evenwhenwelostsightofthedistantheadlands,astheywereswallowedupinthehaze,wefoolishlypushedon,insteadofatoncedashingatfullspeed,asweoughttohavedone,fortheshore.Thefitfulgustsofanhourbeforewerenowincreasedtoawildgalewhichliftedupthelightsnow,andsoontheairwasfullofit.Still,asthewindcontinueduptothistimetoblowsteadilyinonedirection,whichwasfromthenorth,webravelypushedonintheveryteethofit.

“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” If we had had an experiencedguidealongwithushewouldhavehadussafelyensconcedintheshelterofthewoods on the shore. Instead of that, here we two greenhorns, as the Indiansafterwards called us, were out many miles from the shore foolishly battlingagainst what had now become a howling, furious blizzard. We stopped longenoughforme to tie the tail-ropeofmysled to thecollarof the leaderdogofAlec’strain.Thiswasdoneasaprecautionarymeasure,sothatwemightnotgetseparatedfromeachotherinthenowblindinggale.Then,shoutingtoourdogs,we resumed our journey as best we could. Bravely did the noble fellows

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continue topushon in the teethof the storm, thatno livinghorsewouldhavefaced.

Aslongasthewindhad,aswethought,remainedsteadilyblowingfromtheonequarter,wehadkeptupour courage.Weknew thatweweregoing in therightdirectionwhenwehadourlastglimpsesofthedistantpoint,andsincethattimewehadbeentrustingthewind.Now,asintheeddyingguststhewindbeganwhirling around us, coming apparently from every quarter, we were mostemphaticallybroughttorealizethatinallprobabilitywehadbeenrunninginaveryerraticcourse,forthelasttwoorthreehoursatleast.

Utterly bewildered, I stoppedmy dogs, and asAlec’s train came up near Ishoutedtothelad:“Alec,Iamafraidwearelost.”

“Yes,wearesurelylost,”washisnotverycomfortingreply.“It isablizzard,and that iswherewehaveblundered,” Isaid,“inallowing

ourselvestobecaughtinitandwesofarfromshore.”Atthementionofblizzard,sodreadedbythosewhoknowthembest,Alecat

once lost heart, and by the utterance of thewords I have already quoted, andothersinasimilarstrain,showedthathewaswellawareofourgreatdanger.

Wewere,however,resolvednottogiveupwithoutastruggle.Sothequestionwas;What had best be done?That is always answered in that landwhere thebittercolddemandssomuchinternalfuel,by,“Letushavesomethingtoeat.”

So we opened a pemmican bag, and in the mouth of it we chopped intoeatablepieces,someofthehardandtasteless,butexceedinglynutritious,food.Wewouldhavemuchenjoyedafewgoodcupsof tea,with theharddrystuff,butthatwasoutofthequestioninsuchaplace.Weateourmealaswellaswecould,liberallysharingthetough,hardfoodwithourdogs,thathadcuddledasclosetousastheirharnesswouldallow.Jack,asusual,hadtheplacenearesttome.Thiswashishabitwheneveritwaspossible.Notthathealwaysexpectedtobefed,forasageneralthingthedogsweregivenonlyonemealaday,andthatonewasatthenightcamp,whentheday’sworkwasdone.However,todaywasanexception.Thefactwasitlookedasifwehadseenourlastwintercamp,andthe blizzard stormwould soon claim us as its victims. Sowe said, "Wewillshareourpemmicanwithoursplendiddogs,forpoorindeedistheprospectforeithertheirorourhavinganothermeal."

As Jack and I took alternate bites at the tough pemmican, his beingconsiderablylargerthanmine,Iputmyarmaroundhisbigneck,andhadagoodtalkwithhim.Iamafirmbelieverintheideathatdogsunderstandagreatdealmore thanmost people generally believe.And Jackwasone that, having long

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beenwithme, knew, as I had often tested, almost everything thatwas said tohim.Healsowellknewwhenhewas thesubjectofourconversationathome,and was well pleased or hurt, as we spoke complimentarily or disparaginglyabouthim.

Sonow,outtherewiththehowlingwindsragingarounduslikesavagebeastseagerfortheirprey,wetwo,withAlecforalistener,hadacandidtalkaboutourdistressing situation. I began by telling him that we were lost, and that thechanceswere against our getting safely out of this fearful storm.This did notseem todisturbhim, so I said, “Jack,mynoble fellow,doyouknow that it isdoubtful whether we shall ever see our home again? The prospect is that thesnowwillsoonbeourwinding-sheet,andthatlovingeyeswilllookoutinvainforourreturn.Thechances,Jack,arethatyouwillneveragainstretchyourselfoutonyourfavoriteresting-placeonthewolfskinbeforethestudyfire.Rouseyourself,olddoganddoyourbest,forinyourintelligencewearegoingtotrusttogetusoutofthiswildblizzard,andtoleadustoaplaceofsafety.”

Thus,withmyface,althoughitwashalfcoveredwithiceandsnow,closetohis,ItalkedtoJackasamanwouldtoafriend.Hisanswerhegaveinakissortwoonmyface,andindeedsthatweresimplymarvelous.

The few arrangements necessary for the race for life, against such fearfulodds,weresoonmade.Inarabbit-skinblanket,whichwhenrightlymadeis,forits weight, the warmest robe ever worn, I carefully wrapped up Alec, and ascomfortably and as securely as possible I fastened him on his dog sled. Asbefore mentioned, our trains were so fastened together that we could not getseparated. Straightening out the dogs, that had during the halt huddled at ourfeet,IwrappedmyselfaswarmlyasIcould.Ithensoseatedmyselfonmysled,thatIwasabletotiemyselfonsofirmlythatevenifIbecameunconsciousfromthecoldIcouldnotfalloff.

Theleader,aswehavesaid,wasKoona,Hewasawiseandintelligentleaderunderordinaryconditionsoftravel,butintheblindingstorms,heseemedtoloseconfidence in himself and expected to be guided by the cheery voice of hisdriver.Soitwasonthistryingoccasion.WhenIshouted,“Marche,”theIndianword for “Go,” Koona only turned towards me and by his bewildered lookseemedtosay.“Whichway,Master?”Iwasjustasmuchatseaashewasand,up to thatmoment hadhoped that the superior intelligenceof this leader dog,wouldgetusoutofourdifficulty.Butitwasevidentthathewasgoingtothrowthe responsibilityuponme,and thiswaswhat Ihadnomoredesire toassumethanhadthedog.SoonceagainIshouted,“Marche!”

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Stilltherewasnosignofhisstarting,butifpossibleamoreanxiouslookintomyfaceandaneagerwaitingfortheIndianword,“Chaw,”or“Yee,”(“Right”or“Left” ) . Iwasnow so completelybewilderedby the fiercewhirlingblizzardthatIhadnottheslightestideaofanyofthepointsofthecompass.Thecoldwasterribleandofcoursewecouldnotstaythere.

Onwemustgosomewhere,andsoinsheerdesperationIshoutedouttoJack,ashewastheseconddoginthetrain.Eagerandalerttostarthehadbeen,fromthefirstwordshoutedtoKoona,butlikeawelltraineddogheknewhisplace,andthathewasexpectedtofollowhisleader.Hehad,however,beenshowingagooddealofimpatienceatthehesitancyofKoona,andsonowIsawthathewasready for any call thatmight bemade upon him. So I shouted, “Go on, Jack,whicheverwayyou like, anddo thebestyoucan, for Idonotknowanythingaboutit!”

Nothingmorewasnecessary.Thenobledogatonceseemedtorealizethatonhim rested the responsibility of rescuing us from our perilous position. Andgrandlydidheperformthetremendoustask,aswithoneofhischeerybarkshesprang forward in the tempest, Koona, with slackened traces, gladly droppedback,andwasquitecontent toresigntheleadershipto themorepowerfuldog.During the long run that followed,neveroncedid thebewildereddogseem towish,asmanyadogdoes,toagaintakehispositionasleader.Koonaseemedtohave had enough dog sense to know that Jack, in this trying ordeal, could dobetterwork thanhe, and sohe ranbeside the largerdogandat times cleverlyavailedhimselfof theprotection thus afforded to shieldhimself fromsomeofthefiercestblastsofthestorm.

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So thoroughlywas theblizzard lifting the snow from the ice, thatwewereabletotravelwithagooddegreeofspeed.Hourssucceededhours,andstillthestormshriekedandhowledaroundus.WithundiminishedvigorJackkepttohiswork. Occasionally I would shout out to him some cheery word, and backthroughthegalewouldcomehiswell-knownbark.Ithadinittheringofvictory,andstrangelykeptupourspiritsandhopefulness,andtheassurancethatwewereyetgoingtoescapethisperil,althoughwecouldbutbeconsciousofthefactthatwewereindeedinverygreatdangerofperishing.Thecoldwasnowsogrippingus that it seemed as though we must freeze to death. The very necessaryprecautionoftyingourselvesonoursledsmadeitimpossibleforustospringoffandrun,aswefrequentlydidunderordinarycircumstances.Soalltherewasforustodowastojustendureitandhopeforthebest.AsIwasveryanxiousaboutthewelfareofmy Indiancomrade, and resolved tokeephim from falling intothatstrangelanguorthatprecedesdeathbyfreezing,Ifrequentlyshoutedouttohim to keep awake. Oh howweary and unpleasant seemed the hours as theyslowlyfollowedeachother,eachsucceedingoneappearingtobringusnonearertorescueordeliverance!

Fromaboutmiddaythistrialofendurancehadcontinued.Nowtoaddtoourwretchedness, the darkness of night began to surround us. This not onlyincreasedourdiscomfort,butaddedverymuchtoourdanger.Itwasbadenoughwhenwecouldsee,evenifourvisionwasverymuchlimitedbythestorm,that

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swirledandeddiedaroundus,butnowtobeshroudedinthedensedarkness,outonagreatlake,nearlythreehundredmileslongandfromfortytoseventywidein this part, where the storm struck us, was indeed no enviable position tooccupy.Butwedidnot losehope.Therewereseveral things inour favor.Ourdogs under the marvelous leadership of Jack, seemed to have caught hisenthusiastic, indomitablespirit,andso,hourafterhour,weregallantlypressingonthroughthestormasthoughtheysawinthedistancethewelcomecampfire,and scented their supper ofwhite fish thawedout for thembefore the blazingflame.

Sotherewasnoneedoflosingheartwhilethedogsweresettingussuchanexampleofconfidenceandcourage.Thenwewerebothyoungandstrong,andhadwithusourcampoutfitofrobesandblankets,andifourdogsbecamerattledordiscouragedwemightspreadouttheserobesandblankets,andgettingunderthem,withourdogshuddledaroundandpartlyonus,wecouldat least try tokeepaliveduring thenight.So trusting ina lovingProvidence,whohadmorethan once before marvelously opened up our way, we resolved in quietrestfulnessofspirittomakenochangeaslongasJack,thegloriousfellow,keptpushingonwithsuchconfidenceandcourage.Frommyknowledgeofdogs, Idecidedthathewasconfidentofhiscourse,orheneverwouldhavecontinuedon at such a rate, and so inspiring all the other dogs with confidence andassurance saveKoona,Sowith the exceptionof theoccasional cheerycalls toJack,towhichhealwaysresponded,andthewarningcriestomyyoungIndiancomradenottogotosleepinspiteofthebittercold,Imanagedtokeep,orwaskept,inacomfortablestateofmindwithoutanxietyorfear.

Thusonwewerewhirledoverthegreatfrozenlake,where,weknewnot.Butit was evident that if the dogs could keep up such a rapid gait they wouldcertainlyintime,bringusoutsomewhere,andsoweresolvedthatwewouldtryandkeepfromfreezing,orevengoingtosleep,forundersuchconditionssleepmightmeandeathwithoutwaking.

Itwasperhaps threehours afterdark,when Iwasagreeably startledby thefact that the dogs had detected something and were much excited by thediscovery. Itwas a long time since I hadbeen able to see them, owing to thedarknessofthenightandthedensityofthestorm,butitdidnotrequireaviewofthemtotelloneaccustomedtodogsthattheyhadsuddenlybecomepossessedofsomeknowledgethat theirdriversknewnotof.Atfirst Iwas inclinedto thinkthat perhaps some roamingwild beast hadbecomebewildered in the blizzard,and was near us, far out on the great lake, and that the scent of it had only

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excited thehunting instinctsofmydogs.However, therewasbut little timeorchance for theorizing, or any thing else, except to hang on to the sleds andexercise all the skill possible to keep them from capsizing, as the nowthoroughly exciteddogsmadlydashed along.Such a burst of speed couldnotlast very long, nor was it necessary, for in a short time they gave us a verytangibleevidenceof thecorrectnessof theirkeennessof scent,andnoble Jackwonallhonorspossible,asthepeerlessleader.

The fellowhad, after a runof sixtyor seventymiles in the teethof a first-class blizzard,with the temperature anywhere from thirty to fifty below zero,gallantlyledthewaytotheicyaccumulationscutout,andpiledupdaybyday,byanumberofIndianfamilieswho,livingontheshore,comeoutherefortheirdailysupplyofwater.AsformonthstheseIndianshadbeenherecuttingouttheice that froze each night, therewas quite a large pile of it. Squarely did Jackstrikethatpile,andgallantlyaidedbythedogsbehindhescaleditsjaggedsidesand, before I fully realizedwhat itwas,wewere in apell-mell sort of a styletumblingdownontheotherside.Fortunatelywedidnotfallintheopenwater-hole,butstruckfinelythebeatentrailthatledupintheforesttothewigwamsoftheIndians.Overitthedogsfairlyflew.Soonweknewwewerebeingpulledupthe steep side of a bluff and in a fewminutesmore aswewere being hurledalongthesmoothbutcrookedtrail,wesawthewelcomesparksflyingoutofthetopofthebirch-barkwigwams.Ablessedsightindeedwasthis,forweweresafeat last;andcananyoneblameme if,afterournotesof thanksgiving toakindProvidence,weshoutedout:

“Welldone,Jack!”

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VII.JackInCivilization

WiththemostprofoundregretweleftthoseNorthernfieldsonaccountofsevereandprotractedillnessinthehousehold,whichmadeitimperativethatwe should go to a more temperate climate, if the valuable life that wasthreatenedwastobepreserved.

Wetransferredtheworkandallthatbelongedtoittoourhonoredsuccessor,includingallthedogs,withtheexceptionofJack.Mrs.YoungandthechildrenpleadedthatCuffyshouldalsobeallowedtocome,buttheexpensewouldhavebeensomuchthegreater,andtheenergeticmissionarytherecontinuingtheworkwasveryfondofherandmuchneededherinhisrearrangedtrain.

Without any very startling incidents,we reachedToronto and, shortly afterproceededtoaprettylittletowncalledPortPerry,wherewesettleddowninournewhome.

Jack accepted the new surroundings as though he had been accustomed tothem all his days. He speedily attracted great attention and was admired andpetted by all classes of people. He was “borrowed” by clergymen, doctors,merchants,farmersandothers,toshowtotheirfriends.Sometimeshewouldbeawayonthesevisitsfordays,buthewouldneverremainawaybeyondacertainlengthoftime.WhenJackthoughtitwastimeforhimtogohomenothingwouldstophim.Abigfarmer,wishing tokeephimlonger thanhedesired to remain,undertooktotiehim.Hesoongaveupthatjob.

Speakingaboutitafter,hesaid:“Imightaswellhavetriedtotieupatiger.”Jackspeedilymadehimselfusefulinourprettyparsonagehome.Oneofhis

dutieswastogotothebutcher’sformeat,asrequiredinthehousehold.Abasketwithagoodcoverandstronghandlewasspeciallypurchasedforhisuse.Acleantowelandanenvelope,inwhichwasmoneyanddirectionsforthebutcher,wereplacedinside,andthenthewholewasgiventotheeagerdogandhewassentonhiserrand.Hewastednotimeontheroad.Whenhereachedtheshop,hewouldallownomanbutthebutcherhimself,orsomeassistanthepointedout,totakethe basket. When his basket was loaded for him, he carefully and quicklyreturnedhomewithit.Frequentlythebutcherwouldberequestedtoputapiece

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ofmeatinforJack,andtoshowittohimandtotellhimthatspecialpiecewasforhim.

Hecamehomeproudlywithhisload,andalwaysexpectedthatsomememberofthefamilywouldgivehimcheerywords.Hedearlyloveda“Thankyou,Jack.Younobledog,youhavedonewell!”

Indeed, he ever had a weakness for compliments. How singular, and soexclusivelyconfinedtodogs!

Anymemberof the family couldunpack thebasket, and if itwere thoughtthat Jackdidnot thenneed thepieceofmeatput in forhim,hemadenot theslightest objection to seeing his piece put awaywhere his foodwas generallykept.

Butsometimes,toentertainsomeinterestedguests,Mrs.Youngwouldsaytohim,knowingthattherewasapieceforhiminthebasket,“Jack,Idon’twanttobebotheredwithyouandyourbasket!TakeitouttoMaggieinthekitchen,andletheremptyit.”

Jackofcourseobeyed.But seewhatachangeatoncecomesoverhim.HecarrieshispreciousloadoutintothekitchenandsetsitdownatMaggie’sfeet,andtherehestandslikeanalertsentinel.Maggie,asmightbeexpected,reachesdowntotakeitup,butaroarfromthebigdog,causeshertodropitinahurry.

“Takethecoveroffthebasketwhereitis!”Tothisrequestthegirlisnaturallyatfirstalittleloathtocomplybut,beingreassured,shedoesso,andmeetswithnooppositionfromthedogwhile takingoff thecover.ThenasJack’spieceofmeatisthereontop,thegirlnaturallyattemptstoremoveit,thatshemaygetoutthe well-wrapped-up piece that is beneath. But to this procedure Jack mostdecidedlyobjects.Allhewillallowhertodoistogetthewrappeduppieceout,withouttakinghisoutofthebasket.Heneverwouldallowaservanttoremovehis meat, neither would he take it out himself until the family piece wasremoved,thenhewouldcarrythebasketwithhispieceinit,outamongthetrees,andtherehewouldtakeitouthimself,andleisurelyeatit,orcacheitawayuntilneeded.

In the numerous invitations which were continually being received forlecturesandaddresses,therewastheconstantrequest:“BesureandbringJack!”The result was, that as I traveled up and down throughout the Provinces ofOntarioandQuebec,Jackwasaswellknowntothousandsaswashismaster.Inthe large halls and lecture rooms, aswell as inmany of the largest churches,Jack,thefamousmissionarydog,waseverawelcomevisitor.AtSunday-schoolpicnicsandothergatheringsofthechildren,Jackwastheheroofthehour,and

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manyof the littleoneshugelyenjoyed therideuponhisback.Then,when thespeakersassembledontheplatform,andthemusicandspeakingbegan,Jackhadanhonorable place among the parsons andothers of that class, andnonewhoknewofhimandhisworkeverthoughtofdisputinghisrighttohisplaceamongthosemosthighlyhonored.

ThefollowingisagoodillustrationofJack’spopularitywitheventhehighestclassesintheland.IwaswalkingonedayalongawellfilledstreetinacapitalcityofoneofourCanadianProvinceswithJackatmyheels.SuddenlyIheardmynamebeingshoutedoutmostenergetically:“Mr.Young!Mr.Young!”

AtfirstIcouldnotmakeoutwhencethecallingproceeded.Soonhowever,asitwasaccompaniedbythewavingofaredsilkparasol,IperceiveditwasfromthedaughteroftheGovernoroftheProvince,sittinginasplendidcarriage.

Liftingmyhat,Irespondedtohercalls,forwehadmetbefore,andshesaid:“The Judges are coming to dine at the Government House tomorrow. PleasebringJackuptodinner,andcomeyourself!”

Of course we went, Jack and I. And we dined with the Governor and hisfamilyandtheJudges.AndeverybodymadeagreatfussoverJack.

OntherailroadsJackbecameagreatfavoritewiththetrainmen.Hisplace,onajourney,wasalwayswith thebaggagemen,andheandtheyhadsomelivelybut good natured romps.When I started offwith him on a railway journey, Ialways took him to the baggage car and there left him, with orders there toremainuntilwereachedourstoppingplace,andthenIwouldcomeforhim.Sogood was he that he was never tied up in the car. He well knew what wasexpectedofhimandcheerfullyobeyed.Atthedifferentstationswherethetrainstopped to let off or take on passengers and baggage, Jack would frequentlyjumpouton theplatformwhile thebaggagemenwerebusywith the trunksorotherluggage.Buthenevergotleft.Insomewayorother,heseemedtoknowwhen itwas his duty to spring in the car again.Hewas very obedient tomyorderstowaitatthebaggagecaruntilIwouldcomeforhim.Thishealwaysdid,with one notable exception. Then he disobeyed orders most decidedly. Butbeforeyoucourt-martialhim,orevencensurehim,listentothestory,andthenseeifyouwouldhavefoundJackguilty.

Mrs.YoungandI,withJack,werecomingupfromTrentontoTorontoontheGrandTrunkRailway.Jackasusualwasputinthelargebaggagecar,withorderstoremainthereuntilIcameforhim.Mrs.YoungandIwereinthelastcarofthetrain.Wehadhardlybeentravelingmorethananhour,whensomeobstructionifweremembercorrectly,itwasamisplacedswitchonthetrackthrewourengine

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andallofthecarsfollowing,offthetrack.Thebaggagecar,whichasusualwasnext to theengine, turned sidewaysand thuswentdowna small embankment.This erraticmovement caused the sliding door in the lower side of the car tospeedilyflyopen.TheinstantthedoorthusopenedJacksprangout(sowewereafterwards told). He struck the ground before the car had ceasedmoving androlledoverinthedirt,butquicklyroseupunhurt,anddisappearedfromtheviewof thebaggagemen.Suchwas the speedwithwhichweweregoingwhen theaccidentoccurredthatthecarinwhichMrs.YoungandIweresittingwasshotorbrokenalmostcompletelyoffitsrunninggear.Fortunatelynobodyinourcarwashurt.

We,ofcourse,allsprangatoncetoourfeetandrushedforthedoor.Wewerethankful to find that it had not jammed, and sowewere able to get out veryquickly.Asourseathadbeenverynearthedoor,wewereaboutthefirsttorushout.Wewereexcitedbythecriesofthoseinjuredorconfinedinthecarsinfront,and were anxious to help. But before I had run many yards, there was Jackcomingwithall thespeedimaginable.Theinstantherecognizedmehegaveahowl of delight, and fairly springing upon me, he threw his great fore-pawsaround my neck and held me with a grip like a bear, while he kissed merepeatedlyindogfashionandagainhowledouthisjoythatIhadescapedinjury.

WhenIcouldgethimdownandquiethisdelightalittle,hehappenedtoseeMrs.Young,andawayherushedforher,andagainwehadanexhibitionofhisdelight that we had both fortunately escaped without injury. His remarkableconductonthisoccasionattractedmuchattentionfromanumberofpeople,andtherewasmuch discussion and speculation afterwards about Jack’s actions onthatday.Thesearethefactsastheyoccurred,andtheyareworthyofstudy.

WehadJackwithusonlyacoupleofyearsbeforehedied,andthatwasfromasadwoundinflicteduponhimbysomerevengefulgypsies.ThecauseofthisvengeanceandJack’sprematuredeath,wasthis:

Oneday,whenJackwasreturninghomefromthebutcher’sshopwithawell-filledbasket,hewassuddenlyattackedbyafiercewhitebull-dogbelongingtothese gypsies. Jack, faithful to his trust, while still holding on to his basket,managedtoshakeoff thetreacherousbrutethathadsoassailedhimwhenthusencumberedwithhisload.Hesucceededingettinghomewithhisbasket,buttheminuteitwassafelydelivered,Jackwasofflikeashot.Iwasastonishedtoseetheeasewithwhichhesprangoverthefrontgate,andhissuddendisappearancedownthestreet.Hewasnotlonginreachingtheencampmentofthesegypsies.The bulldog, the object of his ire, was now ensconced in the yard, but Jack

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speedilysprangover thegateandquicklyseizedhim,andalthoughhisownershadboastedofhisterriblefightingpowers,hewasnomatchfortheinsultedandindignantJack.

