ARRANGEMENTS FOR DOGS 109 



or two keepers were assigned, with full responsibility 

 for their animals and their treatment. For my own 

 share I took the fourteen that lived on the bridge. 

 Feeding the animals was a manoeuvre that required the 

 presence of all hands on deck; it therefore took place 

 when the watch was changed. The Arctic dog's greatest 

 enjoyment in life is putting away his food; it may be 

 safely asserted that the way to his heart lies through his 

 dish of meat. We acted on this principle, and the 

 result did not disappoint us. After the lapse of a few 

 days the different squads were the best of friends with 

 their respective keepers. 



As may be supposed, it was not altogether to the 

 taste of the dogs to stand chained up all the time; their 

 temperament is far too lively for that. We would 

 gladly have allowed them the pleasure of running about 

 and thus getting healthy exercise, but for the present 

 we dared not run the risk of letting the whole pack 

 loose. A little more education was required first. It 

 was easy enough to win their affection ; to provide them 

 with a good education was of course a more difficult 

 matter. It was quite touching to see their joy and 

 gratitude when one gave up a little time to their enter- 

 tainment. One's first meeting with them in the morn- 

 ing was specially cordial. Their feelings were then apt 

 to find vent in a chorus of joyful howls; this was called 

 forth by the very sight of their masters, but they asked 

 more than that. They were not satisfied until we had 



