372 THE END OF THE WINTER 



meat evenings each man, after fastening up his dogs, 

 went, as has been described, up to the wall of the meat- 

 tent and took his box of chopped-up meat, which was 

 put out there. Funcho used to watch for this moment. 

 When he saw Stubberud take the box, he knew there 

 was meat, and then he came quietly into the tent, 

 as though there was nothing the matter. If, on the 

 other hand, Stubberud showed no sign of fetching the 

 box, the dog would not come, nor was it possible to get 

 hold of him. This happened a few times, but then 

 Stubberud hit upon a stratagem. When Funcho, as 

 usual even on a fish evening watched the scene of 

 chaining up^ the other dogs from a distance, Stubberud 

 went calmly up to the wall, took the empty box that 

 lay there, put it on his shoulder, and returned to the 

 tent. Funcho was taken in. He hurried joyfully into 

 the tent, delighted, no doubt, with Stubberud's generosity 

 in providing meat two evenings running. But there, to 

 his great surprise, a very different reception awaited him 

 from that he expected. He was seized by the neck and 

 made fast for the night. After an ugly scowl at the 

 empty box, he looked at Stubberud; what he thought, 

 I am not sure. Certain it is that the ruse was not often 

 successful after that. Funcho got a dried fish for 

 supper, and had to be content with it. 



We did not lose many dogs in the course of the 

 winter. Two Jepe and Jakob died of some disease 

 or other. Knasgten was shot, as he lost almost all his 