Thosewhosawthefightorpunishment,saidthatafterthefirstminuteorsoJackwassocompletely themaster thathe literallyshook thatbigbulldogasatrainedterrierdoesarat.Thenwhenhethrewhimdown,thethrasheddogwassocowedthathelayflatontheground.Jackwalkedaroundhimseveraltimes,uttering a few ominous growls, which doubtless were words of advice to themiserablefellowtobehavehimselfinfuture.Thenturningtowardsthegate,Jacksprangoveritwiththeagilityofagreyhoundandleisurelymarchedhome.Buthewasruffledinspiritsandoutofsortsallday.

Of course the revengeful gypsies could not forgive this thrashing, and thehumiliationtowhichtheirgreatfighterhadbeenobligedtosubmit.FormonthstheytriedinvariouswaystoinjureorkillJack,andatlengththeysucceededininflictingagrievouswoundinoneofhisshoulders.Wehaddoneforhimallthatskilledveterinarysurgeonscoulddo,buttheireffortswereinvain.Onetroublewas,thewoundcouldnotbereachedbyJack’stongue,whichisNature’sgreatplanforthecureofthesethings.AsIsawmyglorious,patientdog,myfaithfulcompanioninmanyalong,lonejourney,mydeliverer,humanlyspeaking,frommanyadangerousblizzard storm, thusdying slowlybeforeme, Idid long forwise oldRover, the famous dog doctor ofmywounded dogs in other days. IhavealwaysfeltconfidentthatRovercouldhavecuredthatwoundedshoulderofJack.Otherdogswithgreatwoundswerecuredbyhim,butalas!poorJackwastoo faraway fromhim,andsowe thus losthim.Andwhenhedied therewassadness and gloom in that house for many a day, for even the children werecomfortlessandlonesome,fortheycouldnoteasilyforgettheirgreatplaymateandprotector.

We buried Jack at the foot of a beautiful Canadianmaple tree. If, as JohnWesley and many other thoughtful learned men believed, there is to be aresurrectionfor thebrutecreation,surelyJackdeserved it.Andwhyshouldhenothaveit?

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VIII.Cuffy,TheBeautifulNewfoundlandDog

CuffywasthemostbeautifuldogIeverowned.ShewasathoroughbredNewfoundland of the short curly-haired variety. Every curl upon her seemedabsolutelyperfect,andtheywereapparentlyallofthesamesize.Shewasalwaysanobjectofadmirationtoeveryloverofthesenobleanimals.EvenpersonswhohadbutlittlelovefordogswouldstopandadmirebeautifulCuffy.

Like Jack, her inseparable companion, shewas agift from the lateSenatorSanford, ofHamilton. In companywith Jack, she reachedour far-off northernhome on the land of the Cree Indians, after a long journey of about threethousandmiles.During this tedious trip,which occupied severalweeks, thesetwodogswereonseverallinesofrailroadsandsteamboats.Whentheyreachedthenorthern limitsof thesecivilizedmethodsof transportation, theywere thentransferred to an Indian skiff, and in this primitive boat, packed in with furtradersoutfits,theyfinishedtheirlongjourneyandreachedourMissionnonetheworsefortheirmanyadventures.Onethingthatperhapsmorethananythingelsedeterredunprincipleddogfanciersfromstealingeitherofthem,wasthepatheticengravingonthebrassplatesonthecollarofeachdog.Itreadasfollows:

“ApoorMissionary’sdog,Pleasedon’tstealhim.”Thisprovedasufficientdeterrent,andsomytwovaluabledogsreachedme

insafety.Yearsafter,I traveledoverthatsamewildroutebywhichthesedogshad come, and was not a little amused by hearing the comments of severalpersons,whoadmittedthattheyhadcastcovetouseyesuponthosemagnificentdogs,buthadbeenrestrainedfromstealingthembythewarninglegendontheircollars.

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Cuffy was not only very beautiful in appearance, but she was also soaffectionate anddocile in everyway, thatMrs.Young speedily claimedher asherspecialpossession,andtheclaimwasneverafterdisputed.Shesoonlearnedthatshewasconsideredthesolepropertyofhermistress,andasaverynaturalresult, she most decidedly constituted herself her alert protector. Woe to thestrange dog that in Cuffy’s jealous watchfulness came too near her belovedmistress,Sizeor sexmadenodifference.The intruderwouldbeattackedwithsuch fury that he was glad to beat an ignominious retreat, often without theslightest ideawhyhehad received sucha shaking.Very soonafter this lovingrelationship had been established between Cuffy and her mistress theaffectionatecreaturewaseverstrivingtomanifestherlove.Wewereallamusedby thepersistentway inwhichshewaseverconstitutingherselfhermistress’sfootstool.Nomatterwhetheritwasoutforawalkinthewildwoodsduringourbrief pleasant summer time, or at home amidst household cares, the instantMrs.Youngsatdown to rest,Cuffywould throwherselfather feetand inhermutebuteloquentway,pleadthatherwarm,curlybodymighthavethehonorofbeing her mistress’s footstool. Then when the meals were announced and wegathered round the table, Cuffy would crawl under the table near to hermistress’sfeetandinsistupontheirbeingplaceduponherside.Iftherewasanydelayinthisbeingdone,Cuffywouldtwistherheadaroundandtakingthefeetcarefully inhermouth,wouldplace themwhereshedesired themtorest.Thisbeing accomplished to her satisfaction, she would then remain perfectly stilluntilthesittingormealwasended.

Shewasveryeasily taught to fetchandcarry,andnothinggavehergreaterpleasure than tobe sent intoother rooms forwell-knownarticles.Shebecamequiteanadeptatthiswork,butneverequaledJack,assomeofhistriumphsweresimplymarvelous.Cuffy acquired the art of opening every door in the house,when shewas on the sidewhere it opened from her, but shewas completelyfoiledwhenthedooropenedtowardsher.WithbutafewlessonsI taughtJackhowtoaccomplishthefeat,andheneverhadanydifficultyafterwards,butpoorCuffynevercouldgetpossessionof theknackofpulling thedoor towardsherandthusopeningit.However,thisdidnotmuchbotherher,ifJackhappenedtobeabout,and theyweregenerally together; foraftermakinganattempton thedoor and as usual failing, she wouldmarch over to the spot where Jack wascomfortablysleepinguponhisfurrug,andunceremoniouslyseizinghimbytheear,would leadhim to the closeddoor and in expressive dog languagewouldorderhimtoimmediatelyopenit.

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Withthisdemandhealwaysquicklycomplied,forCuffywasabitofatyrantand,presumingonhersex,lordeditoverhimmostthoroughly.Infactshehadhiminthemostthoroughsubjection,anditoftengaveuslotsofamusementtowatchhercoquettishandtantalizingways,andJack’spatienceandquietdignity.Yet,likemanyahen-peckedspouse,itseemedthatthemoresheimposeduponhim,thegreaterhisloveandjealouscare.

TheonlybattlesthatIrecallhavinghadwithJack,wereonCuffy’saccount,andbattlesroyaltheywere.Theycameaboutinthisway.Theprincipalfoodforallmydogswasfish.Duringthewintermonthsthefisharefrozensohardthattheyhavetobethawedouteretheyarefedtothedogs.Whenthedogswereathomethefishwerethawedoutatthehotkitchenfireanddistributedamongthehungry animals in the yard outside.Cuffy could not, orwould not understandthat shewas not to take her large, oily fish into the house and there leisurelydevour it on the studyor dining-room floor.Abig grease-spot on the floor orcarpetseemedatriflingaffairincomparisonwithherhavingtoeathersupperinthebittercold.SeveraltimeshadIsternlyreprovedher,andputheroutside,tofinishherfishwith theotherdogs.Findingat length thatscoldingswereofnoavail, and some protests coming in from other quarters about carpets beingruined,Iwasatlengthobligedtoresorttosternmeasures,andsooneevening,whenheractionshadbeenunusuallyprovoking, I tookheroutandgaveherarealgoodwhipping.Asshehadneverbeforebeenwhipped,shedidnotatfirstrealizewhatitmeant.However,Iwasresolvedthatsheshouldknow,andknowso thoroughly, that the whipping would not have to be repeated, and so Icontinued the use of the lash until she began to vigorously cry out under itsinfliction.

Anticipating trouble from yet another quarter, I had prepared for theemergency.Ihadplacednearathanda largeoakaxehandle,andit turnedoutfortunate enough for me that I had such a formidable weapon. Just as I hadexpected,Jack’sbloodwasupassoonasheheardCuffy’scries.Hewasontheopposite side of the large yard and busily engaged in eating his second fish.Suddenlyspringingup,hewasasplendidsightastherehestoodforaninstant,head up, ears alert, and with his foot on his coveted, half-devoured fish. AsCuffy’scriescontinued,witharushandaroartheenormousfellowcameforme.

Iknew,fromsomeexcitingexperiencesIhadhadwithangrydogsinthepast,thatmydog-whipwasofbutlittleavailinthebattlebeforeme,andsoIquicklyexchangeditfortheheavyaxe-handle.AndIhadtobequickaboutit,foritdidnottakethenowthoroughlyangrydoglongtodashacrosstheyardandplunge

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recklesslyatme for the rescueofhisbelovedmate.However, Iwas ready forhim;andso,ashesprangviciouslyatmeIwasabletostrikehimsuchablowthat I knocked him completely over. In an instant hewas up again, and oncemorehesprangatmejustasviciouslyasbefore.However,Iwasonmyguard,andagain,withallmymight,Istruckhimonthesideofhishead.Hewentdownallinaheap,andatfirstIthoughtIhadkilledhim.

Butthiswasonlyforafewseconds.Thenhewasup,andagainhechargedme.Mythirdblowcompletelydazedhim,somuchsothatwhenheralliedfromitheskulkedoff to thekennels.Nextdayhewasdistantandsulky,anditwasevident thatwewere to have another battle ere the question as towhichwasmasterwouldbesettled.Thedecisivebattlecameoffafewdaysafter.AsIhadbeen obliged so abruptly to leave off punishing Cuffy and fight for my lifeagainst Jack,her ladyshiphadbecomepossessedwith the idea that thevictoryhadbeenontheirside,andthatshecoulddoassheliked.Theresultwasthatoneevening shortly after, shemarched into the dining-roomwith a large fish, andthere on the carpet began leisurely to devour it. And, furthermore, whenrequested to take up her fish and go outside shemost decidedly, with ruffledcurlsandangrygrowls,refusedtodoanythingofthekind.

Itwasquiteevidentthatthingswerecomingtoacrisisinthedogkingdom.HadJackencouragedhertothusact,andwereotherdogsinsympathywithherandalsogettingreadytogoonstrikeagainstauthority?

Nomatter, whatever it is itmust bemet and settled, and settled in such amannerthatitwillnotberepeated.ThefirstthingIdidwastoshutJackupinthe fish house. Then Iwent for Cuffy. I gave her amost thorough trouncing.BeforeIwasthroughwithher,shefoundoutwhowasmaster,andneverdidshegrowlatmeagain.

Duringhercastigationshehadcriedbitterly.ThesecrieshadterriblyexcitedJack.Likea caged lion,hehadgrowledand raged inhisprisonabode,outofwhichhehadmadethemostdesperateattemptstoescape.Hesmashedthefewpanesofglass in thewindowof the fishhouse,but thewindowwas toosmallandhighforhimtostrugglethrough.

WhenIhadthoroughlyconqueredCuffy,andweweregoodfriendsagain,IarmedmyselfwiththesameaxehandleIhadusedbefore,andthenwenttohaveit outwith Jack.The instant I unlocked the door, I sprangbackonmyguard.Withoutanyhesitancyandjustasviciouslyasbeforehesprangatmythroat.IamconfidentthatifIhadslippedormissedhim,hewouldhavekilledme.ButIdid not miss him. My muscles were strong and hardened by the vigorous

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exerciseof thatwildNorthland,andso itwaspossible forme tostrikeablowlikeablacksmith.Bigashewasandweighingnearly twohundredpounds,hewent down under that blow as though shot. His recuperative power seemedmarvelous.Again and againhe came forme, but in every instance Iwas thusabletothrowhimover.Atlengthhebegantoloseheartinhisrushes,andthen,afterreceivingaspeciallyuglycliponthejaw,hisoppositionceasedandallthefight seemed suddenly to go out of him, and there the great big fellow laysprawledoutonthegroundandcoollylookingatme.

Now, for the first time since the commencement of the conflict, I spoke tohim:

“Jack!Whatdoyoumeanbythis?Iamashamedofyou!Comehere!Comeatonce!Howdareyouactlikethis!”

Thustalkingtohim,Istretchedoutoneofmyhandstohim,andatoncehebegancrawlingtowardsme.Asheslowlycamecrouchingtomyfeetandthebigtailbeganwagging,Isawthatthedogwasconquered.

Throwingawaythebigclub,Ifearlesslymethimhalf-wayandatoncebeganstroking thegreat head, onwhich I had, such a short timebefore, rained suchheavyblows.Jackwasconquered,andsowasCuffy,andfromthatdayforward,mywordwaslaw,andneveragaindideitherofthemreceiveablow.

Thewritingofthesebattleswithmynobledoghasbeenthemostunpleasantpartofmywork.Somereadersmayperhapschidemeashavingbeentoosevereinmymethods.Butitmustberememberedthatinsuchconflictsthemanorthedogmustbethemaster.Thepunishmentatthetimeseemedseverebutitneverhadtoberepeated.ForelevenyearsJackwasobedientandtrue,andneverafterthatlastbattlewashestruckagain.

AsmighthavebeenexpectedfromherNewfoundlandorigin,Cuffywasveryfondofthewater.Shewasasplendidswimmer,andwithJackashercompanionspentseveralhourseachdayinthelake,ontheshoresofwhichwedwelt,duringthefewwarmmonthsofourbrilliantsummer.Shewouldgenerallyremaininthewater longafterJackhadfelt thathehadhadquiteenoughswimmingfor thatday.He,however,wouldneverlosesightofheruntilshehadbecomethoroughlysatisfiedwithherjoyoussportingsinthewaves.Whenatlengthshereturnedtotheshore,greatindeedwashisdelight,andnoisilydemonstrativehiswelcome.Thenmost thoroughlywould she imposeuponhim. Insteadof swimmingeastwhere therewas a pleasant sandy beach, and there easilywalking ashore, herladyshipwouldswimdirectly towards thespoton thesteeprockyshorewhereJackwas visible, and there insist upon him helping her up at that precipitous

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place.Thiswasnotalwaysaneasy job. If Jackhadhappened tobewhere therock rose only a short distance above the water, he could reach down and,seizingherbythebackofherneck,helphertoscrambletoshore.Sometimes,however, it happened that when Cuffy started for the land, Jack would beperched on one of the highest points of the rocky shore. Then the funwouldbegin. Jack, apparently conscious of the trouble ahead,would carry on in themost franticmanner,andseemed tobe trying to tell theobstinatedog that shewascomingtothewrongplace.ButnotawhitcaredCuffy.Tothatspotwouldshe swim, andwhen she reached it shewould raise herself up as high as shecouldandthenhowlandcryforassistance.

Poor Jack! He was simply wild with excitement. In vain would he reachdown as far as he could, and bark back to her, in response to her howlings.Variouswere the expedientswhich he used to try to help her out.One of themostingeniousplans,andwhichdisplayedagooddealofreasoningpower,wastorushofftoapileofoldrubbishorlumberandthereselectalong,thinstick.Carryingthisbackto thesteep,hewoulddroponeendof itover toCuffy.Hewouldthenvigorouslyhaulonattheotherend,andsoonlandherontheshore,greatly to his delight. Never, however, did any of us observe her appear toexpress theslightestgratitudeforallhissolicitudeorcleverexpedientsforherrescue.Shejustaccepteditallasamatterofcourse,and,asusual,snubbedhimonthefirstoccasionafterward.

One of her great delightswhen in thewaterwas to frolicwith some largesturgeonwhichIhadsecuredinthelakeneartheshore.Thesesturgeonareonlytobecaughtduringafewweeks,andthentheyswarmedingreatnumbersonourshores.Theywerecaughtinlargegill-netsbytheIndians,andbroughtalivetotheMission.Theirmeatwhenfreshismuchsuperiortowhatit iswhensalted.The resultwaswe resorted to various expedients to keep these great sturgeonalive,untilwewishedtousethem.Someofthemweretenfeetlong.Oneplanwas tomake a sturgeon pond in some sheltered bay.This answered verywellwhenwehadalargenumberofthem,butiftherewereonlyafewinthatpond,theybecamesowaryandcunning,thatitwasverydifficulttocaptureonewhendesired.

Averycommonplanwastohaveafewswimminginthelakeeachfastenedtotheendofalongrope.Theseropeswereofsoftcottonandfromsixtytoonehundredfeetlong.Oneendwassofastenedtothesturgeon’sheadthatitcausednopainor inconvenience.Theotherendof the ropewas securedat the shore.Sturgeonareverypowerful fish andare able togive a strongpull.Being thus

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tied did not seem to trouble themmuch, and so they gamboled and played asmuchasusualbeforeus.

NothingpleasedCuffymorethantoplungeintothewateramongthemandtotakeapartinthefun.Atfirstwhensheusedtothusspringinamongthem,theywouldalldivedownandliequietlyatthebottom.Afterawhilesomeofthematleast did not seem to mind her and played about as usual. There was anespecially large one, that became quite friendly with Cuffy, although the dogneverseemedtounderstandhowitwasthatthefishcouldsoquicklygetoutofsight.OnegreattrickofCuffy’swastofirmlyseizeholdofthetailofthegreatfish. The instant the sturgeon would feel this, down it would quickly dive,dragging Cuffy completely out of sight. It would not however be very longbeforethedog,sputteringandblowing,wouldcometothesurfaceandquicklystrikeoutfortheshore.Hereshewouldcoughandsneezeatagreatrateuntilshehadforcedallthewateroutofherlungs.Thissuddenanddoubtlessunexpectedplungeintothedepths,didnotinanywaydiscouragethepluckydogandso,assoonasthesturgeonwasupandapparentlylookingforitsoldplaymate,Cuffywouldplungeintorenewthismostuniquesport.

We used up all the other sturgeon erewe cast our hungry eyes onCuffy’squeerplaymate.Weletitlive,andtheyenjoyedtheirstrangegambolstogether,untilthewinterwascloseathandandthewaterhadbecomesoicycoldthatitseemedcrueltoallowCuffytoplungeintoit.Thenwefeasteduponit.Butwhatanattractionitwouldhavemadeforanenterprisingshowman!

Living on fish, as we were obliged to do in those days, for nearly all thewintermonths,itwasagreatpleasuretogoofftothegoosehuntinthespringwiththeprospectofreturningwithanumberofthosesplendidgamebirds.IwilltellofCuffy’sfirstencounterwithanoldgoose,which,althoughwounded,hadstillenoughfightinhimtokeepatbayforatimeeventheredoubtableCuffy.

Aswasbutnatural, I feltquiteproudwhenIsawmyfirstwildgoosedrop,slowly it is true, from thepassing flock atwhich I had fired, and lightwith abrokenwing far out on the distant ice-field. I hadwithme one train of dogs.These Ihadordered to crouch lowatmy feetwhile I fired.Cuffy’squickeyewasthefirsttocatchsightofthewoundedgoose,evenwhileitwashighupintheair,andobserveitsdesperateeffortstostaywithitsfellows.Whenthiswasimpossible and it began to descend, I quickly unharnessed the eager dog.Theinstantthegoosealighted,atadistanceofatleastthree-quartersofamileaway,IgaveCuffyacheeryword,andlethergo.

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Quickly reloading my gun I sprang on my dog-sled and as rapidly as wecould travel, we followed after. Hampered as we were by Cuffy’s danglingharness,wecouldnotmakeveryrapidprogress,butwedidgetnearenoughtosee the battle betweenCuffy and thatwild goose.At first the goose, by rapidrunning,aidedbyitsonewing,triedtogetawayfromthedog.When,however,it found out that this was impossible, it suddenly stopped and stood on thedefensive.Withabarkofanticipatedeasytriumph,Cuffyrecklesslyrushedintoseize thegoose.But alas,what a humiliation!Before that dogknewwhat hadhappened,shewaslyingonherbackontheiceandfairlyhowlingwithrageandpain.Withonequickblow,withhisuninjuredwing, thatoldgoosehadstruckthatdogsuchablowthatunderitsterrificforceshewasknockedoveranddazedbyit.

But Cuffy was a very gamy dog and so she was soon up and at it again.Anotherhumiliatingfallortwoawaitedherandtaughthertobewary.Soasshesprangatthegooseagain,shefeintedinherrushes.Thenwhenshehadthrownthegooseoffhisguardshemadeaquickrush,andjustaswereachedheritwasalloverwiththatgoose.

Cuffy’sheadwassorefordaysafter.Thegoosewasatougholdganderandsowehunghimupforsomeweeks,ereweconsideredhimtenderenoughtobetackledasaspeciallydaintyarticleoffood.

Cuffyservedmewellforanumberofyearsasoneofmyfinestsleighdogs.She took to the work very easily and never had she to be whipped or evenscoldedwhen in harness.A cheerywordwas all thatwas necessary to induceCuffy todoall that she coulddo.With Jack shewa,sprivilegedabove all theother dogs at thewintry camps.Whenblizzards howled over us, and the coldwas so terrible that the spirit thermometer indicated anywhere in theneighborhood of fifty or sixty degrees below zero, these two dogs werepermittedtosleepon,andsometimesunder,myfurrobestohelpkeepmefromfreezingtodeath.

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IX.Voyageur,TheMatchlessLeader

VoyageurwasthefinestleaderdogIeverowned.Nohorserespondedymore quickly to the pull upon the rein than didVoyageur to the voice of hisdriver.Certainwordsusedbythedog-driverssoonbecomewellunderstoodbytheleaders,andareobeyedbythemwithmoreorlesspromptnessaccordingtothe intelligence or training of the dogs. Some dogs that at times display greatintelligenceandquicknessinrespondingtothecallsofthedriver,atothertimesseem provokingly stupid. But Voyageur could always be depended upon.“Marche!”tohimalwaysmeant“Goon,”while“Chaw”or“Yee,”meanttoturntotherightorleftasmightberequired,andneverdidhemistaketheonefortheother.Thenwhen“Isse”wasaddedtoeitherword,heknewitmeanttoturnbacksharpandquickonthetrailonthesideindicatedbytheaddedword.

Voyageurwasalarge,long-leggednearlywhitedogofmixedbreed,andnotwhatmightbecalledhandsome.Whenbeingtrainedinearlylife,hedisplayedsuch an amount of fierceness and stubbornness that hewas severelywhipped.Ononeoftheseoccasionstheendoftheheavylashaccidentallystruckhiminoneofhiseyesanddestroyedit.Thiswasagreatsorrowtohismaster,butitdidnotintheendseemtobemuchofaninjurytoVoyageur.However,itmadehimeverafterextremelynervous,andheeverresentedbeingsilentlyapproachedonhisblindside.

He was never an affectionate or playful dog. A petting he considered aninsult. Kindwords offered in return for some splendid work done by him hetreatedwithscorn,unlesstheywereaccompaniedbyanextragiftofpemmicanoranadditionalfishtohisusualallowance.Heneverwasseentoplaywithotherdogs,andsovigorouslydidheresenttheeffortsofsomeyoungerdogstogetupa rompwithhim that theyseldommadeasecondattempt.When Iopened thekennelsand let all thedogsout forexercise,Voyageur seemed toconsider thewholethinganuisance,andneverenteredintothewild,joyousfrolicswiththerest.IfwhendrivenoutbyanIndianhedidcondescendtofollow,itwasatleastahundredyardsorsointherear,andheseemedtorejoicewhen,unnoticed,hecouldturnbackandcurlupagaininhisfavoritecorner.

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Ifallowedtorunlooseabouttheplaceduringthemonthswhenthedogswereatwork,oneendofaropeaboutahundredfeetlong,hadtobetiedaroundhisneck. This was necessary as he was very difficult to catch. A clever Indian,however, taking advantage of his blind side, could generally without muchtroublegetnearenoughtohimtotakeholdofthislongtrailingrope.Whenthiswas once accomplished, although I have seen two hours spent ere he wascaptured, Voyageur would at once surrender and never offer the slightestobjectiontobeingpulledinandharnessedupwiththeotherdogs.

