SLEDGING EXPERIENCES 189 



ing materials. The dogs have achieved the desire of 

 their lives to be able to make a thorough investigation 

 of these materials in the way that is so characteristic of 

 the dog and so incomprehensible to us. While this 

 process is going on with the greatest enjoyment, the 

 driver has got clear of the sledge and begins to dis- 

 entangle the traces, which have wound themselves round 

 planks and posts and whatever else may be lying handy. 

 He is far from having achieved the desire of his life to 

 judge from the expressions he uses. At last he is clear 

 again. He looks round first and finds he is not the 

 only one who has met with difficulties in the way. Over 

 there among the cases he sees a performance going on 

 which makes his heart leap with joy. One of the old 

 hands has come to grief, and in so decisive a fashion 

 that it will take him a long time to get clear again. 

 With a triumphant smile he throws himself on the 

 sledge and drives off. So long as he is on the Barrier 

 as a rule everything goes well ; there is nothing here to 

 distract the dogs. It is otherwise when he comes down 

 to the sea-ice. Here seals lie scattered about in groups 

 basking in the sunshine, and it may easily happen that 

 his course will be rather crooked. If a team of fresh 

 dogs have made up their minds to turn aside in the 

 direction of a herd of seals, it takes a very experienced 

 driver to get them in the right way again. Personally, 

 on such occasions, I used the only remedy I could see 

 -namely, capsizing the sledge. In loose snow with 