Onceharnessed,therewasagreattransformationinhim.Thissullen,sulky,timiddogbecame themostalertandactiveof themall.Asa leaderhehadnoequal.Onewordfromthedriver,behewhitemanorIndian,wasquitesufficient.Iftheroutewasonthegreatlakes,skirtingalongfromheadlandtoheadland,allthatwasnecessarywastopointtosomeboldblufforcliffthatshowedup,saytwenty miles away, and say: “Voyageur, that is our next point, now forit!”Straight asa surveyor’s linewouldbe the trailhewouldmake, aswithhistraces taut, and without a guide in front or another word from his driver, hegallantlydashedalong.

His worth and sagacity were specially displayed where the route lay overdangerous,treacherousplacesontheice.Thiswasnotunfrequentduringourlatejourneyings in the spring months, when the brilliant rays of the sun weredisintegrating the ice and so candellingor separating it into long crystals that,although still several feet thick, it was dangerous to travel on. A person wasliable to find himself suddenly dropping down through this strangelydisintegratedicethatyieldedtohisweightandlethimdownthroughit,whileininnumerable long splinters it rasped or grated with loud unpleasant soundsaround him. To be able to detect theseweak places andwind in and out andaroundthemandthuskeepallthedogsandsledsfollowing,onsafe,strongice,wasthedutyoftheleaderdog,ifnowell-trainedIndianguidewasatthefront.Itwas in just such dangerous places that Voyageur seemed to excel. He wassensitivetoadegreeandwishedtobeletalone.Allhewantedtoknowwasthedirectionaheadinwhichhewastogo,andnomatterhowmuchhehadtotwistandturnaroundthesebad,treacherousspotsintheice,hekeptthegoaleverinviewandwouldreachitwithunfailingaccuracy.

ThisevenJackandCuffywouldneverdo.Theyweretoosympathetictobereliableasguides.Sometimeswhen Ihaveputoneor theotherof themat thehead to try them they would do fairly well for a time but when a speciallydangerousplacehadbeensafelypassedtheywouldbesodelightedoverthefeat

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that they would sometimes, without a word having been said, abruptly turnroundandcometome,apparentlyeithertobecommendedfortheirgoodworkor toseehowIhadsurvived theordeal.Thiswasverypleasantandkindlyontheir part, but it was not first-class dog traveling or indicative of the highestqualificationson thepart of a leader.Several times it put us in very awkwardpredicaments,inplacesstillperilous,sowegotintothehabitofalwaysputtingVoyageur at thehead,wheredangers seen, andmore frequentlyunseenby thehumaneye,besetourtrail.

Thus foryearshewas theundisputed leaderof the first train.Generallyonmylongtrips,theIndianguidewasatthefrontrunningonahead.Hissnowshoesleft sufficient track for the dogs, even if he himselfweremiles on ahead.Nomatterhowcrookedthepathhethusmarkedout,thetraineddogsfollowedonitexactlyasthusindicated.Butwhenagreatlakewasreachedandtheguidewasweary of themonotonyof having been, itmaybe for days, runningon aheadalone, hewouldgladly resign the leadership toVoyageur.Gallantlywould thenoble dog take up the work thus assigned to him, and with the route onceindicated, would push on, hour after hour, with unflagging energy, while theguide thus released, would travel on in the rear with the other Indians withwhomhecouldchatandsmokeasthustheyfollowedinthetrailoronthefrozenlake.

AmongthemanyremarkableinstancesofhisintelligenceandsagacitywhereinallprobabilityVoyageursavedanumberofpersonsfromaterribledeath,thefollowingisoneofthemostinteresting.

FormanyyearsNorwayHousewasoneofthemostimportantoftheinteriortrading posts of the honorable Hudson’s Bay Company. Here in its manybuildingswouldbegatheredfrommanyoftheremotetradingposts,thevaluablefurs,untilthegreaterpartoftheship’scargowasaccumulatedfortransportationdown themightyNelsonRiver toYorkFactory, and from thatport shipped toEngland.

TheimportanceofNorwayHouseinthosedaysthusmadeitoneofthegreatcentersofthefurtrade.HeregreatcouncilsoftheGovernor,ChiefFactors,andotherofficials,werefrequentlyheld.

Onewinteranumberofgentlemeninconnectionwiththeservice,withtheirIndiandogdriversandservants,startedfromOldFortGarry,nowknownasthecity of Winnipeg, to travel by dog trains nearly four hundred miles north toNorwayHouse. It was an unusually large party to thus travel in the depth ofwinterovertheice,withthetemperatureranginganywherefromtwentytofifty

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below zero. Generally the business of this great and wealthy fur tradingcompanywassoarrangedthatthelongtripofthegentlemenoftheservicecouldbemadeduringthefewmonthsofthebrilliantsummerofthatgreatNorthland.However,therehadarisensomeemergencyinthebusinessoftheCompany,andthis long cold journey had to bemade by these officials and their retainers inspiteofthebittercold,andthefactthatforanumberofnightstheywouldhavetosleepinholesduginthesnow,inthedrearyforestsontheshoresofthegreatLakeWinnipegonthefrozensurfaceofwhichtheytraveleddayafterday.

There was a large number of dog trains with their Indian drivers, as intravelingofthisdescriptionnotonlyisitimperativetocarryalonglargesuppliesoffurrobesandblanketsforthewintrybeds,butabundantsuppliesoffood,withkettles,guns,ammunition,axesandvariousother things, inaddition toa largesupplyofpemmicanandfishforthedogs.

Voyageurledtheway.NoteventhemosttcleveroftheIndianguidesthoughtof indicating the routebykeeping in the frontwhile thisnobledogwas inhisplace.All thatwasnecessary,when thewintrycamp in the forestwasvacatedandthewholepartyoncemoreemergedfromitsdepthsontothesurfaceofthegreat lake, was to point out to faithful Voyageur the next headland or distantpromontory and with a dash he was off straight as an arrow to the requireddestination. The loud calls, the pistol-like reports of the dog-whips and theirstinging blows, so frequent on such hard journeys, were not needed whenVoyageur led and he had companion dogs of equal courage and endurance, torespondtohissplendidleadership.

Thuson they traveled towards thenorth,dayafterday.Thesunshonewithsuch undimmed brilliancy upon them that the greatest trouble arose from theattacks of snow-blindness caused by the reflection of the sun’s rays upon thedazzling pure white snow. This disease is painful in the extreme. The firstsensationof its coming is a copious flowingofwater from the eyes.Thenextstage of the attack is extreme agony in the eyeballs, a sensation of pain, asthough red hot sand was being thrown into the eyes. The final stage, ifprecautionarymeasuresarenotpromptlytaken,istotalblindness.Onthisspecialjourneyanumberof thebestIndianguidessufferedveryseverely,andsowithbandaged eyes they were only able to keep up by each holding on to a ropefastenedtothehindendofthedogsleds.

Onenightwhiletheywereintheircamp,therewasaheavyfallofsnow.Inthatcoldlandthesnowdoesnotpackharduponthelandorice,butislightandis very easily lifted up by the first highwind that comes along. Thesewinds,

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when they are fierce and strong and follow soon after a downfall of snow,constituteablizzard.

Arealblizzardshouldnotbeconfoundedwithanordinarysnowstorm.Theblizzardistheafterstorm,andgenerallytakesplacewhenthereisnotacloudinthesky.Itisreallyonlyahigh,fiercewindthatliftsupthelight,drysnow,thatmayhavefallendaysbefore,anddrivesandwhirlsitalongwithsuchfurythattheair is at times thickwith it,while every roador trail is simplyobliterated.The fallingof thisadditionalquantityof snow, towhichwehave referred,didnotmuchdisturbeitherthewhitesorIndiansofourtravelingparty.Infact,asitcame down upon them after they were snugly ensconced in their robes andblanketsandcompletelycoveredup,itwasconsideredasanadditionalcovering,that only added to their warmth and comfort. However, it was not quite sopleasant on getting up the nextmorning as on former days, as the snowwaseverywhere,andsomeofitseemedtopersistingettingdownthebacksofnecks,andinotherplaceswhereitwasnotwelcome.

Thentherewastheadditionalworkofhuntingthedogs,someofwhomwereburied under several feet of snow, and persisted in there remaining in theircomfortable retreats in spiteof importunate calls, until theyhad tobe literallydugoutwithsnowshoesassubstituteforshovelsinthehandsoftheIndians.

When everything had been dug out of the snow, the sleds packed and thejourneyresumed,itwasfoundoutveryquicklythatastherewasnownearlytwofeetofdrysnowontheice,itwouldbeimpossibletomakeasrapidprogressasheretofore.However,asthestormwasoverandtheskycloudlesstheypushedonasrapidlyaspossiblewithVoyageurstillbravelyleading.Sometimes,however,anumberoftheIndiandriverswiththeirsnowshoeswould,inIndianfile,pushonaheadandthusmakeabeatentrailwhichmadeiteasierworkforthedogstodragtheheavysleds.

Oneafternoontherewasagloriousphenomenoninthewesternsky.Ahazysort of a cloud seemed to come up from below the western horizon and torapidly extend to the zenith. Then circle after circle appeared around the sun,whileineachoneofthemmocksunsshininginallcolorsoftherainbowwerefor a time most vivid and beautiful. Then as the haze increased, the circlesdimmedawayand thesun itselfbecame thecentralpointofablazingcrossofmoststartlingandwondrousbeauty.Thereforatime,inradiantglory,itshoneinsplendor,whileaboveitstilllingeredahalf-circleofoneofthesolarringsthatanhourbeforehadbeensovividanddistinct.

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Butwhilethesesignsintheheavenscharmedanddelightedthegentlemenofthis traveling party, they filled with anxiety the minds of the experiencedIndians.Theseredmen,wellpostedinsuchthings,knewthatafiercestormwascoming,andthat thesebrightcirclesandthatflamingcrosswerethesignsthatevennowtherewasrushingdownfromtheregionsofAthabaskaortheRockyMountains a wind so fierce that when it struck that great LakeWinnipeg, onwhichnowrestedsopeacefullythatgreatcoveringofnew-fallensnow,itwouldliftitupandtransformitintocruelblizzardswhich,likegreatmonsters,wouldshriekandhowlfortheirvictims.Onlybythegreatestenduranceandskillcouldtheyescapeifsuddenlycaught,faroutfromtheircamporforestretreat.

WhentheIndianscommunicatedtheirsurmisingstothegentlemenincharge,it was decided tomake every effort to push on as rapidly as possible. Everyavailable man who could help pack the trail was sent on ahead to make thetraveling easier for the dogs. Thus for hours theymade good progress, as thestormwasstilldistantandthesnowundisturbed.

Whennightovertookthemtheyturnedintotheforestandmadetheirwintrycamp.Astheyoungergentlemensataroundthefirewellwrappedupintheirfurgarmentsandeatingtheirsuppers,theywereinclinedtolaughatthefearsoftheIndianswhohadpredictedacomingblizzard.Anditthendidseemasthoughtheforebodings of the Indians were groundless, for no sign seemed to indicate astorm.Abovethemthestarswereshiningwiththeusualbrilliancyofanarcticsky,forallthehazyappearancesthathadhelpedtoma,kethewondrousvisionsof thepreviousdayhad entirelydisappeared.Even the smoke as it roseup soperpendicularlyfromtheblazinglogfireinfrontofthemgavenoindicationofthe slightest breeze.All naturewas so calm and still that it could hardly be amatterofsurprise that these inexperiencedyoungmenshouldmakemerryandhavea little funat theexpenseof theoldIndians. In themeantimethesesameoldIndianspaidbutlittleheedtotheirremarks.Theyknewfromtheexperiencesofthepastwhatwasbeforethem,andevenwhiletheywerebeingridiculedtheyweremakingallpreparationstomeetthecomingstorm.

VoyageurwasgivenanextrafishbytheIndiansatfeedingtime,andprovidedwithadeerskinonwhichtosleep,whileatthesametimehistravelingropewasfastenedtoatree,sothatheshouldnotskulkaway.

Asdecidedonbythegentlemenincharge,thestartwasmadeveryearlythenextmorning.Theresultwasthattheyweremanymilesontheirjourneyeretheflashing, dancing, brilliant auroras, which had been of unusual splendor andactivity,werelostinthesuperiorbrightnessoftherisingsun.

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With the light thus afforded thewhole party turned in towards the easternshoretoawell-woodedrockypointandtheretheIndiansquicklycutdownsomedrytreesandcookedthemuchneededbreakfast,whichwasheartilyenjoyedbyall. The intense cold uses up so much of the vitality of the body that largequantitiesofthefattestoffoodareabsolutelyessentialiftravelerswouldkeepinvigoroushealth.Then the journeywasresumed,but itwasnot longbefore thechangesrapidlytakingplacearoundandabovethembegantoshowthattheoldIndianswererightinspiteofthecriticismsoftheinexperiencedwhitemen.

Sometimesablizzardcomesdownsuddenlyon travelers, fairlyrollingoverthemlikegreatfogbankssweepinginfromtheocean.Atothertimesitbeginswithfitfulgustsofwindthatseemtocomefromanywhereanddisappearjustassuddenly andmysteriously. Thus it was on this occasion, and so our party ofwhites and Indians began to hope that it would amount to but little, or be sodelayed that they could reach their camping place ere any serious dangermenacedthem.

Sotheygallantlypushedonacrossthegreatbayinthelake,whichwasmanymilesinwidth,andwhereforhours,eveninfineweather,theywouldbeoutofsightofland.

Slowlybutsurelythestormincreased.Voyageurgallantlykeptuphisspeedandseemedtoknowaswellasthedriversthatnotimewastobelost.

Thetrainswerenowallfastenedtogetherbytyingthetailropesofthesledsaheadtothecollarsofthedogscomingimmediatelyintherear.Additionalropesweremadesecuretothesleds,andastheblizzardinallitsfurywasnowuponthem,everypersonexcepttheexperiencedIndianswasgiventheendofoneofthesetoholdontoor,ifhepreferred,tofastentohissashbeltandthuskeephimfromstrayingawayandbeinglost.

Theseprecautionswereabsolutelynecessary,asoftensodenseisthedrivingsnowthatapersoncannotseemanyfeetinanydirection,whileatthesametime,theroaroftheblizzardissoterriblethatnohumanvoicecanbeheardbeyondaveryshortdistance.

Thustiedtogetherasitwere,andwitholdVoyageurcourageouslyleadingon,theymadeasmuchprogressaspossibleundersuchdiscouragingcircumstances.Whentheblizzardhadsettleddownintoitsgenuineform,itwasevidentthatitcame principally from the northwest. The result was our party had to travelalmostinitsveryface.Attimes,however,itsoswirledandeddiedaroundthemthatitseemedtocomefromeveryquarteroftheheavensat thesamemoment.This revolving, eddying nature of a blizzard is what constitutes its greatest

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danger,asitmakesthetaskofkeepingintherightdirectionsomuchthemoredifficultasthereisnottheleastvestigeofaroad,andtheviewissolimitedthatit isutterlyimpossibletoseeeitherthesunoranydistantlandmarktoindicatetherouteinwhichpartiesmaywishtotravel.

However,Voyageurwasat thehead,andtherearetimeswhenevenadog’sintelligenceismorethanamatchforman’sexperience.

Fortunately Voyageur, in other years, had successfully led the way withsimilarparties,andsonowinhimallweretrusting,evenifnotoneman,whiteorIndian,couldseemanyyardsahead.

After some hours thus traveling, a halt was called, pemmican bags wereopenedandothersuppliesbeforehandprovidedweremadeavailable,andeachman, aswell as he could, in spite of the storm, ate of thenourishing food, soessentialtoenablehimtocontendagainstthefiercestormandthebittercold.

The journey was then resumed, and for some hours more Voyageurunhesitatinglyledthemallon,amidstthestillragingblizzard.Afterawhiletheincreasingdarknesstoldthemthattheshortwintrydaywasdrawingtoitsclose,andthatthelongnightwasathand.Thisfactnaturallycreatedsomealarmandcaused some of the gentlemen in charge to insist upon somethingmore beingdone in reference to the route being traveled than by merely trusting to theleadershipofasingledog.QuietlytheIndiansurgedthatnothingbettercouldbedone and that the dog had best be let alone to his own experience andintelligence.But suddenly thisalso seemed to fail, forunexpectedlyVoyageur,the peerless, stopped in his tracks and deliberately lay down on the ice andsnow!

Thiswas indeed a seriousmatter andone that couldnot be allowed.SharpandsternweretheordersoftJiewhitemenincommandandsowhenallwordsofentreatyandurgingcouldnotinducethenowapparentlysulkingbalkingdogtomoveon,theheavywhipwasbroughtintorequisitionandthenobledogwasmostcruellybeaten.Itwasnoticedandwonderedatthatevenundertheheavieststrokeshegaveoutnocryofpainbutinsilencetookthepainfulbeating.Whitemen,whostoodaroundnowfullofangerandvexation,cruellykickedthepoordogbutstillhewouldneithermovenorgiveoutasoundofpain.

“Paulette!” shouted thewhiteman incharge, “youmustgoonand leadus.Wecannotremainhereandfreezetodeathinthishorribleblizzard!”

Paulette,themostexperiencedguideofhisday,quicklyresponded,andwithhis quick eye and long experience was able to note the direction in whichVoyageur had been leading them, and so, even before the partywas ready to

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follow,hebegantopushonaheadinthegloomofthatstormynight.Hedidnot,however,goveryfarbeforehequicklyreturned,withacryofterrorandalarm,tohiscomrades.

“Weareonthethiniceovertherapidcurrentoftheriver,”heshouted.“Thedoghassavedourlives.”

Itmaybenecessaryhere to explain thatwhilemany largeaswell as smallriversrunintoLakeWinnipeg,ithasonlyoneoutlet,thegreatNelsonRiver.Sowideisitatitsmouththatinthegloomofnight,orwhenstormslikethisoneareraging, it is quite easy for parties to run out on its frozen surface withoutobservingthattheyhavealreadyleftthelake.Todothisis,however,safeonlywhenthecoldisintense,sayfromtwentytosixtydegreesbelowzero.Butwhenanythingwarmerthanthis,theicewearsthinfrombelowandthereisthedangerto all who venture on it as the keen-scented, cleverVoyageur discovered andrefusedtopassover.

A very brief investigation showed this to be true, and there was a speedyretreatfromsuchaprecariouspositiontostrongerice.

Fortunatelythediscoveryoftherunningwaterunderthethiniceindicatedthelocality,sothatadetourtotheeastsoonbroughtthemtothefriendlyshelteroftheforest.Hereanabundanceofdeadtreesbeingfound,aroaringcampfireandagoodsuppersoonmadethemforgettheirhardshipsintheirgratitudefortheirdeliverance.

OldVoyageurwasindeedtheheroof thehour,buthesullenlyresentedanypetting for his wonderful display of sagacity, although he did condescend toacceptafinepieceofpemmicaninadditiontohisrationofwhitefish.

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X.Voyageur,TheBroken-hearted

Voyageur had been thoroughly trained by his former master, aMr.SinclairoftheHudson’sBayCompany,beforeIboughthim.Suchwashissingular undoglike nature, thatwhile he left his firstmasterwithout regret heever treated me with indifference. As a dog outside of his harness he was anonentity,orratherapuzzle,butwhenattheheadofhistrain,witheverymusclequiveringwithexcitementandearserectasheeagerlywaitedforhis“Marchingorders,”hewaseveryinchadog.

Notuntilwehad losthimdidwebegin tounderstandhimand realizehowthatproudpositionofleadershipwasalltheworldtohim.

It was with him: “Aut Caesar aut nullus,” [Either Caeser or nothing] soemphatically,thatwhenhissupremacywasquestionedhisproudspiritscorned,anysecondplace,andsohelaydownanddied.

TherewassomethingsopatheticandalmosthumanlytragicaboutVoyageur’sendthatitissadtowriteaboutitespeciallyasIwastheinnocentcauseofit.

Wellawareoftheshortlivesofdogs,andthussadlyconsciousthatVoyageurcould not last many years longer, with all his old-time vigor, I was naturallyanxious to have some trained successors to take his place. Becoming thefortunate owner of some very fine young St. Bernard dogs, several of whichwere nearly a year old, I was naturally desirous of breaking them in, andespecially of finding out if at least one of them, would develop into a goodleader.Intheusualwayoftrainingtheyhadalreadyhadsomelessons,andIwasmuchpleasedwiththedocilityandintelligencewithwhichtheyhadactedwhenharnessedupwitholderdogs.However,uptothetimeofthestrangeeventIamgoingtorelate,Ihadnevertriedanyoneofthemasaleaderdog.

Theprincipalsupplyofwhitefishonwhichourowntableaswellasourdogsdepended,wasobtainedfromafisheryfifteenortwentymilesdistant.Therethefish were caught in the month of October, just before the ice formed on thewaters.Sometimes,indeed,thewintersetinearlyandthen,atthecostofagood

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dealofhardship,thenetshadtobesetundertheiceandkeptemployedbytheIndiansuntilthedesirednumberofthesedeliciousfishwassecured.

When caught these fishwere either hungupon stagings above the reachofprowlingwolvesorthievishEskimodogs,orelsepackedawaysecurelyinice.

Ihad,everyOctober,severalthousandofthesefishthuscaughtandsecuredforme.Thesevereandsteadyfrostdid theworkofcuring them,as theywerefrozen as hard as stones and thus kept perfectly fresh and good for severalmonths.

The work of drawing these fish home to our Mission was interesting andpleasantalthoughthereturnjourneywiththeloadedsledsmadeitnecessarythatweshouldallwalk,orratherrun,intheusualIndianjogtrotfashion.

As I was arranging for a long journey of several weeks’ duration to someremote Indians,whichwould necessitatemy takingwithmemy best trains, Idecidedbeforebeginning the trip todraghomeallofmyfish from thedistantfisheries.

Weworkedwithfouror five trainsforseveraldaysandas theweatherwasbrilliantly fine all the time, without any snowfall or blizzard, we soon had asplendidbeatentrail.

Itwasquitecustomaryforanumberofmyyoungerdogstoaccompanythepartyonthesetripsandbytheiranticsandamusingwaystoverymuchbreakthetediousness of the work, which, after the first journeys, became quitemonotonous.Extraharnesswouldsometimesbecarriedalongandoccasionallywewouldharnessupsomeoftheseyoungerdogsandthuscarryontheworkofbreakingthemin.

OnedayaswewereonthehomestretchwithourheavyloadsIharnessedupaveryfineyoungSt.BernardthathadalreadybeenpartlytrainedandfastenedhiminfrontofVoyageur,thusconstitutinghimleaderofthetrain.EreIwasabletostart,Iwasdelayedbyhavingtorefastenmyloadoffish,whichhadbecomesomewhatloosened.

Whenreadytostart,Ishouted:“Marche!”Tomy surpriseVoyageur sprang to hiswork and aided by the strong dogs

behindhim,wasspeedilyenroute.,whiletheyoungdog,withmuchshortenedtraces, ran gamboling by the side of the harnessed train.Quickly stopping thesleds I proceeded to investigate, and discovered that while I had beenrearranging my load, Voyageur had been busily using his teeth, and hadsucceededincuttingoffthetracesofthedogthatIhadhadtheaudacitytoputinfrontofhim!

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Iwasamusedandannoyedannoyedathavinganewharnessnearly ruined,andamusedatthespiritofthematchlessleaderofmanyyearsthusemphaticallyresentingtheharnessingofayoungdogaheadofhim.

“Well, old dog,” I said, “I’ll forgive you this time, butmind, therewill betroubleifyoudoitagain.”

Then without any difficulty I caught the young dog, and finding that thetraceswhichVoyageurhadcutoffwerestilllongenoughtobeavailable,Ioncemorefastenedhimattheheadofthetrain.Thenashisheadwastowardshome,Ishouted,“Marche!”andtheexcitementbegan.

Theyoungdogdidsplendidly,butpoorVoyageurwaswildandfurious.Hewasmostindignantatthisinsultheapeduponhimandwasnotatallbackwardinshowinghistemper.Hefirsttriedtogetholdoftheyoungdogtothrashhimforhisimpertinence.Thisthethoroughlyfrightenedyoungdogdidnotpermitashetookgoodcaretokeephistracessostretchedthathewasacoupleoffeetaheadoftheteethofthefuriousolddog.Failinginthis,Voyageurthentriedtocutthetraces with his teeth as he had done before. This of course I resented, and acoupleofcracksfromthewhipshowedtheolddogthatalthoughIhadforgivenhimforhisfirstoffence in this line,Iwas innomoodtoseemyvaluabledogharness cut again. Foiled here, the excited dog nowmade themost desperateeffortstogetaheadoftheyoungdogwhohadthussuddenlysupplantedhimasleader.ButtheolddogsbehindVoyageurdidnotenterintohisspirit,andastheloadoffishwasheavy,theysawnoreasonforanyspecialexertion.Theywerewilling to do their share of the pulling at the ordinary speed, but were notanxioustosoexertthemselveswithathousandweightoffishonthesledastotryandrundownayoungdog,evenifoldVoyageurdiddesireit.

Thuscompletelyfoiledinthisasineveryotherschemehisdogintellectcoulddevise, Voyageur suddenly collapsed. His proud, eager, ambitious spirit wascompletely broken.His high headwith that ever alert eyewent down and thelong tail tried to disappear between his hind legs. A look of utter despair, orrather discouragement, took possession of him, and he just mechanicallyslouchedalonglikeafrightenedwolf.

QuicklydetectingthisIatonceunharnessedtheyoungdogfrombeforehimandthuslefthiminhiscovetedplaceastheleader.

AshestillseemeddisconsolateIspokeafewcheerywordstohim:“Poorolddog, soyoudon’twantayoungsupplanter to takeyourplace. I amsorryyoufeelsobadlyaboutitandsoIwillnotvexyouinthiswayagain.”

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Butitwastoolate.Themischiefwasdone,Voyageur’sheartwasbroken.Henever forgaveme,andheneverhelduphisheadagainwith theold-timedashandvigor.Allmysympatheticwordswerenowasmockery.Hehadnevercaredmuchforthem;nowheseemedtoconsiderthemasinsults.Heneveragaingavemeakindlookorawagofthetail.Hejustskulkedalonghomehardlydraggingapoundoftheload.Ihadhopedthatanight’srestafterandagoodsupperwouldcausehimtoforgethisannoyancebutitwasnotso.InvainIputonhimmybestharnessdecoratedwithribbonsandsilverbells,ofwhichthedogsaresofond.Itwasofnouse.Mygoodwife,whowasfondofthenoblefellow,andwhoalonecouldwinfromhimahalf-graciouswagofhistail,triedinvaintorousehimoutofhisdepression.But she too failed like the restofus.Voyageurwasbroken-heartedandwouldcryandmoanlikeadisconsolatechild.Shortlyafterhewentout on the frozen lake in the front of our home, and there he set up a mostmournfulhowling.Thenhelaiddownontheiceasthoughasleep.

Mrs. Young, who had seen him from a window, sent out an old Indian tobringhimin.Whenthemanreachedhimhefoundthedogdead.

Faithful old dog! He had not enough of the spirit of self humiliation soessentialinthismodernage,whentheinexperiencedandimmaturearepreferredbeforethewelltried.

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XI.RoverI,TheSuccessfulDogDoctor

Roverwasalarge,beautiful,blackandwhitedog,buthewasthemostchicken-hearted coward I ever saw. The smallest dog inmy pack couldmakehimrunandhewasneverknowntoshowanyfightorpugnacity.Theverysightof thewhip sethimoff in aparoxysmofhowlings, anda stern, sharp reproofwasmetwithanyamountofcomicaldogsobs.

Hehadashortbutverywhitebushytail.Wheningoodspiritshecarrieditvery erect, and as it spread out like a fan, it gave him a very laughableappearance.

When quite a young dog, just emerging from puppyhood, he wasunfortunatelyallowedtoaccompanymeonewintrymorningwhenIwentouttovisitsomerabbitsnaresthathadbeensetamileortwointheforestbehindmyMission home. The young rascal became so interested in the work, that onsubsequent occasions he slipped off alone and helped himself to some of thesnaredanimals.SofonddidhebecomeofrabbitsforbreakfastthatIhadagooddealoftroubleinbreakinghimofthehabit.

Whipping him caused him to howlmost dolefully, but hismemory provedveryshortalong that lineandsoonhewasasbadasever.After tryingvariousplansIatlengthsucceededincuringhiminanoddway.Findinghimonedayintheveryactoftakingarabbitoutofthesnare,Icaughthim,andinspiteofhisdolefulhowlingsI tiedthedeadrabbitsecurelyaroundhisneckandmadehimwearitfortherestoftheday.Mostpiteouslydidhepleadtohaveittakenoff,butIwasobdurate.Vainlyhewouldappealtomylittleboyandotherstorelievehim of his humiliating load. None would listen to his appeals, but, as wasarranged,allchidedhimasaverynaughty,thievishdog.Whenhetriedtotearitoffwithhispawshewaswhipped,andthushewasobligedtowearitallday.AtnightItooktherabbitoffandgavehimagoodpeltingwithit.Thispunishmentcompletelycuredhim,andfromthatdayhecarefullyshunnedallrabbitsnares.

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But in spite of his extreme cowardice and nervous sensitiveness he was avaluablesleighdogandhadanyamountofendurance.Harnessed ina trainoffourdogshefaithfullydidhisworkandnevershirked,asmanyoftheotherdogsattimesdid.

Whenonmylongtrips,oftenofhundredsofmileswithfourdogtrainsandthreeorfourIndiancompanions,thefirstthingwedidwhenthecampingplaceforthenightwasselected,wastounharnessthedogs.Asthecampingplaceinthesnowmustbedugoutandpreparedtobeourrestingplaceforthenight, itwasanhourormorebefore itwaspossible to thawout the frozenfish for thehungrydogs’supper.Tothisdelaythedogsbecameaccustomed,andinvariouswaysemployed themselvesuntil thescentof the thawingfishbrought theminhungrygroupsasneartotheblazingcampfireaspossible.

Someoftheyoungeranimalswithhuntinginstincts,gotuparabbithunt,asatcertainpartsofthecountry,duringsomewinters,therabbitsswarmedinvastmultitudes.Roverhadhadenoughofrabbitexperiencesandsoneverbotheredhimself with any hunting excursions. He did, however, amuse and interest uswith his elaborate preparations for his night’s lodgings. Shortly after he wasunharnessed and the location of the camp decided upon, Rover woulddeliberatelymakeatourroundthewholeplace.Hewouldcarefullyinspectthedifferenthollowsanddensebalsamtreesthatwerenearathand.Thenhewould,iftherewastousseeminglylittleornowind,getuponsomesnow-coveredrockorfallentreeandtheresniffuntilhehadexactlyfoundthedirectionfromwhichtheairwascoming.InthisIneverknewhimtobeatfault.Socalmattimeswasthe air that the smoke and sparks from our camp fire ascended soperpendicularly that apparently there was not the slightest movement in theatmosphere.YetEoverselectedhiscampingplaceontheleesidesoaccuratelythatwhen,asitoftenhappenedsomehoursafter,thewindrose,itnevercaughthimsleepinginanexposedplace.Howhewasabletothusbepreparedagainstbeing caught exposed to a biting wind, was among the mysteries of animalinstinct.

Whenthecozyshelteredspotwasaftermuchdeliberationthusdecidedupon,Roversettoworktomakeithabitableaccordingtohisability.Firsthecarefullypaweddownthroughthedeepsnowuntilhereachedtheground.Ifbulgingrootsorhardunevengroundorsharppointedstonesweremetwith,hewouldatfirstwithhisteethtrytoremovethem.Ifinthishefailed,heshiftedhisgrounduntilhe was satisfied, then with a grunt of great satisfaction, he curled round andround in his thus carefully prepared nest and rested until thewelcome call to

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supperbroughthim,with theothers, to theirdifferent Indiandrivers to receiveeachtheallowanceoftwowellthawedwhitefish.Thiswastheonlymealofthetwenty-fourhours,andsowasmuchprized.

BigandapparentlypowerfulasRoverwas,hisdriverhadtokeepavigilantwatch,or thegood-naturedfellowwouldinallprobabilityberobbedofoneofhis fishbysomecunning rascalofadog fromanother train.Hewasalwaysadainty, sloweater.He ate his supperwithgreat delight and accompanied eachmorseltornoffanddevoured,withmostamusinggruntsorsnortsofsatisfaction.So leisurelydidhe thus takehis supper, thathewas invariably the lastdog tofinish. Thiswas often an annoyance to his driver, especially as hewas neversupposedtotakehisownsupperuntilallofhisdogswerefed.WhenatlengthRover had eaten his full allowance he would leisurely return to his carefullypreparednest-like restingplace in the snow,andalmost invariablyhe found itoccupied.

Then the funbegan.The intruderwasgenerallyoneof the livelydogs thathadbeenoffrabbithunting,until theloudcallforsupperhadspeedilybroughthimback.Quicklyhadhedevouredhismealandthenfindingthiscozyresting-place,socarefullypreparedbyRover,hehadtakenpossessionandherehewascomfortablystowedaway,asheimagined,forthenight.

Notso,however,thoughtRover.Hewasinnohumortobethusdeprivedofhis choicely selected and laboriously prepared nest. It was most amusing towatchhiseffortstogettheintruderout.Butasthenestwasperhapstwoorthreefeetdeep,andtheotherdogwasinsideandwasshowingasetofglitteringteeth,andutteringsomeominousgrowlspoorRoverat the topcouldonlymusterupcourageenoughtolookdownathimandsay:“Bowwowwow!”

Littlecaredtheinterloperforthese“Bow-wow-wows,”whichheknewRoverhad not courage enough to follow up with any vigorous attacks, and so hemerelyshowedhis teethandutteredagrowlor twoofdefiance.Heseemedtosay:“I’vegotpossessiongetmeoutifyoucan!”ForsomeminutesRoverwouldthus protest in all the dog-entreating words which he had in his limitedvocabulary,andwhoknowsbutheaddedafewstrongerones?Whenhesawthatalltheseeffortsfailed,heinvariablycameforme.

Whenwesawhimcoming,whichalwaysaffordedgreatfuntotheIndians,Iwouldpurposelymoveroundthefireinandoutofthecamp,ondifferentsides,orgoinandoutamongthedogsleds.StilldoggedlywouldRoverfollowmeupuntilIfeltIhadtriedhispersistencequitelongenough,whenIwouldstop.Thenwitha“yow!yow!yow!”hewould seize the fringeofmymoose skin leather

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coat,andwithagentleyetfirmtug,leadmetothespotwherehehadpreparedhisnestatsuchtroubleforhisnight’srest,butwhichwasnowinthepossessionofanintruder.Roverwouldnotletgoofmeuntilhehadbroughtmetotheveryedgeof the nest.Then in his comical, plaintive language, hewoulddirectmyattentiontothislamentablestateofaffairsandbegformyhelpfulintervention.

Agoodstickorwhip,wellapplied,soonmadethesaucyinterloperleapoutand skulk away in the gloom,while grateful Roverwith some sincere “Bow-wows” of gratitudewould spring into his nest and quickly curl himself downwithhisshortbushytailoverhisnose,andwassoonenjoyinghismuchneededrest.

When Rover was five or six years old he constituted himself the surgeondoctorofallmyotherdogs. Itwasmost interestingandsometimescomical tosee him in actual practice. Four years of good faithful service had somewhatstiffened himup, and so hewas nowonly used for short journeys, and in thetrains required to draw wood for the fires in our church, school house, andMissionhome, from thedistant forest,Sohenowhadamucheasier timeandlotsofleisure.

Whenthedogsarrivedathomeafterhard,longtrips,itwasmostinterestingtoseehowRovertookintohisspecialcarethosethathadwoundsofanykindupon them, and often some of them returned sadly used up. Sometimes therewerenecksoresandsometimesothers,ofwhichweknewnot thecause.Thentherewouldbeothers thatwerecausedby frost-bitesaswell aspoorbleedingfeetinspiteofalltheprotectionaffordedbythewarmdogshoes.

To these suffering, gallant dogs, Rover’s services were simply invaluable.Naturehassoarrangedthatadog’stongueishisgreatinstrumentforcleansingandhealinghiswounds.Whenadogiswoundedwherehecannotreachwithhistongue, itgenerallygangrenesanddeathensuessooneror later. Itwas in suchcasesthatRover’skindlyandpersistentattentionswereofgreatvalue.Hesavedformemanyadog.

Theinstantadogwasunharnessed,Rover,whowasalwaysfriendlywithallmydogs,wouldatonceoverhaulhimandwouldthusquicklyfindthegalledorwoundedspots.Verygentlythenhelickedthemevenifatfirst thedog-patientshould resent his interference, and that sometimeswithmuch fierceness. ThisdidnotatalldisturbRover.Ihaveseenhimjustsimplyliedownatthefeetofthe dog and wait for his anger to pass and then get up and again begin hiscleansing thewound.No rebuff or even a shaking,would discourage him.He

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seemedtosay:“ThatwoundmustbeattendedtoandIamgoingtodothework;”anddoithedid,anditwaswellandthoroughlydone.

AfterawhilethedogsseemedtoknowthatthiswasRover’swork,andthenthey expected him to take care of them. The only growls he now heardwerefrom dogs with their first wounds. After that they would patiently stand orcomicallyliedownorrolloverasRoverdesired.

Some of them became so accustomed to his attentions, that they simplyimposedonhim.Forexample,Ihaveseendogswithsorefeet,insteadofusingtheir own tongues in cleansing and curing them, come and drop down beforefaithful old Rover and stick out their wounded foot for his inspection andtreatment.

Faithful old Rover! He seemed to realize that great indeed was hisresponsibility when I would return from a month’s trip into the interior withtwelveor sixteendogs.Fourat leasthewould find requiredhisattentionsandcareforthenexttendaysorso.

ThusRover, the greatest coward I ever knew in dog flesh, and the steady,faithful sleigh-dog,becamewhat the Indians called, “MuskekeAtim,” thedog-doctor.

That terriblecurseofnortherndogs, thedistemper,seizedhimforavictim,andwithsorrowwehadtoburyRoverandmanyofhiscomrades.

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XII.RoverII,AlsoCalledKimo

Rovernumbertwo,orKimo,ashewascalledbytheIndians,wasabeautifulNewfoundlanddoggiventomebytheRev.Dr.Mark,ofOttawa.

Myfirstintroductiontohimwasauniqueandexcitingone.AtOttawahewaspacked in a largebox-like case and forwardedby express tomeat the cityofHamilton,Ontario,whereIwasthenstayingandmakingmyfinalarrangementsformyreturntotheRedRiver.InthosedaystherewerethreechangesnecessaryontherailroadbetweenOttawaandHamilton,andastherewerelongdelaysontherouteitwasthethirddayerethedogarrivedathisdestination.Noonehadlookedafterhimandsohehadhadneitherfoodnordrink.

The result was he had become simply furious with his confinement andneglect.AtHamilton,heactedsowildlyandviolentlythatfourexpressmenwereneeded to get him up to the residence ofMr. Sanford. The plan they adoptedshowed that theyweremuchafraidof theangrydog.Theyprocured two longpiecesofscantling,andplacingthemparallelontheground,theysucceededingetting the box on themiddle. Then eachman taking an end, they placed thecase, with its contents, on a large flat express wagon and took it to itsdestination.Heretheydroveitintotheyard,andinthesamecautiouswaytheywereliftingthebox,dogandall,totheground,whenfortunatelyIhappenedtocomealong,andnoticingthattherewassomeexcitement,Inaturallyaskedwhatwasthematter.

The reply was given in rather vigorous language, as they described thedifficulties theyhadhad inbringingup that savagedog to thehouse from therailroadstation.

“Ishenotsecurelyboxedup?”wasmynextquestion.“Itisaboutthe‘securely’ofit,thatwehavebeenbothered,”saidone.“The

factishehasbeenmakingsuchdesperateeffortstogetoutofthatbox,thatwewere fearful that he might succeed, and if he did well, I did not want to bearoundtherejustthen.”

IwatchedthemwithacertainamountofamusementasIsawtheactualterrorof these men, for a glance showed me, that big as the dog was, he was so

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securelyfastenedinthegreatcasethathewaspowerlesstoinjurethem.Afteralotofdelaysandtime-wastingmovements,theysucceededinplacing

theboxon thegroundandthenoneof them,producinghisexpressbookfromhispocket,askedmewhetherIknewwhotheownerofthedogwas,orwhethertherewassomeonethereatthehousewithsufficientauthoritytosignthereceiptformforthebrute’sdelivery.

“Thedogismine,andIwillsignyourbook,”Ianswered.“Thedogyours!”theysaidinastonishment.“Whythen,inallcreation,”said

oneofthementome,withmoreamazementthanpoliteness,“didnotyouspeaktohimtoquiethim.”

“Because,”Ireplied,“Ineversawthedogbefore.HewasgiventomebyafriendinOttawa,andyourcompanyortherailwayhavekepthimforaboutthreedaysontheroute,andheisnowaboutwild,asyousee,withhunger,thirstandtheirksomeconfinement.”

“Well,whatareyougoingtodowithhim?”“Firstofall,”Ireplied,“Iamgoingtogethimoutofthatbigbox.”“Goingtodoitalone?”oneofthemasked.“Yes,Iam,”Ianswered.“Well,justwaituntilwegetoutofthis,willyou?”“Certainly,” I replied, “but hurry, for the poor dog has been in there long

enough.”Sowhile Imade preparations to relieve the dog, these fourmen threw the

scantlingson thewagon,and turning thehorsesaround,droveoutof theyard.Thenshuttingthehigh,closegate,theytooktheirpositiononthetopofthewalltoseeme“devouredbythatdog,”asoneofthemputit.

Frommy knowledge of dog nature, I had all confidence in the quick andprompt plan I was going to adopt, and which I was not long in putting intopractice.

GoingintothekitchenIobtainedfromthecookagenerousdishofcoldmeat.Thegardenerfurnishedmewithanaxeandthestableboywithalargebucketofcoldwater.

PlacingthemeatandwaterwhereIcouldputmyhandonthem,theinstantIwanted them, I quietly approached the box. Addressing the dog by the namegiven me in Dr. Mark’s letter, I began to talk kindly to him, and also tovigorouslycutintothebackofthatbig,firmpackingcase.

Atfirst,everyblowandwordseemedtomakethedog,ifpossible,morewildandfurious.Ateveryblowstruckontheoutsideofthebox,hewouldspringat

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theplace inside,untilnowmyfearswerearoused lest I should,asmyaxecutthrough,badlyinjurehim.

Socautiously,aswellasrapidly,Irainedtheblowsupontheboxuntilpieceafterpiecebegantoflyoff.

All this time Iwas talking tohim,and tellinghim thathehadbeen treatedmost shamefully but his troubleswould soon be over, that Iwould soon havehimout,andthatIhadplentyoffoodandwaterforhim.

Whentheboardsbegantosplitopenandpiecestoflyofffromtheback,andRoversawthedaylight,for thefirst timethere,comingin, therewasatonceachangeinhim.Herehesawanopeningforhisescape,andinhisanxietytogetout,hisgrowlsandangrybarkingsrapidlymoderated.

Stillsoothinglytalkingtohim,IkeptcuttingawayuntilIsawwhere,withastrongwrenchwithmyhand,Icouldpulloffenoughoftheboardtogethimout.So dropping my axe and placing the pail of water close at hand, I suddenlyjerkedbacktheboardandputtinginmyhandIcaughtthedog,nowfranticwithexcitement at theprospect of immediatedeliverance, byhis collar, andhelpedhimoutofthebox.“Poordog,itwasashametosoabuseyou!Comealonghereis agooddrink foryou!” andalmostbeforeheknewwherehewas, I hadhisheadinthatpailofwater,andforthefirsttimeinmylifeIsawadogdrinklikeahorse.

Howhedidenjoyit!Itseemedasthoughhecouldnothaveenough.WhenIsawhewasaboutsatisfied,Ihadmymeatdishhandy,andIfedhimoutofmyhand,pieceafterpiece.Itwaswelltherewasalargesupply,forhewasabigdogand of course very hungry.When thoroughly satisfied, he looked around andtriedtotakeinthesituation.Itseemedtomethataboutallhejustthencaredtorealizewas thathehadbeen inahorridprison, thirstyandstarving,and that Ihadcomeashisdeliverer.Ilethimwalkaroundtheyard,thenhewentandhadagood smell at that now smashed prison house, and then he came to me. Hiswagging tail andhisgreat, intelligent eyes, nowso full ofgratitude, told theirowntale.Wewerefriends,thewarmestoffriends,fromthathourtotheend.

“ThatbeatsBarnum,”saidoneofthefourmen,astheyallclambereddownoffthewallandreturnedtotheirwork.

ThateveningRoverandItookalongwalkthroughthestreetsofthecityofHamilton.Hekeptclosetomyheelsanddidnotseemtodesiretoseeanyotherpersonthanhisnewmasterwhohadcometohisrescueanddeliverance.

Hewasastrong,faithfuldogtotheend,andalwayshappiestwhenIwasinsight.TotrainhimtoworkasasleighdogallIhadtodowastoharnesshimup

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withthreetraineddogsandthengomyselfonaheadwithanothertrain.Thatwasenough forRover.Heheardhis lovedmaster’svoice in front,andhis joywasevertorespond,andsoonhewouldcome,andfleetindeedmustbethetrainIwas driving, or very slow the dogs with which Rover was harnessed, ere hewouldbeleftbehind.

Rover, likeallofmycivilizeddogs,hadnot thehard,firm,compactfeetoftheHuskies.Hence, forhimandothers, Ihad tobeprepared toovercome thisdefectasfaraspossible.

Variousexpedientshavebeendevised,butwefoundthatthebestplanwastohavealargestockofdog-shoeswithusoneverytrip.Theseshoesweremadeofa firmlywovenwarmwoolencloth calledduffle.The shoeswere shapedverymuchlikeaman’smittenwithoutthethumb.Theywereofvarioussizessoastofitsnuglytotheinjuredfoot,whetherlargeorsmall.

Somewinterstherewouldbecomparativelyfewinjuriesorfrozenfeetamongmydogs.Thenperhapstheverynextseason,hardlyadogescaped.Whileasageneral thing these injuries were confined to my imported dogs or theirdescendants, yet therewerewinterswhen almost every dog I owned suffered,andallviedwitheachotherincallsforthecomfortablewoolenshoestobeputontheirfeet.

Theinjuriestotheirfeetfromwhichtheysufferedwerevarious.Sometimesadogwouldfreezeoneofhisfeet.Whenthiswasfoundoutandasageneralthingthedogwasnotslowto letusknowofhis troublewebuiltafire,andplacinghimnearitonadeerskin,he,withhistongueandtheheat,soongotthefrostoutof it.When this had been accomplished,we carefully tied a comfortable shoeuponitandgenerallyhewouldbeallrightinafewdays.This,however,wasnotalwaysthecase.Ihavehaddogswithfeetfesteredandbleedingforweeksfromthesecruelfreezings.Wewerethankfulwhenwewereabletoreachhomeandletthefaithfulanimalsrestforweeks,attendedtomostskillfullybyKover,theuniquedogdoctor,whosedeathisrecordedinthepreviouschapter.Somedogshaveverybrittlenails.Thesearefrequentlybreakingoff in theroughtrails,orgettingtornoutattheroots,thusmakinganugly,painfulwound.Theiceonthegreat lakes and rivers is sometimes rough and very trying to the dogs. Evenwhenitissmoothandglassyitattimesaffectsthemsothatthepadsoftheirfeetbecomesoreandbleed.Thesoft,warmdog-shoeswereourremediesforalloftheseills,andthesagaciousdogsthathadonceenjoyedtheirbenefits,werenotslowindemandingthemwhentheythoughttheywereinneedofthem.

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We had some difficulty, at first, in making some of the more nervous orsuspicious dogs understand that these shoes were for their good. There werethosewhowouldendeavortotear themfromtheirfeet,andhadtobewatchedand even punished for so doing.However, itwas not long before even these,havingfoundoutthecomforttherewasinthem,werenowwillingtoresorttoallsortsofschemesandexpedientstoinduceustoputthesecomfortableshoesontheirsufferingfeet.

Rover soon became an adept in asking for his shoes.Hewas not satisfiedwith them on the one or two feet that seemed to need them. He decidedlythoughtthat“preventionwasbetterthancure,”andsohewantedshoesonallhisfeet,everydayweweretravelingonlongjourneys.Itwasinterestingtoseehowhe would wait until we were ready to harness up the dogs, then he woulddeliberatelythrowhimselfonhisback,andputtinguphisfeet,eloquentlyevenifmutely,thuspleadforhiswarmshoes.

Ididnothavehimverylong.ThatfatalscourgeofthedogsoftheNorthland,thedistemper, robbedmeofoneof the truest,noblestdogs Ieverharnessed. Imade a large log-heap fire and tried to cremate him, but some starving paganIndiansdraggedhisbigbodyoutoftheflamesandfeastedonit.PooroldRover!

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XIII.Muff,TheAffectionateMotherDog

Muff,with twootherbeautifulSt.Bernarddogs,was given tomebyMrs.AndrewAllan,ofMontreal.

IreceivedthematthecloseofalongseriesoflectureengagementsinOntarioandQuebec,anderethewinterendedIstartedonmyreturntriptomyMissionhome,whichwasthenatBeren’sRiverontheeasternshoreofLakeWinnipeg.

SoanxiouswasItoutilizethedogsthatItookMuffandRover,throughwithme. We traveled by rail to Morehead in Minnesota, and then by stage, onrunners, the last two or three hundred miles, to Winnipeg. The other dogsreceivedfromMrs.AllanwerebroughtthroughlaterintheyearbyMrs.Young.

On a railroad somewhere in theWest, an amusing adventure occurredwiththedogs.

Ihadlefttheminthebaggagecarinchargeofthebaggageman,andhadalsoleft with him a well-filled basket of cooked meat for their food. As aprecautionary measure the baggage man had fastened the dogs’ chains to acoupleoflargetrunks.

For hours we had sped along, and the train men and dogs had apparentlybecome great friends. All at once I was speedily aroused by the conductorrushing into the longcarwhere Iwas sittingwithmanyotherpassengers, andshoutingout:“Whereisthegentlemanwhoownsthosebigdogsinthebaggagecar?”

Ofcourse Iwas instantlyonmyfeetand fullofwonderandconcernaboutmydogs.

Withoutawordofexplanation, theconductor,hearingmyresponse that thedogsweremine,atoncesaid:“Comewithmeasquicklyasyoucan.”Thetrainwas,asAmericancarsallare,openfromendtoend,andsoIspeedilyfollowedon after him. When we reached the baggage car, as we opened the door noexplanationwasneededtotellwhatwasthematter,fortherestoodthebigdogs,

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nowbravelydefendingthetrunkstowhichtheyhadbeentied,andinawaythatmadethestalwartbaggagemankeepatarespectfuldistance.Itseemsthataswewerenownear to the townwhere those trunkswere tobeputoff, thebaggageman had attempted to remove the dogs to another place and then to takepossessionofthosetrunks.Thisthedogswouldnotpermit,andso,inspiteofallhiscoaxings, and then threats, thedogs stoodon theirguardandsucceeded inkeepinghimatbay.Ofcourse,Ispeedilyquietedthedogsandthetrunkswerereleased.

AtWinnipeg I found awaiting me my dog trains and drivers. As soon assuppliescouldbeobtainedandharnessesmadeforMuffandRover,westartednorth.Theyoungdogsspeedilybecameaccustomedtotheworkanddidwell.

WereachedourdestinationinMarch,havingstillseveralweeksinwhichtoutilize thedogsat theworkwhichwasthenengrossingmyattention.Thiswasthe hauling of logs and timber from a distant island out in the lake to themainlandwherewewereestablishingtheMission.

Muff proved to be a most reliable dog. She was not only powerful andenduring towork inharnessbut the traits shehadexhibited in the railwaycarwere so strong in her that when I wished to put anything under guard fromprowlingdogsorotherintruders,Muffwastheguardiangenerallyselected,andfaithfully andwellwould she do her duty.Once put in charge of the tools orsuppliesoffoodorleftinchargeofthecampfire,wherethementooktheirmealswhenoutchoppingwoodintheforest,shewouldnotallowanystrangemanordogtocomenear.

Itwas primitivework, thus toilingwithmy Indians in securing the neededtimberforourhouses.Everystickcutandhewnhadtobedraggedbythedogsaboutadozenmiles;yetsixdogswouldtakeagreenstickofspruceorbalsamten inches squareand thirty-six feet longanddrag it at a jog-trot speed to theplaceselectedfortheerectionofourchurchandparsonage.

Muffwasoneofmymostwillingdogs.Indeed,shewastooeagerand,asweshall see, about ruined herself because of it. She became themother of somebeautifulpuppies,andsoaffectionatewerehermotherlyinstinctstowardsthemthatsheseemedtothinkjustasmuchofthemlongaftertheywereweanedandhadgrownup intodogs.Shewasunhappy if separated from them,and fretteduntilshewasagainamongthem.Thismadeitamatterofregretwhenshehadtobe harnessed up and sent off in trains with other dogs. Shewould tug at hercollarmostdesperatelyandwaseveranxioustobehomeagain.

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The last long trip, on which she almost crippled herself for life, was onewhichImadeintotheRedRiverSettlementincompanywithmybelovedfellowmissionary in that Indian work, the Kev. John Semmens. We started with acouple of other missionaries, but as they preferred to ride a great deal, theirprogresswasmuchslowerthanours.Wepushedonasrapidlyaswethoughtwasright and reached civilization much sooner than they did and thus escaped aterriblestormthattriedthemandtheirdogsandtheIndianguides,mostseverely.

Near Lower Fort Garry we were most hospitably entertained by theHon.Mr.Siftonandhisdelightfulfamily.Thereweexchangedoutleathersuitsforministerialblackandincivilizedcostume,wentuptoWinnipeg,thenarisinglittlevillage.

Here we attended to the duties that had brought us into the abodes ofcivilization,andthenon thefollowingSaturdayreturnedtoMr.Sifton’shome,where we had left our dog-trains and Indian outfits. We spent a very restfulSabbath together, and thenatmidnightMrs.Siftonhadawarmmealpreparedforustwomissionariesandourtwofaithfulguideswhowerewithus.

Mr.SemmensandIthenretiredtoourrooms,butsoonafterreturnedinourcostumes,sodifferentfromourclericalblackthatourownmotherswouldhardlyhaverecognizedus.Butthesesuitsinwhichwewerenowrobed,althoughoffurandmooseorreindeerskin,wereexactlysuitedfortheworkweweredoingandthelifewewereliving.

We found that our trusty Indians had our sleds carefully packed, our nowwell-rested,impatientdogsharnessed,andsotherewasnothingforustodobutto commend thiskind,hospitable family toGod’sblessing, to sayour “Good-byes,”andtobeoff.

Itwasabittercoldnight.Thewintrywindshowledandshriekedandthecoldstarsseemedtopityus.Itdidseemhardandcrueltoleavethatwarm,cozyhomeandbecompelledtostartatoneo’clockthatcoldMondaymorningoutonourlong,longjourneyofhundredsofmilesoverthesnowywaste.

Myhome,fortunatelyforme,wasthenonlyabouttwohundredmilesdistantbutmy beloved friend had to travel seven hundredmiles by dog train ere hewouldreachhisfarawaylogcabinontheBurnt-woodRiver.

Muffwasmy sleighdogon this trip, andgrandlydid shedoherwork.Sowildwassheasthedayspassedandsheknewthatshewasnearinghomeandherpuppies, although they had long since been weaned and were now quite finelargedogs,thatitseemedimpossibletorestrainher.Ourloadswereveryheavy,averaging nearly a thousand pounds to each sled, as, of course, we availed

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ourselves of these visits to civilization to replenish our never overabundantsupplies.

The trained Indians runall the timewhenon these trips,nomatterwhetherthesledsareloadedornot.Asageneralthingwemissionariescouldrideonthesleds, if theywerenot tooheavily loaded,whenwe traveledon the ice. In thewoods,however,wherethesnowwasdeep,everybodywasexpectedtowalkonaheadinIndianfileintheirsnow-shoesandthusmakethetrailorpathonwhichthefaithfuldogsdraggedtheheavyloads.

Thiswasveryhardwork,andsoahaltwasfrequentlycalled.AstheIndiansare all smokers, of course at thesedelays thepipewas immediately filled andsmoked. SomeHudson’sBay traderswere in the habit ofmarking the day bysaying itwas somany “pipes” long,meaning that theywith their Indian dog-drivershadstoppedsomanytimestorestandsmoke.

Muffdidnotlikethesedelays.Shewaseagertobeonthe“go”continually.Sometimesshewouldshowherspiritbyrefusingeithertoliedownoreventositdownonherhauncheswhichis thegeneralcustomof thedogswhena,halt iscalled.

Theinstanttherestwasendedandthejourneywasresumed,shewassimplywild with delight. In themost frantic waywould she spring to her work andanticipatethemovementsofthemoresedateandlessexcitabledogs.

PoorMuff!alas,shedidthisoncetoooften!Forasonebittercoldmorningwewereaboutstartingfromthecampwherethesledwasdeeplyembeddedinthesnowandhercompaniondogsinthetrainwereslowincomingtoherhelp,sheplungedsodesperatelyatherworkthatshesnappedhercollarbone.Withapitifulcry,thatsoundedalmosthuman,assheseemedtorealizeherhelplessness,shesankdowninhertracesinthesnow.

Wequicklyexaminedher,andtoourgreatsorrowfoundthattheclaviclewascompletelybrokenandthejaggedendsweresobentbackandpressedinto thefleshas,doubtless,tobecausingintensesuffering.

Asgentlyaspossibleweunharnessedher,andplacingheronarobespreadoutinthesnow,wereplacedthetwobrokenpiecesoftheboneinposition.

Itmusthavehurtherverymuch,butpatient,intelligentMuffseemedtoknowthat we would do the best we could, and so there was not a growl or anyresistance.Itwasbutlittlethatwecoulddoforherinsuchaplace,andanywayasasleighdogshewascompletelyworthlesstousnow.

What is tobedone?was thequestion.The Indiansonly thoughtof theoneplan thatwas the universal one among themwhen such an accident happened

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undersimilarcircumstances.Thatwastokillthedogatonceandgoonwiththethusdiminishedtrain.WehadknownHudson’sBaytraderstostartoffonalongtripwithsixteendogsandcomebackwithonlytwelve.Theotherfourhadmetwithaccidentsandhadtobekilled.ThegeneralwayofdisposingofadogthusinjuredwastohaveoneoftheIndianskillhimwithoneswiftblowoftheheavyaxe.

NeverimaginingthatanyotherfatethanthiswasinstoreforMuffy,oneoftheIndianshadquietlyunfastenedthelargestaxefromoneofthesledsandwithhiscomradewasnowonlyawaitingmyorderstokillmyunfortunatedog.

“Putupyouraxe,”Ialmostshouted.“Thatmaybeyourwaybutitisnotmine.MuffisnotgoingtobekilledifI

canhelpit.”WonderingwhatIwasgoingtodo,theyputuptheaxeandthen,asIordered,

theygentlyliftedthewoundeddogintomycariole,andthereamongtherobeswelaidherdowninascomfortableapositionaspossible.Wegotherhomeallright.ButitmeantthatIhadtowalkorrunasdidmyIndianguideasleastonehundredmiles.Itwasveryfatiguingandexhaustingwork.

Thetwonightswehadtocamp,Muffsharedwithmemycampbedamongthefurrobes.

Duringourlastnight’speculiaradventureonthatjourney,Muffshowedthateven if suffering from a broken clavicle, she was still the alert and vigilantwatch-dog.

Whenwe had reached a point about twentymiles frommymission house,nightwascomingon.Thestarswerebeginningtoshineandthespectralauroraswere flashing their cold and ghostly lights athwart the northern skies. Thequestionofcampingorgoingonhadbeendebatedaswehadstoppedwherewehadfoundalittledrywood.Makingafireonaspotfromwhichoursnow-shoeshadscrapedawaythesnow,wemadesomerefreshingteaforourselves.

TheIndiansandmyselfwereeagertopushonandfinishthejourney,evenifwewereverytiredandfootsore.Butmybelovedbrothermissionarywasaboutdoneout.Ashissledwasheavilyloadedwithsuppliesforhisdistantmission,hehadbravelykeptstepswiththebestIndianrunnersandhadriddenbutverylittleindeed.Asanaturalresult,hisfeetwereswollenandblistered,andeveryboneandmuscle in his body seemed to cry for rest. Sowhenhe saw thatwewereresolvedoncontinuingjourneyuntilwereachedourhomeratherthangototheworryandtroubleofpreparinganotherwintercamp,hecriedoutinhisagony:

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“Throwmeoutablanketandsomepemmicanandletmestayhere.Icangonofarther.YouhaveyourwivesandchildrentolureyouonbutIhavenone.Goonandleavemehere.”

“No,indeed,mybrother,”Isaid,“wearegoingon,butwearenotgoingtoleaveyouhere.Ihaveabetterplanthanthat.”

“Well,dowhatyoulike,butIcannotwalkanyfarthertonight.”Andsayingthis,hethrewhimselfdownontheiceinhiswearinessandpain.

VeryquicklydidIarrangemyplans.TellingtwoIndianstobringtheaxesandtheirsnowshoes,wewalkedtowardsthewoodsuntilwefoundadriftofsnow,packedhardandfirmbythesuccessivewinds,blowinginfromthelake.

Onthisweset towork,andbychoppingthesnowandthenthrowingitoutwithoursnowshoeshovels,wesoonhadalargeholeaboutfourfeetacrossandasmanyfeetdeep.Thenmydogtrainofthreedogswasdrivenalongsideofthisandthesledunloaded.

We first threw into this hole in the snow some robes. Arranging them inposition,wetherecarefullydepositedMuff.Wesoarrangedthetopbuffaloskinthat shewaswellcoveredupexceptherhead.Thenwecarefullypiledaroundhertheheavyarticlesofourload,andleftherincharge.

As great northernwolveswere sometimes known to infest that part of thecountry,myIndiansandItrampedaroundagooddealinthesnow.Wedidthistokeep thewolvesaway,as theyareverysuspiciousabouthumantracks thatareundertwenty-fourhoursold,andIknewthatinlessthanthattimeIwouldhaveMuffrelieved.

Muffhavingbeenthuswellattendedto,Idrovemydog-sledalongsideofmytiredoutbelovedbrother,andwiththeaidofmyIndians,placedhimonmysledandcarefullywrappedhimupinrobes.Atoncehefellintoadreamlesssleep.

Then we resumed our journey.We did not travel very fast,Wewere veryweary, as before beginning this home stretch of twentymiles,we had alreadytraveledsixtyorseventymilesthatday.However,thelongestjourneyhasanendandsohadthisone.

Wemetwithacordialreceptionwhenwecouldgetthesleepingonesawake,wholittleexpectedusattheunseemlyhouratwhichwearrived.

The tired missionary was aroused from his deep sleep. His wounds weresoothedwithointment.Thenahotbathandawarmsupperwerebothenjoyedand then the comfortable bed, inwhich he had twelve hours of blessed sleepwithout once waking. But when he did again join us he was refreshed and

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renewedinspiritsandinbodilyvigor,andonceagainhewasthesamegenial,delightfulman.

Muff,however,wasinthemeantimenotforgotten.NosoonerwerewesafelyathomeandthewantsofthemissionariesandthesplendidIndiancomradesanddogslookedafter,thanIgaveinstructionsthatKennedy,myfaithfulmanofallworkaboutthemission,shouldbeoffwithafreshtrainofstrongdogstobringhomebothMuffandthesuppliesshewasguarding.

Hestartedatfouro’clockinthemorningandsoreachedheraboutdaylight.But strange to say Muff at first would not let him touch her or any of thesupplies.ThisverymuchannoyedKennedyandhewasinclinedtofighther,buthewasakindheartedmanandIhadtoldhimofhersadaccident.Sohehadtoputhis Indianwits towork, and theplanwhichheadoptedandwhichprovedsuccessfulwas tounharnessacoupleofhisdogs thatwere trustyand let themrun to where Muff was still so watchfully guarding the supplies left in hercharge.TheaffectionatedogswerefondofMuff,andasthey,regardlessofhergrowls,whichatfirstshetriedtokeepup,rusheduptoher,sheseemedquicklytorealizethattheyandKennedywereherfriends,andheroppositionceased.

Aboutnoonshewassafelyinstalledinacozyspotinthekitchen.Thebonesoverlappedalittleandthenknittogether.OfcourseInevertookheragainonalong trip,but shedid somework in light trainsabout theplace, andhermanypuppiesdeveloped intostrong,splendiddogs,andso Iwasglad that Ihadnotkilledheratthetimeoftheaccident,asmyIndiansthoughtthatIoughttohavedone.

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XIV.Caesar,TheCleverRascal

CaesarwasamongreldogwithSt.BernardandEskimoblood inhisveins.Hewasalarge,powerfuldogandabletodoanyamountofwork,buthewas a cunning shirk and required constantwatching or,whilemaking a greatpretenseinhistraces,hewouldnotbedrawingapound.

From his early puppyhood days he was full of tricks. One that I saw himperformwhenhewasonlyfourmonthsoldverymuchamusedme.Unknowntohim I watched the whole performance from my study window. It was in thewinterandthesnowwasdeepupontheground.Indianmenwerebusilyengagedwithmydogtrainsindraggingfromthedistantforesttheyearlysupplyofwoodrequired for our church, parsonage, and school-house. Bearing in mind thelength and severity of thewinters in that coldNorthland, and thatwe had nocoal,itwillbeseenatoncethatwerequiredaverylargequantity.Soinsecuringtheneededsupplytherewasmuchlaborforbothmenanddogs.

Duringthishardworkofdragginghometheseheavyloadsofwood,thedogswerefedonwhatwerecalledfullrations,whichwas,twogoodwhitefisheachaday. Martin Papanekis, one of the most trustworthy servants a man everemployed, had the oversight of the work and was specially responsible forseeing that thedogswerewell lookedafterand thateachone receivedhis fullrations.Thiswasamatter thathad tobeattended toateachfeeding time. If itwasneglectedand thegreatestvigilancenot exercised, themorepowerful andgreedy dogswould quickly rob theweaker ones.As the fishwere frozen likerocks,Martin’susualplanwastoplace, in themorning,adozenof theselargefish inasheet-ironsquarepanunderourkitchenstove.Therest requiredwerethawedelsewhere.Theheatofthestovewouldnotonlythawoutthesefish,butbythetimetheywererequiredintheeveningwhenthedogshadfinishedtheirday’swork,theywerehalfcookedandthusrenderedmuchmorepalatabletothedogs.

One evening, when Martin had brought home his last load of wood andunharnessedthesixsplendiddogshehadbeenusing,henaturallylookedunder

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thebigstoveforthefish.Notfindingthemthere,heturnedtotheIndianservantgirlanddemandedofherwhatshehaddonewithhisdogs’fish.

MarywasquicktemperedandnotlikingthetoneinwhichMartinhadspokentoherabouthisfish,petulantlyreplied:

“Iwantedtoscrubmykitchenfloorandasyourdirtysmellingfishwereintheway,Ishovedthem,panandall,outofdoors.”

ThisanswermadeMartinveryangry,butinhisanxietytolookafterhisdogs’supper, he without reply rushed out in search of themissing fish. He had nodifficultyinfindingthebigsquarepan,buttherewasnotafishinit.Arounditweregatheredhishungry,disconsolatedogs,butwhile therewas thegenerallywell-filledpan, itwasnowasdestituteof foodas thehistoriccupboardof thefamousOldMotherHubbard.

Thepuzzlingquestionthenwas:Whathasbecomeofthedozenoflargefish?Alltheotherdogswerebeingfedelsewhereandtheonlyloosedogaroundwasthe little insignificant puppy, that theywerebeginning to callCaesar.AndyetthatlittlepuppycalledCaesar,smallashethenwas,hadcarriedawayandmostcunninglyburiedall thosemissingfishandIhadbeentheamusedspectatorofthewholetransaction.

Howhadhe done it?About an hour before I had, frommy studywindow,observedMary the Indian servant girl, shove the large pan of fish out of thekitchendoor.ShortlyafterIheardthemostcomicalhowlingsimaginable.Theseoddsounds,ofcourse,atonceexcitedmycuriosity,andongoingtothewindowto investigate, there was before me a most amusing sight. The puppy hadliterallytakenpossessionofthatwholepanoffish.Hewouldstandononesideofthemandhowlforgladness.Thenhewouldmarcharoundthewholeandhaveanotherhowlofdelight.Hewas simplywildwith joy atbeing theundisputedpossessorofsuchanunlimitedsupplyoffood.Hewastoomuchdelightedeventobegintoeat.Thefactofbeing“monarchofallhesurveyed”wasquiteenoughblissforhim.

But what was that? He heard the distant barkings of dogs and at once hiswhole demeanor changed. He seemed at once to be conscious that hewas indanger of losing his great prize, and realized that if he was going to keeppossessionofit,hemustspeedilyhideitawayfromallintruders.

And young puppy though he was, he began most vigorously at his work.Seizingthefishnearesttohimbythehead,hedraggeditperhapsfiftyfeetawaytoaspotwherethesnowwasdeepandlight.Herewithhislittlepawshesettowork,andsoonhadaholelargeenough,intowhichheskillfullypushedthefish.

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Thenwithhisnose,hecarefullycovereditupwiththelightdrysnow.Quicklyrushingbacktothepan,heseizedholdofanotherone,anddraggingitinanotherdirection,heburieditinasimilarmanner.Thusthepluckylittlefellowworkedunceasinglyuntilhehadthewholedozenofthoselargewhite-fishthus“cached”awayindifferentplaces.Socunninglyhadhehiddenthemthattherewasnottheslightesttraceofhisworkvisible.

WhenMartin returnedwith his dogs and as usual unharnessed them in theyard, Caesar had the meekest look imaginable. He was too guileless foranything.Thenwhen thehungrydogsdiscovered the empty fishpan still richwiththefragranceofthefishwhichwerenotthere,theyounghypocritecoollyseemedtosympathizewiththeminthelossoftheirsupper.Itwasindeedmostconsummateacting.Itwasamusing,however,whenIwentoutandtoldMartinwhatIhadwitnessedfrommystudywindow.Theworryabouthisdogs’supperlefthisfaceatonce,andheshrewdlyremarked:

“Well,thatpupwillmakeacleverdog,perhapstoocleversometimesforhisdriver.”

Propheticwordswerethese,andrememberedinafterdays.Thequestionnowhoweverwas,howarethehungrydogstogetthoseburied

fish?“Veryeasily,”saidMartin.“SeehowIwillmakethelittlethieftellinhisown

way,where he has ‘cached’ them.”Quietly calling one of the hungry dogs tofollowhim,Martinstartedofftoaspotwherethesnowlookedasthoughithadrecentlybeendisturbed.MarvelousandsuddenwasthetransformationinCaesar.Hisassumedmeekness suddenly lefthim,andnow,withneckhair ruffledandtail stifflycurledup, thegritty little fellow isgoing to fight forwhatcosthimsuchtroubletosecure.

WhenMartinstoppedbeforethe“cache,”erehehadstirredasnowflake,thebrave little dog sprang before him and planting himself upon the spot, begangrowling most comically. One word to the big dog at Martin’s heels wassufficientandwitharushhefairlytumbledthelittlefellowoverinthesnow,andthenquicklydugupthefish.

Speedilyweretheotherdogssentsmellinground,andsoonfishafterfishwasrecovered.

PoorlittleCaesarwassimplyfrantic.Herushedfromcachetocache,butallinvain.Thedogsweretoomuchforhim,andalthoughnoneofthemwouldbitethelittlefellow,yetthefrequenttumblingshegotinthedeepsnowverymuchruffledhisdignity.Inspiteofallhisclevernessandtrouble,helostallofhisfish,

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andlateronintheeveninghewashumbleenoughtocometothekitchendoorandbegforsomesupper.Thiswasfreelygiventohimasasmallreturnfortheamusementhehadafforded.

Caesar grew to be a large, strong dog and in due time was broken in toharness. I had some trouble inbreakinghim in towork.Hewas stubbornandobstinate.Hewouldthrowhimselfdownonthegroundandwouldletthedogsinfrontofhimdraghiminthatwayforhundredsofyards.Hecaredbutlittleforthewhip,andunderitsinflictionwouldliedownandsulk.

However,at lengthI thoughtofaplanwhichwhentriedprovedsuccessful,notonlyinhiscasebutinthatofmanyotherdogsthatwereatfirstnotdisposedtotakekindlytotheharness.

My dogs were generally harnessed in tandem style. When breaking in ayoungdog,Iusuallyhadthreepowerfuloldanimalsharnessedinfrontofhim,and one or even two good dogs behind him. This was the plan I tried withCaesar.ThedogIhadharnessedimmediatelybehindhimwasJack.Itishardlyneedless to say that of him every dog stood in dread,whenonce his ominousgrowlswereheard.HarnessingCaesarupinthispowerfultrain,Ithenshouted,“Marche!”andthesportbegan.Caesarwasasobstinateashecouldbe.Firsthemadethemostdesperateeffortstogetoutofhisharness.ButagainstthisIhadcarefullyguarded.Adogthathasoncesucceededinsqueezinghimselfoutofhisharness,whenbeingbrokenin,islikelytotrythetrickagain,whereperhapshisescapemaybemostannoyingandinconvenient.

Foiled in his efforts in this direction, he next tried the obstinate dodge ofbalking.Hethrewhimselfonthesnowand,refusingtomove,wasdraggedalongby the three strong dogs in front of him. It was now high time for Jack tointerfere,andsoIshouted:“Shakehim,Jack!”.PermissionwasallthatJackhadbeen waiting for. With a roar like a lion he sprang at the obstinate Caesar,harnesseddirectlyinfrontofhim,and,seizinghimbytheback,gavehimagoodshaking.PoorCaesar,securelyharnessedupandbeingdraggedalongbydogsinfrontwaspowerlesstoresist,yetsoobstinatewashe,thathetookthatshakingwithoutyielding.Thefactis,Idon’tthinkJackhurthimverymuch.ButhemustbeconqueredandsoIshoutedtoJack:“Goforhimagain!”

This time Jack adopted an entirely different method, and one that provedcompletelysuccessful.InsteadofseizingholdofCaesar’sgreatbody,hebegannipping,withhissharpteeth,athislegsandfeet,thatwerestretchedoutbehind,asthedogsinfrontweredragginghimalong.

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Jackmustnowhavebittenhimprettyvigorously,forbeforehehadreceivedmore than half a dozen nips, he sprang up and with howls of rage and fearstartedoffwithsuchspeedthatifJackhadnotheldhimback,hewouldhaverunoverthedogsinfrontofhim.Afewmorelessonswereallthatwerenecessaryand thenCaesar becameoneofmybest dogs.But he had some tricks that helikedtoplayoffwhenhedared,andso,althoughhewasaverycleverdog,hewasonethatwasbetterforbeingwellwatchedandrathersternlyhandled.StillIwasfondofhimand traveled thousandsofmileswithhimasoneofmy train.Yet even to the last he was sometimes too clever for me, as the followingincidentwillshow.Ihadextendedthebordersofmymissionfielduntil itwasnowlargerthanmanyaState.OverthislargedomainItraveledinsummerinmybirch canoe. But from October until May, the only possible way ofcommunicationexceptbygoingonfoot,wasbydogtraveling.Withthousandsofmilesoftraveleverywinterthusbeforeme,throughthoseunbeatenwilds,itcanbeseenwhyIwassoanxioustosecurethebestdogspossible.Evenwiththevery best I could obtain, there were times when some of them would sadlydisappointme,ascunningCaesardidonthisoccasion.

Iwasmaking a journey to one ofmy remote stationswhere the routewasveryheavy.Mysledswerefullyloaded,asthepeopletowhomIwasgoingwerevery poor, and as yet not any too friendly towards the missionary. So as aprecautionary measure, I was loaded with sufficient supplies for both theoutwardandhomewardtrip.Beforestarting,Ihadkeptmydogsintheirkennelsandhadfedthemupuntiltheywereallinfirst-classcondition.Soingoodspiritswe began the long journey of several hundred miles. Soon, however, we allbegantofeeltheeffectsofthetoilsomewaythroughthedeepsnow.Therewasnotthefaintesttraceofaroadorpath.Itwasuphillanddownhill;overrocksandfallen trees; now struggling through dense underbrush and then across roughfrozenmuskegs. And the snowwas everywhere; a great mantle of the purestwhitenesscoveringeverythingtoadepthoffromthreetosixfeet,andthroughitwestruggledonandonfordaysanddays.Withaxesonourshouldersandsnow-shoesonourfeet,themenofourpartypushedonaheadtomakesomesortofatrailalongwhichthedogscoulddragtheheavyloads.

Isitanywonderthatmenanddogsbegantofeelthestrainofsuchcontinuoushardships and that all of themweremuch reduced inweight and flesh?Therewas,however,onenotableexception,andthatonewasCaesar.Heretainedhisspiritsandhisfleshinaremarkabledegree.DayafterdaywheneverIlookedathimhewas so alert and active, that no suspicionswere arousedof any clever

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shirkingonhispart.Stillasonweploddedoverthedreadfulroute,Caesarkeptgetting fatter thanever,while all theotherdogswere sadly showing their ribsandlesseningweightFirstIthoughtthatperhapsthecunningfellowwasstealingfrom our supplies at night while we slept, but this was found to be animpossibility. So all I could dowas to keepmy eyes upon him and keep himdoinghisbest.Grandlywouldhe tugathiscollarandwithhis tongueoutandpantinghewouldseemtosay:“WhatdogcandomorethanIamdoing?”

Still,asheshowednosignofwearinesswhentheday’sworkwasdone,whiletheotherdogsseemedso tiredandexhausted, I resolved to trysomeplan thatwouldmakehimbetrayhimself,ifhewasreallyfoolingus.ThisIdidthenextday, by fastening the separate traces which I gave him, with some rottenpackthread.Ihadtobecarefultoholdontothemwhilehestarted,forthenhealwaysmadeabigfuss.However,whenhehadsettleddowntohisusualwork,fancymysurprisetoseehimtearingalong,asthoughheweredoingthemostoftheheavywork,whenthefactwas,hedidnotputtenoughtobreakthatrottenpackthread!

IquietlycalledtheattentionofmyIndiancompanionstohiscleverhypocrisy.Theyalllaughedatitanddeclareditwasoneofthecutestbitsofshirkingtheyhadeverseen.Caesar’scastigation,thenandtherereceived,deterredhimfromevertryingthattrickagain.

Caesarwasoneof the fewdogs that Iowned thatneverwassickoroutofcondition.Accidents andvariousdisasterswere constantly arising andmany agood dog would be suddenly rendered unfit for service. But nothing everhappened to old Caesar. He would never over-strain or overheat himself foranybody.Sohecameat last tobecalled“OldReliable,”andanygooddriver,whowascleverenoughtoseethroughhistricks,couldgetalotofworkoutofhim.

ButthroughalltheyearsIownedhimhewouldalwaysbearwatching.Outofharnessaswellasinit,hewasuptotricksandschemes,someofwhichseemsoincredible, that if theyhadnotbeenobservedby reliablewitnesses,weshouldhesitate to record them here. The following incident of Caesar’s cleverness,showinghispossessionof reasoningpowers ina remarkabledegree foradog,waswellknownbyanumberofpersonsandwasmuchtalkedaboutatthetime.

Itoccurredinthespringoftheyearwhenthesnowmeltingonthelandwiththefirstrainshadswollenourcreeksandriversintotorrents.Onthegreatlakebefore our northern home the ice was still a great solidmass, several feet inthickness.Nearourhomewasoneoftheseswollen,rapidstreamsthat,rushing

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downintothelake,hadcutadeltaofopenwaterintheiceatitsmouth.Inthisopenplacemyfaithful servant,MartinPapanekis,hadplacedagillnet for thepurposeof catching fish.Livingaswedid allwinterprincipallyupon the fishcaught thepreviousOctoberorNovemberandkept frozen for severalmonths,hungupintheopenair,wewerenaturallypleasedtogetfreshonesoutof theopenwaterinthespring.Martinhadsoarrangedhisnetbyfasteningacoupleofropesaboutsixtyfeetlong,oneateachend,thatwhenitwassecurelyfastenedateachsideofthestream,itwascarriedoutintothisopendelta-likespacebytheforceof thecurrent,andtherehunglike thecapital letterU.Theuppersideofthisnetwaskeptinpositionbylightwoodfloats,whilemediumsizedstonesassinkerssteadieditbelow.EverymorningPapanekistookabasket,andfollowedby all the dogs of the kennels, visited his net. Placed in themannerwe havedescribed,itrequirednocanoeorboatinordertooverhaulandtakefromitthefish there caught. All he had to do was to seize hold of the rope at the endfastenedon the shoreanddraw it towardhim.Ashekeptpulling in, thedeepbend in it gradually straightened out until the netwas reached.Hisworkwasnowtosecure thefishashegraduallydrewin thenetandcoiled itathisfeet.Thewidthoftheopeninginthewaterbeingaboutsixtyfeet,theresultwasthatwhenhehadinthiswayoverhauledhisnethehadreachedtheendoftheropeattachedtotheotherside.Whenthefishweresecured,allPapanekishadtodotoresetthenetwastothrowsomeofitoutintherightpositioninthestream.Herethe forceof the runningwaterssooncarried thewholenetdown into theopenplace as far as the two ropes fastened on the shoreswould permit. Papanekis,after placing thebest fish inhis basket for consumption in themissionhouse,and for his own family, dividedwhatwas left among the eager dogs that hadaccompaniedhim.Thisworkwent on for several days, and the supplyof fishcontinuedtoincrease,muchtooursatisfaction.

OnedayPapanekis came intomystudy ina stateofgreatperturbation.Hewasgenerallysuchaquiet,stoicalsortofanIndianthatIwasatonceattractedbyhismentaldisquietude.Onaskingthereasonwhyhewassotroubled,heatonceblurtedout:“Master,thereissomestrangeanimalvisitingournet!”

In answer tomy request for particulars, he replied that for somemorningspastwhenhewenttovisitit,hefound,entangledinthemeshes,severalheadsofwhite-fish. Yet the net was always in its right position in the water. On mysuggestionthatperhapsotters,fishers,minksorotherfish-eatinganimalsmighthavedonethework,hemostemphaticallydeclaredthatheknewthehabitsofalltheseandallotheranimalslivingonfish,anditwasutterlyimpossibleforanyof

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themtohavethusdonethiswork.Themysterycontinuingforseveralmornings,Papanekisbecamefrightenedandaskedme togetsomeother fisherman inhisplace,ashewasafraidlongertovisitthenet.HehadtalkedthematteroverwithotherIndians,andtheyhadcometotheconclusionthateithera“windegoo”wasatthebottomofitorthe“meecheemunedoo”(thedevil).Ilaughedathisfears,andtoldhimIwouldhelphimtotryandfindoutwhoorwhatitwasthatwasgivingusthistrouble.Iwentwithhimtotheplace,wherewecarefullyexaminedbothsidesofthestreamforevidencesofthecleverthief.Theonlytracksvisiblewere his own and those of the many dogs that followed him to be fed eachmorning. About two or three hundred yards north of the spot where heoverhauled the net there rose a small abrupt hill, densely coveredwith sprucebalsam trees. On visiting it, we found that a person there securely hid fromobservation, could with care easily overlook the whole locality. At mysuggestion, Papanekiswith his axe there arranged a sort of a nest or lookout.OrderswerethengiventhatheandanotherIndianmanshould,beforedaybreakonthenextmorning,makealongdetourandcautiouslyreachthatspotfromtherear,andtherecarefullyconcealthemselves.Thistheysucceededindoing,andthere,inperfectstillness,theywaitedforthemorning.Assoonasitwaspossibletoseeanythingtheywereonthealert.Forsometimetheywatchedinvain.Theyeagerly scanned every point of vision, and for a time could observe nothingunusual.

“Hush!”saidone;“seethatdog!”ItwasCaesar,cautiouslyskulkingalongthetrail. He would frequently stop and sniff the air. Fortunately for the Indianwatchers,thewindwasblowingtowardthem,andsothedogdidnotcatchtheirscent. On he came, in a quiet yet swift gait, until he reached the spot wherePapanekis stood when he pulled in the net. He gave one searching glance inevery direction, and then he set towork.Seizing the rope in his teeth,Caesarstronglypulledupon it,whilehe rapidlybackedupsomedistanceon the trail.Thenwalkingontheropetothewater’sedgeasitlayontheground,tokeepthepressureofthecurrentfromdraggingitin,heagaintookafreshgripuponitandrepeatedtheprocess.Thishediduntilthesixtyfeetofropewerehauledin,andtheendofthenetwasreachedtowhichitwasattached.Thenethenowhauledin little by little, keepinghis feet firmlyon it to securelyhold it down.Ashedrewitup,severalvarietiesofinferiorfish,suchassuckers,ormullets,pikeorjackfish,wereatfirstobserved.TothemCaesarpaidnoattention.Hewasafterthedeliciouswhitefish,whichdogsaswellashumanbeingsprefer to thoseofotherkinds.

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Whenhehadhauledinperhapstwentyfeetofthenethewasrewardedbythesight of a fine white-fish. Still holding the net with its struggling captivessecurely downwith his feet, he began to devour thiswhitefish,whichwas somuchmoredaintythanthecoarserfishgenerallythrowntohim.

Papanekis and his comrade had seen enough. The mysterious culprit wasdetectedintheact,andsowitha“Whoop!”theyrusheddownuponhim.Caughtintheveryact,Caesarhadtosubmittoathrashingthatdeterredhimfromeveragaintryingthatcunningtrick.

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XV.Koona,TheEskimoLeader

KoonawasapurewhiteEskimodog.Hencehisname,as“Koona”istheCreeIndianwordforsnow.Hewasofmediumsize,andasanEskimodog,wasasperfectasapicture.

While Caesar was tricky and surprisingly cunning, Koona was simplymischievous. I retained him and a few other animals of the Eskimo varietybecauseofsomepeculiarexcellences.Koona,althoughatfirstonlykeptasadoginthefishorwoodtrains,soondevelopedintosuchacapitalleaderdogthathewaspromotedtoaplaceamongthemostaristocratictrains.Indeed,afterIwasso unfortunate as to break poor Voyageur’s heart, my sole reliance was uponKoonaasaleadereveninfrontofJack,CuffyandMuff.

Like other leaders he had his peculiarities and antipathies. One peculiaritywashehatedtohaveaguiderunningonjustaheadofhim.Iftheguidewereamileorsoinadvanceitwouldbeallrightwithhim.Thenheseemedtofancyhewas independently doing hiswork.But if the guide just kept in front of him,Koonawould often sulk and be of little use.He ever did his bestworkwhenleadingoverthegreaticystretchesoflakesoralongthehardstormsweptfrozenrivers.Then:“Marche,Koona!”wasalltheinstructionheneeded,andtothefarawaypointindicatedhewouldgallantlyleadhistrain.

Hiscourage,however,gaveoutinablizzard.Hewouldrefusetofaceitandwouldcleverlydropbackon the lee sideofbig Jackandallowhim todonotonlytheworkofleadingbutalsoofdrawingthatportionoftheloadwhichoughttohavebeensharedbetweenthem.Jackoftenthusfavoredhimandhelpedhimoutofsomeverydifficultsituations.HeseemedtothinkmoreofKoonathanhedidofanyotherEskimodogIeverowned,butthatisnotsayingmuch.

LikealltheEskimodogs,Koonawasafirst-classthiefandverycleverathiswork.Ifhewasoffdutyandaroundthekitchendoor,itwasgenerallyexpectedthattherewouldbeonefishlessinMartin’spanunderthestovewherethefishwerebeingthawedoutintheevening.Ifthekitchendoorwasleftopenforonlya fewminutes, itwas quite sufficient time forKoona,Although a fairly goodsizeddogheseemedabletomakehimselfverysmallandsilentwhenhewanted

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toenterthatkitchenunobserved.HisfavoriteplanwastofollowinclosebehindtheIndianservantgirland,seizingthefirstfishreached,asstealthilytoretire,Ifdetected and followed up so closely that he could not escapewith the fish hewould,ifpossible,suddenlydasharoundsomecorner,andlo!whenreachedbyhispursuershewouldbe founddemurely sittingupandapparentlywonderingwhatallthefusswasabout.

Notavestigeofthefishthatwesawhimcarryinginhismouthisnowvisible.Wherehasitgone?Haveoureyesdeceivedus?Surelyitmusthavebeensomeotherdogthanthissolemnlookingfellowthatsitsupsosteadilyontheground.Buttherearesomefolkswhoareascleverasdogs,andonesays:“LookattheoddwayKoona’sbushytailisbeingheld!”Oninvestigation,itisfoundthatthecleverrascalissittingonthestolenfishandistryingtomakehiscurlytailhelptocoverthefishoutofsight!

Hewasnotlonginmakingthediscoverythatthefactofhisbeingwhitelikethesnowcouldbeutilizedtohisadvantage.Ifwhengambolingaroundwiththeother dogs in the light beautiful snow which was there so abundant for longmonths, Koona heard the jingling bells which indicated that somebody wasbringing out the harness to begin work with the dogs, Koona would at oncecrouchdownaslowaspossibleandstrivetomakehimselfinvisible.Nocallingwouldcausehimtostir.Hehadtobehuntedupandunceremoniouslydriventohisharness.

This trickwhichKoona had of hiding in the snowwas a great annoyance,especiallyinthewintrycampsinthewoodswhenwewereonalongjourney.

Asstatedelsewhere,wehardlyeverwaiteduntildaylighterebeginning theday’s journey. Itwas very provokingwhenwe could not easily find our dogswhenwewanted them.Koonawas one of themischievous animals that oftenruffledeventhemoststoicaldriver.

He slept eachnightwhenhisday’sworkwasdone in aholewhichhehadcarefullyduginthesnow.Aseverythingaroundhimwasofthepurestwhite,hewaspractically invisible in the starlit night.Andashewouldnotmove in themorninguntil stumbleduponby thesearchersorwas run inbyJack, itwasattimesmostprovoking.Oneofmydrivers tosavedelayinthemorningusedtocarefullyobservewhereKoonamadehisnestatnightsothathecouldeasilyfindhim in themorning.After a timeKoonadiscovered this, and so the instantheheardanyonemovinginthecampintheearlymorning,heusedtoquietlystealawaytosomeotherspotinthedeepsnow.

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But ahappyexpedient forever stoppedhim fromagain repeating that trick.One night the Indians caught him and dragging him to the camp, they took aquantityofdeadcoalsandpoundingthemupintopowdertheymostcompletelyblackenedhimfromhisnosetothetipofhistail.SothoroughlydidtheIndiansrub in thecoalpowder that theoncespotlesswhitedogwas fordaysaboutasblackasJackorCuffy.Andsoallhiseffortstoescapedetectionbyhidinginthesnowwerevain.Atfirsthecouldnotunderstandthematterbutatlastitseemedtodawnuponhimandhenevertriedthetrickagain.

Itwas amusing towitnesshowveryquicklyKoona, aswell asmanyotherdogs,couldpretendtobeill,orlame,orparalyzed,whentheyheardthedrivercomingwithharnesstomakeupatrain.Welookoutfromourstudywindowandthere is over a score of dogs out from the kennels for a big romp.Every oneseemsinthemostperfectcondition.Seewithwhatwildabandonandjoyousnessthey race and play in the light fleecy snow. There is not a sign of a limp orlamenessamongthem.

Nowwatch! An Indian has taken down a set of harness, jinglingwith themusical little bells, fourofwhich are fastened to each collar.Asheopens thekitchendoorandwalksoutamongthedogs,beholdthetransformation!Didyouever see sucha lotofwounded, limping,paralyzeddogs inyour life together!Caesar sadly crawls along on his two fore feet, dragging his apparentlyparalyzedhindquartersalongtheground.Koona,findingitimpossibletohideinthesnow, ismaking themostcomicalefforts togetalongononeforeandonehindleg.AndothersarejustasamusingintheireffortstotrytoconvinceMartin,thedriver,thatitwouldbetheheightofabsurditytothinkofharnessingupsuchpoor,helpless,worn-outdogsastheyare.However,Martinhasseensuchtricksbeforeandsonowheheedsthemnot.Allhewantsisatrainoffourgooddogswithwhichtotakehismasteroverforanevening’sserviceattheFort.

“Astum(come)Pompey!Astum,Black!Astum,Nero!Astum,Muff!”Onlyonedriver;onlyonetrain;andtheinstant that train iscalledandeach

dog’sheadisinacollar,beholdagainthetransformationamongtheotherdogs:Caesar’sspinalcolumnisinstantlyallrightandhishindlegsareaslivelyashisfrontones.Koona,assuddenly,findsiteasiertogetaroundonfourlegsthanontwo,andsoheisdashingaroundatagreatrate.Andthusit iswiththeothers.Theywerecleverenoughtotrythesympathydodge,butitwasonethatcouldbeeasily seen through and was quietly ignored by the driver in making hisselection.

Koona,likeRover,wasagreatcoward.

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Hewouldrunfromadogmuchsmallerthanhimselfthatshowedanyspiritorpugnacity.ButunlikeRover,whowasevera loverofpeace,Koonawasneverhappierthanwhenhewasgettingotherdogsintorows,andthebiggerthefightthemoreheenjoyedit.

One thing thatevergavehimthekeenestenjoymentwas togetupabattle-royalbetweenthedogsofthemissionandthoseoftheIndianvillage.Todothishe had to use a good deal of cleverness and secrecy, for hewell knew that ifdetectedwhiledevelopinghisplans,asecondthrashingawaitedhim.Andmanyaonehegot,andyetdoitoveragainhewouldifhesawachance.

Tounderstandhisfavoritemethodtobringaboutabigfightbetweentherivalforces, wemust explain that all the mission premises, including the dwellinghouse, church, school house, stable and other outbuildings, were all built bythemselvesonafewacresoflandthat,peninsulalike,projectedoutalittleintoPlaygreenLake,withlittlebaysoneachside.Thelittleneckoflandjoiningthemissionpropertytothemainlandwasonlyafewhundredfeetwide.

SolowwasitthatanoldIndiantraditionsaidthatinstormyweatheritusedto be covered bywater.However, in our time it was quite high and dry. Theplaceisveryrockyandneartheneckoflandonthemissionsideareseveralhighrocky places from which a spectator sees the whole Indian village, whichspreads out east and west on the main shore, and be he man or dog he isdistinctlyvisiblefromeachway.Here,whenthedogswereoutoftheirkennelsand playing about in their usual ways, Koona, if not being watched, wouldstealthily take his place, hid from observation at the mission by someoutbuildings.

A constant andunceasing antagonismever existed between the dogs of themissionandthoseofthevillage.Itwaswar,sharpandkeen,whenevertheymet,andwoetoanysingledogthatstrayedintothedomainoftheotherside.

Koona’s trick, when he could carry it out, was tomount up on this rockyprominence in fullviewofmanyof thevillagedogs,whilehisowncomradeswere all out of sight. Then began the most aggravating and tantalizingmaneuversimaginable,accompaniedbyyelpsthatdoubtlessweredogtauntsandchallenges.

Then the excitement began. In those dayswhen fishwere abundant, everyIndianhouseandwigwamswarmedwithdogsofallvarietiesanddegrees.Theywere not slow in hearing these impertinent challenges from the outpost of thefoes,andsospeedilydidtheygatherthatthereweredozensofthemcollectedontheir own side of the sandy neck of land. Like thewolves in the dark forests

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which in some respects these Eskimo dogs so closely resemble, their courageincreases with their numbers, and so now when they had become such anumerouspackastofeelthattheydaremaketheassault,withfierceyelpingsfortheEskimodogscanhardlybesaidtobarktheycamedashingacrosstotrybyasuddenrushtocapturethesaucyKoona,whodoubtlesshasbeenhurlingatthemall thehardwordshehad inhisvocabulary.Buthe isnotsucha foolas tobethus caught or surrounded.He justwaits to see that they have really dared tocrosstheisthmusofneutralgroundwhen,witharush,hecomestearingaroundthose outbuildings and instantly he is among themission dogs and his call is“Yep!yep!yep!”whichtransformedintoEnglishis,“UpGuards,andatthem.”No second call is needed, for this one is thoroughly understood, and promptindeedistheresponse.

WithKoonaattheirhead,twentyorthirtydogsandpupsareofftomeettheoncomingfoe.

Generally they met about at the base of the rock, from the top of whichKoonahadgivenhissaucychallenge.

Anditwasabattle-royal.Itwasmarveloushowtheychargedeachotherandhow if one was being worsted, his disengaged comrades came to his rescue.Theydidnotgenerallyfastenoneachother,astwofiercedogsinsinglecombatoften do, but with wild rushes together would simply try to overpower withweighttheiropponentsandtumblethemdowninthesnow.Stillthereweresomethatwent in formore serious fighting,andsinglingout somespecialdogwithwhom,perhaps,theyhadsomeoldscorestosettle,theypitchedintohimforalltheywereworth.

ButwherewasKoonaall this time?Wehad seenhimstarting the rowandbravelyheadingourdogstorepeltheoncomingfoe.

Butyouneednotlookforhiminthefightforhewillnotbethere.Heneverwasinone,andifhecanhelpitheneverwillbe.

Gallantly did he lead the forces to repel the attack, but only part way.Skilfullyhemaneuveredhimselftoonesideandthen,asthedogscatchingsightofthefoesdashedon,Koonawithcunningstrategyclamberedupontherockyeminence fromwhichhe hadbut a short timebefore issuedhis saucy, defiantchallenge.There,insecurity,hedancedandhowledinanecstasyofdelight,ashesurveyedthebattleragingbelow!

Ofcoursethebattlewasnotallowedtocontinuelong.Theinstanttheinmatesofthemission,andtheIndiansintheirhomes,heardthedinofbattle,theywellunderstoodwhat itmeant, and so, speedily rushing outwith their heavy dog-

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whips, they quickly separated the combatants and drove them back to theirrespectivequarters.

When peace again prevailed and the questionwas asked: “Who began therowthistime?”

Atleastahalf-dozensharp-eyedIndiansdeclaredthatfromtheirabodestheyhadwatchedKoonaathistricksagain.SoKoonawasspeedilycaptured,soundlythrashedandsenttobedwithoutanysupper.

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XVI.TravelingWithDogsInNorthernWilds

Incivilizedcountriesthefacilitiesfortravelimproveas thepopulationincreases. Railroad and steamboat lines are not built or runwhere there is noprospectofremunerativereturns.Sowemayexpectandgenerallyfindthatthefacilities for travel are in accordance with the numbers and demands of theinhabitantsofthedifferentregionsofthecivilizedworld.

In addition to this we have to take into consideration the character of theclimateofeachcountry,andwhatmethodsoftravelarepossible,wheretheusualfacilities common to most countries are impracticable. Yet limited as thesemethodsmustnecessarilybeinthelesshighlyfavoredregions,itisinterestingtoobservethattherearefoundinallsuchplacessomefacilitieswhichseemtobeinperfectharmonywiththeirenvironments.Takeforexamplethecamelinthetropicaldeserts, and theHuskieorEskimodog, in thearctic regions.Botharefitted for their specialwork inavery remarkabledegree, and there isnothing,considering the condition of these lands, that can at present successfully taketheirplaces.Ifthetheoryofevolutionistrue,thecamelandthedogaresurelytheperfectedproductionoflongyearsofdevelopmentundercircumstancesthemosttrying.

WiththedogsoftheNorthland,and“journeyingsoft”withthemwearenowconcerned. travelers in theburningdesertscanwritewhereof theyknowaboutthepatientcamel,butthischapteristobedevotedtoadescriptionofatripwithdogs and Indians through the wilds of the Great Northland.Why with dogs?Simplybecausethereispositivelynootherwaypossible.

Thewhistleofnorailroadengineorsteamerhaseverarousedtheechoesofthese northern interior solitudes, neither is it likely to do so for long years tocome.

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There are absolutely no roads, or paths, or trails, for hundreds, nor eventhousands,ofmiles.Theresultisthatthereisabsolutelynootherwayofwintertraveling than with dogs, except going on foot, and even that becomesimpossiblewhendistancesaregreaterthanthosewheremencancarrytheirownsupplies.Fortheirsuppliesmeanmuchmorethanmerelythefoodamanwouldconsume.Itmeanshisbedding,weaponsofdefense,axe,snowshoesandvariousotherthings,inadditiontokettlesinwhichtocookhisfood.Hencetothosewhowouldtheretravel,thedogissimplyinvaluable,inspiteofhismanydefects.

Assomuchissaidinotherpartsofthisbookaboutdogsingeneral,aswellas about some individual ones, I need not in this chapter give any furtherdescription of them.My readers must imagine that we are traveling with thesplendiddogselsewheredescribedorwithotherslikethem.

The dog-sleds are not always of the same form or construction. In thoseregionswhere there isbut littledense forest country, the sledsaremademuchwider than are thosewhich are usedwhere the trails run through the denselywooded regions. Then in many places experience has shown that the sledsconstructedwithstrongrunners,whichkeepthebodyof thesledwellupfromtheground,arethebestfortravelingthroughcertainsectionsofbrokencountry,andespeciallyoverthegreatroughicefieldsoftheNorthernseas.

Theperfect sled,however, foruse in the forest and lake regions,wherewespentouryearswheninthatNorthland,wasmadeexactlyonthesameplanasarethetoboggansofQuebec.FromtheRedRiverSettlementwehadsentouttousbyboatsinthesummertime,somegoodoakboards.Theyweretwelvefeetlong,eightornine incheswide,andaninchthick.Twoof thesewerematchedandthenfirmlyfastenededgetoedgetoeachotherwithstrongcross-bars.Thenoneendwasplaneddown,untilitwasnotmorethanhalfofthethicknessoftherestoftheboards.Thethinendwasthenthoroughlysteamedforatleastaday,andthen,inaplaceprepared,wasbentintheshaperequiredfortheheadofthesled.Strongdeer-skinthongs,welltied,heldeverypartinitsrightposition,,andso, as soonas theparts softenedby the steamhadbecomehard and rigid, thesledwasaboutfinished.Twostrongdeer-skinloopswerefastenedatthefront,towhich the traces of the dogs were attached when desired. Then much largerloopswerefirmlysecuredoneachsideofthesledforthepurposeoffasteningon the loads, and now the sled is considered completed, and ready for use.Acariolewasoneofthesesledsfixedupwithacomfortablebackandparchmentsides.Oftenitwasgailypaintedandwithfurrobesandagoodtrailwasacozyvehicleinwhichtoride.

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Fora long tripof, say, severalhundredsofmiles,duringwhich Iwouldbeabsent fromhome forperhaps sixweeks, Iwould takewithme threeof theseoak:sledsandacariole.

Fourdogs constituted a train sufficiently strong todrawa loaded sled.Thedogswithuswereharnessedup in tandemstyle.Anyothermethodwouldnothavebeensuitableinsuchadenselywoodedcountry.

Thetakingofsomanydogsandsledsmayappearatfirstextravagant.Buttheexplanation is simple. Itmust be borne inmind that these long journeysweremadeinacountrysowildthattherewerenotonlynohotelsorlodgingplacesofany kind from the beginning to the end of the route, but also there were noshops,orplacesofanydescription,wheresuppliescouldbesecuredforloveormoney.Theonlypossibleexceptiontothisrulewaswhenweweresofortunateastocrossthetrailofahunterwhomighthavebeenluckyenoughtohavejustshotamooseora reindeer.Thenwemightbeable topurchase somevenison.Buteventhatmeantgivinginexchangesuppliesfromoursleds,asallbargainswerebybarter;sowereallywerenotmuchbetteroff.

Our loadswereofamostmiscellaneouscharacter.Thesuppliesof foodforourselvesand the fish forourdogsgenerallyconstituted theheaviestpart,Forcookingourfoodandmakingteaforall,wehadasupplyofkettlesaswellasaquantityofunbreakabledishes.Then therewereouraxes,ofwhichwehad totake a liberal supply, aswewere continuallybreaking themon account of theintense frost, making the steel almost as brittle as glass. Some guns andammunitionwerealsoinourloadsalthoughnotnearlyasmuchasonasummertrip.Thenwewouldexpecttofindsufficientgametokeepourpotboiling,butnow in this bitterwinterweather therewas but little game. So our gunsweremorecarriednow,asaprecautionarymeasureagainstprowlinggreywolvesthatcouldmake themselves troublesome at times and give us an exciting hour ortwo,orevenawholesleeplessnight.Ourbeddingconstitutednoinconsiderablepartofour loads.Tosleepout in theopenair inaholescoopedout inasnowdrift, and the cold so intense that themercury is frozen in our thermometers,requiresforcomfortaconsiderableamountofbedding.Theseblanketsandfurrobesaddconsiderablytothebulkandweightofourloads.Thenaddtowhathasalreadybeenenumerated,medicinesincaseofsicknessoraccidents,articlestomend breakages to dog harness or sleds, a liberal supply of presents for thedifferent bands of Indians we hope to visit, and our necessary changes ofclothing,anditwillbeeasilyseenthatalongtripbydogtrains,isnotalightortriflingundertaking.

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Ofmy faithful Indian companionswithwhom I traveled for longyears, onmanyaroughanddangerousjourney,itisapleasureandajoytowrite.Untiringand enduring to a degree, they not onlywonmy admiration, but arousedmyastonishmentatwhatthehumanframewasabletoaccomplish.Theywereeverpronetodisparageanyof theirwonderfuldeeds,andwereexceedinglymodestwhenurgedtorecountthem.

Myequipmentof Indians formy four sledsand sixteendogson these longjourneyswouldbeaguideandthreedog-drivers.

The first-class Indian guides are certainly wonderfully gifted men. TheirabilitytoleadonthroughthoseNorthernpathlesssolitudes,whereforhundredsofmiles,formonthstogether,nottheleastvestigeofaroadisseen,andwheretoanordinarywhiteman, there is absolutelynothing togive the slightesthintorinformationofthecorrectrouteissimplymarvelous.

Naturallysupposingthattheyguidedtheircoursebythesun,Iwasamazedtofindthat in thedarkandcloudydays,whentheskieswere leaden,andIcouldnot tell north from south, or east fromwest, they swung along on their greatsnow-shoeswithasmuchaccuracyand speedaswhen the sun, in itsnorthernbrilliancy,shonefromthecloudlessheavens.

Thenagreatermysterystillaboutthesestrangelygiftedmencametomeasarevelation,and thatwas that theycould travelaswellbynightasbyday;andalsothatitmadebutlittledifferencetothemwhetherthestarsshoneoutinallthe splendorof thosehigh latitudesorcloudsaroseandmantled the landscapewithgloomanddarkness.Stillonandonstrodethemarvelousguide.

Ontheguiderestedthechiefresponsibilitiesofthejourney.Itwashistosaywhen each day’s journey was ended. He selected each camping place andassigned to each Indian his allottedwork.Running ahead he set the pace andexpectedthatallwouldendeavor tokeepascloseonhis trailaspossible.Thiswas to be the unbroken rule, especially when the weather was threatening orblizzardsmight assail us. Hewas supposed to be ever on the lookout for thecoming storm, and even before ordinary mortals could detect any sign of itscoming he would have us all fleeing for shelter to the distant forest. Hewasnever to go through or over placeswhere the sleds following could not pass.Hencehewouldnevercrowdhimselfbetweentreesgrowingcloselytogetherorspringoverfallenones,unlessitwasimpossibletomarkouta trailaroundtheobstruction. Hence it will be seen that the guide was not merely a man whocouldpushonrapidlyatthefront,butwasonewho,asitwerebyintuition,asheswiftlyglidedon,tookinataglancethefeaturesofthecountry,andsawwhere

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thetrailmustbemadethatwouldentailtheleasthardshipsonthedogsandmenfollowing.

The guide’s positionwas thus one of great responsibility, and his paywasabouttwicethatoftheordinarydog-drivers.Hissleepingplaceinthecampwasnext to “theMaster,” if he so desired, and it was hismorning call of “Koos-Koos-Kwah!”(Wakeup!)thathadtobepromptlyobeyedbyall.

Thedog-driversIemployedwhenpossibletobeobtained,werepickedmenwhohadnotonlysplendidpowersofendurancebutintelligentsympathyintheirmanagementof thedog-trainscommitted to their care. Isolatedaswewereonthese trips so completely from the rest of the world, where we had nocompanionshipbutourownattendants,intheirselectionIendeavoredtosecurecomrades inmy servants, eachofwhomwaswell treated and fromwhom thecorrespondingcongenialfellowshipwasexpected,andwasgenerallyreceived.InevertwicehiredasulkyordisagreeablemanifIcouldhelpit.Theresultwasthat,havingtheclassofmenIwanted,wewereahappylittlecompany.Wehadourinnocentjokesandpleasantrieswheneverythingwasbrightaroundus.Thenwhen dangers assailed us, and even death in the form of the terrible blizzardwould threaten to overwhelm us together, as brotherswe stood and faced thecommonperil.Thisconfidentialrelationshipbetweenusasmasterandmendidnotspoilthemasmyservants.

NeverdidIreceiveanimpertinentorsaucywordfromanyofmyownmenonanyofthese,attimes,mosttryingjourneys.OnthecontraryIhaveseensuchevidencesof their devotion and self-sacrifice that I amconfident that someofthemwouldhavediedforme.

When starting off on a long journey, of course the guidewas at the front.WithVoyageur as leader, and Jack, Cuffy andCaesar constitutingmy train, Iwould quickly follow on his trail. Behind me came the other heavily loadedsleds,eachtraindrivenbyanIndian.Therewasoftenacertainamountofgood-natured rivalry among these drivers as to the place they should have in theprocession,astheycalledit.

However,inafewdaysthematterseemedtoarrangeitselfandtheweakestdogswiththelightestloads,generallybroughtuptherear.Keeping,asofcoursewemust, fairly close together, our progresswas according to the speedof theslowest train.To expeditematters therewas considerable re-adjustment of theloadsinfavorofthelighterandyoungerdogs.

Such travelingwas conducive to good appetites.The resultwas therewereseveral halts during the day for ameal. That theremight be as little delay as

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possible,theguideoftencarriedanaxeinhisbelt.Whenhedecidedthatitwasabout timefor thenextmealhewouldputonaspurtandrunaheadwithsuchrapiditythathewouldsoonbeamileorsoinadvance.Herehewouldselectafavorablespotnearsomesmall,drytrees.Usingoneofhisbigsnowshoesasashovelhesoonclearedthesnowawayfromthespot.Thenwithhiskeenaxehespeedilycutdownsomeofthesmalltrees.Cuttingthemintosuitablelengths,hethuspreparedhiswood.Hisflintandsteel,inhisskilledhand,soonstartedthefire. So when the rest of the party came up, a roaring fire was ready for thekettles,whichwerespeedilybroughtintouse.Themealwasquicklycookedandeatenand the journeyoncemore resumed.Thusonandonwe journeyeduntilthelengtheningshadowstoldtheguidethatitwasabouttimehebegantolookoutforthecampingplacewherethenightwastobespent.

The day’s march was supposed to end about an hour before the sun wentdown. This gave ample time in which to prepare the camp and make all thenecessary arrangements for there spending the night. The two essentials for agoodcampwereabundanceofdrywoodandashelteredgroveoflivespruceorbalsamtrees.Whentheguidereachedwhatthussuitedhisexperiencedeye,thehaltwascalled,anddogs,aswellasmen,rejoicedatthewelcomerest.Yettherewasagooddealtobedoneeretherewasanyquietrest.Aseachtrainreachedtheplaceselectedbytheguidethefirstdutyofeachdriverwastounharnesshisdogs.Ifhehadthemisfortunetohaveinhistrainanythatweredifficulttocatch,itwas his duty to fasten them in someway so that he could get his hands onthem in themorning.Somecarelessdriverswouldneglect theseprecautionarymeasures and then, as a natural result, there would be trouble, with a certainpercentageoffun,beforehesecuredhisdogstoresumethejourney.

The spot selected for the camp is now carefully prepared.A level place isselectedasmuchprotectedfromthewindascanbefound.Thebigsnow-shoesmakecapitalshovels,andsowhenwieldedbythestrongarmsofthesestalwartmen, they soon clean out the greater quantity of that snow which was thererestingandpileitupingreatbanksattherearandoneachsideofthecamp.Thecampwhen thus prepared is really a hollow squarewith great snowbanks onthreesides.Fromthefourthsidethesnowisallthrownawayandherethegreatfirewillsoonbeblazing.Tokeepthisfireburninggreatquantitiesofwoodwillbe required.This is the reasonwhy the guide selected this spot for the camp.And now that the snow has been cleared away, themen exchange their snowshoesforsharpaxesand,undertheirvigorousstrokes,thetalldrytreesarebeingrapidlyfelled.

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Then they are cut up in lengths of from ten to fifteen feet and dragged orcarried,wheretheycanbeusedasneeded.Oncethefireiskindledtherebeginsworkofadifferentkind.Thesledsareunpackedandwhilesomeofusarrangetherobesandblanketsinthecamp,othersbeginthepreparationsforthesupper.Takingthekettlesfromthesledstheyfillthemwithsnow.Solightanddryisthissnowthata largequantity isneeded tomakeanordinarysizedkettleofwater.Whenabundanceofwateristhusobtained;themeatisboiledinthelargerkettle,whilethesmalleroneisreservedforthetea.

Andnowthatoursupperisbeingcooked,thedogsareremembered,andtheironedailymeal is prepared.Eachdriver brings fromhis sled eight largewhitefish.Theseareallfrozensosolidlythatitwouldbewickedtogivethemtothefaithfuldogswhileinthatcondition.Tothawthemoutwithsuchagloriousfireisaneasytask;andplacingthemwheretheheatwillhavefullplayuponthem,thethirty-twofishrequiredforthesixteendogsaresoonready.Theinstantthefish begin frizzling in the heat, the fragrance of the coming supper fairly setssomeofthemoreexcitabledogswild.Theyarehoweverobligedtowaitevenifitbeahardship,until theirdrivershavegathered their trains togetherand thencarefullyfedthem.Greatcare,and,attimes,agooddealoffirmnesshastobeexercisedoftenbackedupwiththewhip,tokeepsomeofthemoregreedydogs,aftervoraciouslyboltingtheirownfish,fromcunninglyattemptingtorobsomeoftheothers.

Thedogshavingbeenfedandthusdisposedofforthenight,thenextthingistoarrangeforourownsupper.Onthecampsideofthefirealittleclothisspreadout,andonit,firstthoroughlyheatedtotakethefrostoutofthem,arearrangedourmetalplatesandknivesandforks.Ifwearefortunateenoughtohaveflourathome, we will have with us a quantity of well-cooked heavy cakes, made asnearlyaspossibleofhalf fat and flour.Anumberof theseare thawedout, foreverything here freezable is most decidedly frozen. One Indian with a sharp-pointedstick,liftsthelargepieceoffatmeatoutoftheboilingpotandplacesitinthehotpanontheclothontheground,whileanotherfillstheheatedtincupswith steaming tea.This isour supper, consistingaswehaveheredescribedofhotfatcakes,hotfatmeatandhotstrongtea.

Don’tturnawayindisgust,mygoodfriend.Youneverenjoyedamealbetterinyourlife.Andwhatismore,youwouldenjoythisonetoo,ifyoujusthadthesameglorioussurroundingsandthemarvelousappetite that theopenair life inthisbracingclimategives.Itistruethatwedohavesomestormsandblizzardsandoccasionallythemercuryslipsdownoutofsight,butitisalsotruethatfor

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weeks together thesunshineswithwondrousbrilliancyduringeachshortday,and then the nights are more glorious still. So with plenty of robes, splendiddogs, a safe guide and the truest of Indian servants, we know nothing moreexhilaratingandprovocativeofthefineappetite,thatisreadyforanyfoodthatisprepared, no matter if the preparations be primitive and the cooks only RedIndians,

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XVII.StillOnTheTrailWithTheDogs

The preparation of the bed in the winter camp and getting ready tooccupyitwereinterestingoperations.Inthepreviouschapterwehavedescribedthemethodofpilingupthesnowoutoftheselectedcampindriftsorbanksonthreesides.Sometimeswhenwewerenottoowearyandtherewasabundanceoflive spruce or balsam trees near, we would cut some of them down andluxuriouslycarpetourcampwiththeirbranchesfinelybrokenup.Generallyweweresatisfiedto leaveafewinchesofsnowontheground.Onthiswespreadout our robes and blankets.My Indianswere capital bedmakers, and I neveronce had to complain of them. Thoroughly and well would they arrange theunderrobesandblankets,takinggreatcaretoremoveeverystoneorstickwhich,underone’sbackorribs,wouldnotinvitesleep.

Sometravelersprefertosleepinagreatfurbag.Itriedoneforaseason,butsodislikeditthatIdiscardediteverafter.Therewassuchasensationofperfecthelplessnesswheninit,afeelingofpowerlessnessifoneshouldbeattackedbyfireormanorbeast.SoasIfoundoutthatthesethingsbotheredme,Ireturnedtotheold-fashionedbedandalwayshadmorecomfortinitthaninanyfurbagIevertried.

Thepreparationapersonhastomakebeforehecansafelygetintosuchabedis quite elaborate. Anything like disrobing, as is customary in civilization, isthere out of the question. The only undressing there permissible, is theunbuttoningofyourshirtcollar.Thismakesitalittleeasiertobreathe,andthatis an importantmatter, as youwill soon find out. I found it conducive tomycomfort to change themoccasins and stockings inwhich I had been travelingduringtheday,formuchlargeronesatnight.Mywearyfeetseemedrestedbythechange,andIsleptmuchbetter.OnmyheadIworealoosecapwithlargefurears. A long fur coat was very comfortable, but as such garments are veryexpensive,we found out that very comfortable and serviceable attire could be

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madeforusbythenativewomen,outofthewarmHudson’sBayblanketsofthecountry.Tothesecoatsaswellastosimilargarments,wereattachedlargewarmhoods. These hoods, which are called capotes in that country, are verycomfortablenotonlybydaywhentravelingbutwhenpulledupoverthefurcapatnight.

ThusattiredIamnowreadyforbed,andwhileIhavebeenthusgettingreadyfor retiring, my faithful Indians have been preparing my bed for me. Everyinequalityundertherobesconstitutingthebottomhasbeenremovedorpoundeddown.Thenblanketsareveryevenlyspreadout,andnowIaminvited:“Pleasegetintobed,andwewillcoveryouupandtuckyouin.”

Theseseemedatthetimelikewordsforalittlechild.Butyearsofexperiencesincehavenotonlyshownmethewisdombutalsothelovethatpromptedthem.

IgetdownaswellasIcanconsideringhowswathedupIam,andassoonasIaminpositionthemenplacethecoveringsovermeand,commencingatmyfeet,proceedwiththeprocessoftuckingmein.Theydoitmostthoroughlyandyetsokindly.Nomotherevermorecarefullyandcompletelytuckedupherchildinacrib or cradle than do my faithful Indians thus tuck me up in my robes andblanketsinthissnow,toprotectmeasmuchaspossiblefromthebittercold.Asstated,theybeginatmyfeetandgraduallyworkingup,theyreachmyshoulders

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andthentheyfoldbackboththeblanketandfurrobeovermyhead,andbegintuckingthemundermyshoulders.

IhadnotatfirstbeeneducatedenoughinIndianmethodstostandthatkindofsleeping, and so it was quite the thing for me, after enduring the chokingsensationforaverybriefperiod,suddenlytothroweverythingofffrommyheadandaskthem:“Whydoyouwishtosmotherme?”

Patientlywouldtheyputupwithmyinexperienceandsay:“Weloveyoutoowelltosmotheryou.Weknowitmustbedifficultatfirstforyoutosleepinthisway,butyouwillsoonbeabletostandit,andindeedthereisnoothersafeway.”

No other safeway?Well, if that is the case, Imust try again, and so theypatientlytuckedmeupagain,andItriedoncemoretolearnhowtosleepwithmyheadthuscompletelycoveredup.

ItwasoneofthehardestlessonsIeverhadtolearn,anditreallytookyearsinitsaccomplishment,Thesmotherysensationsareattimesalmostunbearable,andindeedthereweretimeswhenIcouldnotendurethem,andsowouldruntheriskoffreezingmyface,inspiteofthekindlyentreatiesofmywatchfulIndians.

One night I determined with all the will power at command patiently tosubmittothetucking-upprocess,anddidreallygetsoundlytosleep.SometimelateronImusthavepartiallyawakened,andunconsciouslyuncoveredmyface,foratastagelaterIrememberfindingmyselfvigorouslytuggingatwhatinmysemi-consciousconditionIimaginedwasthehandleofanaxe!

WhenIreallydidpullmyselfintoastateofconsciousnessImadetheratherstartlingdiscoverythatIwastryingtopulloffmynose,andthatitwassolidlyfrozen.IwasveryconsciousofthepossessionofanoseforthenexttwomonthswhileIwasendeavoringtogetitbackintoitsnormalcondition.

The Indians generally provided themselves with large rabbit-skin blankets,each one requiring about a hundred and twenty skins. They were, withoutexception, thewarmestrobesofanydescription, Ieversaw.Withoneof theseapiece,myIndianswouldsleepwiththegreatestcomfortthroughoutthecoldest,wildestnightinthatwildNorthland,andspringup,oftenliterallysteaminghotin the morning. I tried these snowy-white rabbit robes one winter, but foundthemsowarmthatIhadtodiscardthemasIsweatsomuchunderthemthatIwascontinuallycatchingcoldafterwards.

Wewereneversorryifafallofsnowcamegentlydownuponus,of,say,acouple of feet in depth. We did not care for its arrival until we were cosilycoveredupinourbeds.Then,however, itwaswelcome.Gentlyandwarmlyit

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covered us, as a blanket spread over shivering children by a loving mother’shands.

Thefireatourfeetwasnotkeptburningallthroughthenight,unlessthecoldwasofunusualseverityorweweredisturbedbyprowling,saucy,greywolves.Thesedisturbanceswere,however,rare,andasIinsistedonmymenbeingwellsuppliedwith sufficientblankets,wegenerally sleptundisturbeduntil the timearrivedwhenwehadarrangedtoresumeourjourney.

The getting up was a trying ordeal. We had to spring up from under ourblankets,wherewehadbeenrestinginwarmthandcomfort,outintothatfrigidair,whereJackFrostruledwithmercilesspower.My!buthedidpinchus,andthatwithoutpity.

Whenwecuddleddowntosleep,agreatblazingfirewasburningatourfeet.Thatveryspotiscoveredoverwithacoupleoffeetofsnow.

Theoutlook isdreary indeed,but there isno time formurmuring,wehavebeen in worse plights than we are this morning and this scene can soon betransformed.And it is. The snow-shoes, again used as shovels, speedily clearaway the light, dry snow. Strong arms so energetically ply the axes that anabundanceofdrywoodissecured,andflintandsteelinexperthandsdotherest,and once again to gladden our hearts and warm our bodies the great fire isblazingbeforeus.Initswarmth,aswellasfromtheactiveexerciseinwhichwehadallbeenengagedfornooneplaysdeadheadhere,weforgetourshiveringsand are in splendid trim for our breakfast, which is prepared as speedily aspossible.

“Whatisyourbilloffare?”IfancyIhearsomegoodfriendasking.Well,interestedreader,itisexactlythesameasitwaslastnight,andwhatis

moreitwillbethesameuntilthefatcakesgiveout,andfromthatonitwillbejustmeatandtea,meatandtea,until thetripisendedorthesuppliesgiveout,oftenthelatter.

Afterbreakfastandprayers,thedogsarecaptured,notalwaysaneasytask,ashasalreadybeenshown.Thesledsarereloadedandthejourneyisresumed.Thisis travelingwithdogsand isacorrectdescriptionofhowitwascarriedonformanyyearsinwhatwereknownastheHudson’sBayTerritories.

Of course there were the variations incident to fierce blizzard stormsassailing, or savagewolves attacking,while en route orwhen sheltered at thecampfire.

Then there were sometimes long delays. Some were caused by the greatcracksorfissuresinthevasticefieldswhere,inspiteofthefactthattheicewas

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severalfeetthick,yetsogreatwasthecontractivepowerofthefrostthatthesefissuressuddenlyopened,andsomeweresowideandlongthatgreatwere thedifficultiesandlongthedelaysingettingacrossthem.Wecouldsometimes,overthenarrowones,improviseabridgeoutofalongdogsled,butwhenthecracksweremanyyardswideandextendedeachwayasfarastheeyecouldreachwefoundthecrossingovernoeasymatter.

Araftoficewasthebestor,puttingitmoreaccurately,theonlywaypossibleforustosafelyreachtheothershore.Thisraftwemadebyuseofouraxes.Weselectedaspotwheretherewouldbethegreatesteconomyintheicecutting,foratthebestplacethejobbeforeuswasalongandlaboriousone.Thentheaxeswere kept busy and at length a great raft of ice was cut loose and on it weembarked our dogs and sleds, and by various maneuverings we managed toreachthefarthershore.

Weweresometimesalsosadlydelayedintheforestsbythenumerouswind-felled trees, which often seemed to be almost insurmountable barriers to ourprogress.The axes againwere called into service, and it did at times seem asthoughwewerespendinghalfofourtimeinclearingoutatrailalongwhichitwaspossibleforourpatientdogstopullourheavysleds.

Thus,withvaryingfortunes,onandonweplodded,untilatlengththesmokefrom the tops of the distant wigwams and the noisy, hostile reception ofinnumerableIndiandogs,toldusthatourlongtripbydogtrain,forthepresent,wasaboutended.

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XVIII.OurDogsInSummerTime

As a general thing the dogs have a long holiday during the summermonths.Therearenoroadsandconsequentlyno landvehicles.So truly is thisthecasethatamongsomeof thenortherntribes themissionaries, in translatingsuchwords in theBible as “carriage,” “chariot,” or “waggon,” found nothingelse available than “dog sled.” It seemed rather startling to hear a brothermissionary tell his people, through the interpreter, that when the venerablepatriarchJacobwentdowntojoinhissonJosephinEgypt,hemadethejourneyinadogsled!

AstheIndianshavenoworkfortheirdogsinthesummer,theyneverorveryseldom feed them. They leave them to forage for themselves. They are thescavengersofthecountry,andallthesanitationofthelandisleftintheircharge,andwelldotheydothework.

Thedogs,however,dependprincipallyupontheirclevernessincapturingfishfortheirfood.Someofthemareeverhauntingtheshallowplacesandbays,andarequicktonoticethefinsofthegreatjackfishwhentheycrowdinsoneartheshore that the shallow water betrays their presence. This is the clever dog’sopportunity,and it is interesting toobservehownoiselessly theycanwadeoutand endeavor to capture the great fish.Wehave said “endeavor” for there arejackfishsolargethatnosingledogcancaptureonealone.Still thepluckydogwillmaketheattemptandoftenhereturnswithfore-legslimpingasaresultofthepowerfulblowwhichthemuscularfishgavehimasheattemptedtoseizeit.Yetwoundedanddefeated,heiseverreadytotryagain.

ThelargeHuskiedogscangripandholdintheirteeth,jackfishuptotenortwelve pounds weight, but I have never seen a dog able to capture a twentypoundfish,andinthosedaystherewerescoresofsuch,andevenheavierones,in everybay.Theharvest time for jackfish is from the latter part ofMay intoJuly.Afterthatthedogshavetobeonthelookoutforothervarietiesoffish.Inthushuntingfortheirliving,Ihaveknowndogstowanderoverahundredmilesawayfromtheirhomes,andtoremainawayforweeks.

Once, when traveling in summer in my canoe, with two Indians, as we

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paddledaroundabigbendinariverwesawinthedistancewhatwefirstthoughtwasapackofwolves.Wequicklypaddledbackoutofsightandgotreadyourrifle,andloadedthetwoshot-gunswithball.

Then cautiously coming on again, the sharp-eyed Indians soon discoveredthatourimaginarywolveswereapackofIndiandogs.Theywereindustriouslyfishinginabroad,shallowbayattheriverside,andtojudgefromtheirsleek,fatbodiestheywerehavingagoodtime.

Wedidnot disturb them, and theywere so intent on their fishing that theyhardlygaveuspassingnotice.Andofcoursetheyweretoowisetobarkorratherhowlatus,asthenoisewouldhavedisturbedthefish,whichwaswhattheydidnotdesire.

We watched them for some time with much interest, and saw two dogsworkingtogetherandsuccessfullylandingquitealargefish.Sometimestwentyorthirtydogs,fromseveralIndianfamilies,willsuddenlydisappearshortlyafterthe ice melts in the early summer and will not return until the ice is againformingintheautumn.

Thefunbeginswhenitisseenthatsomeofthemotherdogsarefollowedbylittersofpuppies,twoorthreemonthsold.Thesealertlittledogsareaswildasyoung wolves. Never having seen a human being, they resent all attempts atfamiliarity on the part of the Indians, especially of the boys, and bite mostviciouslyoneveryside.Theyactasthoughtheyareastonishedattheirmothers’familiaritywiththeIndiansandwhineandcrytoreturntotheirusualhaunts.Itdoesnot take the Indians long to familiarize themwith their surroundingsandtheysaythatpuppiesthatcomeinthiswaymakethebestofsleighdogs.

I never letmy dogs runwild like this. Jack andCuffywere always housedogs,andoccasionallyoneortwoothers.WhenIdidnotneedanyofmytrainsfor plowing they were all sent out on an island in the lake, with an Indianfisherman, who, plentifully supplied with nets, kept them in good conditionthroughoutthesummer.

I did have somework formy dogs after I had been in the country a shorttime.

Wefoundthatpotatoesandothervegetablesgrewtoperfectioninourgarden,and thatevenwheatandothergrains, if sown justas soonas the frost left theground,alsoripenedperfectly.

SotohelptheIndiansIsecured,afteragooddealoftrouble,agoodplowintheRedRiverSettlement.Ihadtotakeitinarow-boatfourhundredmilestomy

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home. I made a harrow out of birch wood and some iron teeth which I haddraggedoutonmydogsledwithseedgrain.

In thespringIharnessedupsixoreightdogs tomyplowandwithoutverymuch trouble I succeeded inplowingup several small fieldsandgardens.TheIndianshadnothingbetterthanstronghoes,andsotheywerepleasedtohavemehelpthempreparetheirpotatopatcheswiththeplow.

Aftersowingmygraininmyownfields,Iharnessedmydogstomyharrowandsohadallnicelycovered.SomeseasonsIdidverywell.

Eightdogsarrangedasfour teams,draggedtheplowalongthroughthesoilverywell.Thetroublewasnotthattheywerenotstrongenough.Theyseemedtoconsiderthewholethingabigjoke.Theywerefulloffun,andwhenstartedinthefurrowconsideredthatitwastheirdutytogetacrossthatfieldasquicklyaspossible.

Woe to the man between the handles of the plow if, when the dogs werestrainingattheirwork,heletthepointcomeoutofthegroundandthuslosthisgrip on the land. In an instant the dogswere off, and hewas indeed a cleverplowmanifhewasquickandskillfulenoughtogetthatplowpointinthegroundagain before the active dogs had jerked him and the plow to the end of thefurrow.

Ihadagreatdealofamusementintryingtomakeplowmenoutofsomeofthe big Indians. Great stalwart hunters that would face a big bear withoutflinching, with only their knife as a weapon, simply quailed before, or ratherbehind,thatplow.Activeandalertastheygenerallywere,itscontrolwitheightlively dogs as the motive power was something more than they had beenaccustomedto,andatfirstwasapuzzletothem.

They soon,however,mastered it, but itwasnoticed thatnewhands at firstinsistedonhavingapersonwalkonaheadbetweenthetwoleadingdogstostopthemifanythingwentwrongbehind.

Topersonswhohavenotinthisorotherwaystestedthestrengthofthedogsit is simply marvelous what they are able to do. They seem to have a latentstrength,which,whenexcitedtheyareabletoputforth,thatisalmostincredibleexcepttothosewhohavewitnessedit.

I havehad sixdogsharnessed to a sledonwhich rested the endof agreatstickofgreensprucetimber,thirty-sixfeetlongandteninchessquare.Thetrailonwhichtheyweredraggingthatheavyloadwasanythingbutgood,andsoitwasapparentlyasmuchastheycoulddotomoveitslowlyalong.Tongueswereoutand thesteadyfellowswereallpulling inperfectunison,and it seemedas

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thoughitwouldbecruel totryandurgethemtoquickentheirpace.Butwhilewewere loathe to do it, therewas something else that did it and the burst ofspeedandstrengthwhichfollowedonthepartofthedogswasarevelationtous.

Abeautifulfoxlookingforrabbitssuddenlytookitintohisheadtocomeoutfromthedenseforest,andashecrossedthetrailnotahundredyardsinfront,hestopped for aminute on a little knoll and saucily yelped out his little defiantbarksattheapproachingdogs.Thiswastoomuchforthemtostand,andsowithamadrushtheywereoff.Heavyasthattimberwas,itdidnotseemsojustnowtothoseexciteddogsasawaytheydashedafterthatsaucyfox.Notfar,however,didtheygobeforetheheadofthesleighstruckagainstatreewithsuchviolencethat it was not only completely smashed, but the dogswere jerked backwithsuch force that I was agreeably surprised when I found that no bones werebroken.

Insomeplaces,wheretherewerelongstretchesofopenbeachesontheshore,dogsweresometimesusedwithtrackinglinestodragtheboatsalong.Thiswasnotalwaysmuchofasuccess.It,however,affordedsomeamusementaswellasvarietytoanafternoon’soutinginaskifforcanoe,tobethuspulledalongbythemotive power of four dogs running on the shore, attached to a rope, say, twohundredfeetlong.

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XIX.CuiBono?[Forwhosebenefit?]

Itmaywell be asked,Whatwere the results of all this dog-traveling?What were the returns for all these hardships and risks, as well as for theconsiderableexpensethatmustnecessarilyhavebeenincurred.

These trips were not taken in the pursuit of scientific objects, even ifmissionarieshavemaderarediscoveries,andhaveaddedmuchtothesumtotalof the world’s knowledge. They were not taken by mere seekers after theprecious metals that nature had hidden away in the remote regions, stillunexplored,andyetthenewsoftheexistenceofsomeofthefinestminesintheworldhascomethroughmissionaries.Thesemenwerenotfortune-seekers,fortheirlotwastoliveamongapeoplesopoorthattherichestofthemcouldcarryalloftheirpossessionsontheirbacks,withtheexceptionoftheirdogs.

Yet judging by the results accomplished, the transformationwrought in thelives and conduct of the Indians and the security to life and property, and thegeneralcontentmentofthepeople,wesee,evenifthiswereall,abundantreasonfor thankfulness that the people could be reached even by dog-traveling inwinter, aswell asbycanoeing in summer.That therehavenot formanyyearsbeenuprisingsamongtheIndiansagainstthewhites,aswellasinter-tribalwarsamong themselves, is not altogether owing to the rule of the Hudson’s BayCompany,wiseandprudentthoughitwas,butitwasmoreowingtothepresenceandteachingsamongthemofthemissionariesofthevariouschurches.

In studying this question, itmust beborne inmind that, as hasbeen statedelsewhere (but we desire to here emphasize it, as it is so easily overlooked),therearevastregionsandmanycommunitiesofIndiansthatcouldnotpossiblyhavebeenreachedinanyotherwaythanbydogtrains.Erethemissionarydidreachthem,theywerelivinglivesdegradedandimmoralandweretheslavesofmostdepressingsuperstitions.TheIndian isnaturally religious inhisprimitivecondition.Tohimeverythingis“good”or“badmedicine.”Thetwoantagonisticforcesofgoodandbadareeveratworkandheistheobjectofloveorhate.

HencewithoutDivineRevelation,hefeelsthat, likealeafblownhitherandthither,heisavictimbetweenthetwocontendingforces.Hence,heisoftenin

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great terror of coming disasters. Until the missions broke the power of theconjurers ormedicinemen, the greatmajority of the people lived in constantdread.

Thepowerand influenceforevil, someof thesefamousconjurershadoverthe masses of the natives, was almost incredible. They had made the peoplebelievethatbytheirconjuringtheycouldcalldownallsortsofevilsuponthem,that they could take away their lovedones or rob themof their health,with aword.Theyarrogated to themselvespowerover thegamein theforestand thefish in the lakes, coulddecidewhichhunter should succeed andwhich shouldfail.Sodeeplyhadtheyboundthepeopledownunderthismalignantpowerthatthey ruled as despots over them and demanded and received the best ofeverythingthepeoplepossessed.Toenforceandretainthissuperstitiouspoweroverthepeopletheyownedthesecretofmanufacturingmostdeadlymedicines,and they were not slow in using them to terrorize the community by themysteriousdeathofsomeonewhohadbeenpresumptuousenoughtoquestiontheirpretensions.

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This baneful class is now about extinct, thanks to the courage and self-sacrifice of the missionaries, who by canoe and dog-trains traveled to thosedistantinteriorregionsandbytheirtactandteachingshaveliftedthepeopleupfrom that darknightmareof fear anddreadunderwhich, forgenerations, theylived.Evensomeoftheseoncedangerouscharactershavebeentransformedintohonored citizens, while thosewho still cling to the old life have so lost theirpowerthattheirmalisons[curses]arenowlaughedatbythepeople.

Ifitwerethoughtnecessary,wecouldgivemanyindividualcaseswherethetransformation wrought by the reception of the Gospel brought in among theIndians in this way, has been as marked and delightful as is recorded in anymissionaryannals.

Someof these redmen,whooncewerebitteropposersof theGladTidingsthusbroughtthem,havebecomeministersandmissionariestotheirownpeople.Othersaredulyqualifiedschoolteachersandnowamongtheirownpeoplearedoingagrandworkinwiselyeducatingthecominggeneration.

Many of them, after they had received Christianity, became so anxious toimprove their condition that they have exchanged their old methods ofdepending entirely on the uncertainties of the chase and have accepted fromCanada’sGovernment, reservationswhere theyarecultivating the landand,byhonest,patientindustry,aremakingacomfortablelivingforthemselvesandtheirchildren.

These transformations have not been easily brought about. Long years ofpersistenttoilandpatientendurancewerenecessary.Muchisrequiredtoinducea people to completely change their mode of living. Yet it has been done bymany of these Indians, and marvelous indeed is the completeness of thetransformation.

Comfortablehouseshavetakentheplaceoftheoldcoldwigwams.Thegarbofcivilizationhassupplementedtheskindressofformertimesandabundanceofdailyfoodisnowthenormalconditionofthingswhereformerlyitwasfrequentstarvation or something very near to it, followed by a gorgewhen a reindeerhappenedtobeshotorabear’sdenraided.

The beneficent changes wrought in the beliefs and conduct of the mentowardsthewomen,ifnothingelsehadbeenaccomplished,havebeensufficienttorepayathousandfoldforallthehardshipsenduredandevenfortheliveslostintheiraccomplishment.

As in nearly all pagan lands the condition ofwomenwasmost deplorable.Noneof thefoundersof theworld’ssystemsofreligion,except theLordJesus

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Christ, had anything good to say ofwoman.Her inferiority and even that shewassoullesswaswidelytaught.

ThegreatFounderofChristianity taught thegreat lessonsof theequalityofthe sexes, and by His own loving deeds and words lifted woman to her truepositionandleftHisexample,aswellasHiswords,tobecarriedoutinalltheages.Thisdutyisoneofthemissionary’shighestjoys.AndintheacceptanceofChrist’steachingsbythepeopletowhomthemissionarygoes,followedbythespeedyupliftingofwomen,hemeetswitharecompensethatpayshimforallhisdangersinblizzardstormsandinfrigidcamps,evenifthebittercoldhasnearly,ifnotquite,chilledhimintothatexquisitebutdelusivedeliriumwhich,unlesshebespeedilyarousedtherefrom,isquicklyfollowedbydeath.

When first hewendshiswaywithhis dog-trains into thepagan regionshefindsthatalthoughtheIndianmenaremostadmirablehunters,yettheshotdeerhastobecarriedhomeonthebackofthemotherorwife,whiletheman,withhisgunonhisshoulder,stalksonahead.Whenthepatientwomanhasskinnedandcookedthevenison,shehastogoandsitapartwiththegirlsanddogswhilethemenandboysfillthemselveswiththesavorymeat,Thenwhatislefttheyareallowed to share with the dogs. Often did the men amuse themselves bythrowing the partially picked bones to see them fought for by the dogs andwomen.Insomeplacesinthosedaysitwasasinforawomantogrowold,forthen,whenher strengthdepartedandshecouldneither snare rabbitsnorcatchfish,shewascruellyputtodeath.Butthedogbellsonthecollarsofthedogsofthemissionarieshave rung inabrighter andabetterday inplaceof thoseolddark times,whicharenowalmostgone. Inmanyplacesso true is this that theveryremembranceofthemisnowasahideousdreamornightmarewhichtheywould,iftheycould,speedilyforget.Thethingstheyoncelovedtheynowhate,and thatwith such intensity that they are grieved if anyone casually refers tothem.

Butwhyrecountmore?Surelythesemarveloustransformations,andthefactthatnowtherearemanyhappyChristianhomeswithallthatthisimplies,whereonce even the name itselfwas unknown, is a sufficient return for all thatwasendured on all the coldest, hardest and most painful trips ever made by themissionarieswiththedog-trains.

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AbouttheAuthor

[ThisbiographywaswrittenbeforeRev.Young’sDeathin1909.]EgertonRyersonYoungwasbornatSmith’sFalls,Ontario,April7,1840.He

was educated at the Normal School of the Province of Ontario, after havingtaught for several years, and in 1863 entered theministry. Four years later hewasordained,and,afterbeingstationedattheFirstMethodistEpiscopalChurch,Hamilton, Ontario, in 1867-68, was sent as a missionary to Norway House,North-WestTerritory.ThereheworkedamongtheIndiansforfiveyears,andin1873wentinasimilarcapacitytoBeren’sRiver,NorthwestTerritory,whereheremained three years (1873-76). In 1876 he returned to Ontario and wasstationed successively at Port Perry (1876-79), Colborne (1879-82),Bowmanville (1882-85),Medford (1885-87), and St. Paul’s, Brampton (1887-88). Since 1888 he has been prominent as a lecturer on work among theAmerican Indians, and in this causehasmade repeated toursof theworld.Hehaswrittenaboutadozenbooks.1

1. ChristianClassicEtherealLibraryatCalvinCollege.↩

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TableofContents

CopyrightInformation 8Contents 10Introduction 12I.MyEskimoOrHuskieDogs 16II.WithWildEskimoDogsUnderTheAuroras 22III.RobberDogsAndAnIndianCouncil 31IV.Jack,TheGiantSt.Bernard 40V.Jack.AndManyThingsConcerningHim 48VI.JackTriumphantInTheBlizzard 56VII.JackInCivilization 64VIII.Cuffy,TheBeautifulNewfoundlandDog 69IX.Voyageur,TheMatchlessLeader 78X.Voyageur,TheBroken-hearted 87XI.RoverI,TheSuccessfulDogDoctor 91XII.RoverII,AlsoCalledKimo 96XIII.Muff,TheAffectionateMotherDog 101XIV.Caesar,TheCleverRascal 108XV.Koona,TheEskimoLeader 117XVI.TravelingWithDogsInNorthernWilds 123XVII.StillOnTheTrailWithTheDogs 132XVIII.OurDogsInSummerTime 137XIX.CuiBono?[Forwhosebenefit?] 141AbouttheAuthor 146AbouttheLutheranLibraryPublishingMinistry 147HowCanOneFindPeaceWithGod? 147IfYouFindTypographicErrors 147

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