RUNAWAY SLEDGES 381 



what would those two do when at last they had come 

 up with their sledges? Would they turn and go home, 

 or would they drive up to the starting-point? Waiting 

 was no fun under any circumstances, and so we decided 

 to go on to the starting-point, and, if necessary, wait 

 there. No sooner said than done, and away we went. 

 Now we should see what command the fellows had over 

 their dogs, for, in all canine probability, these teams 

 w r ould now try to follow the same course that the 

 runaways had taken. This fear turned out not to be 

 groundless; three managed to turn their dogs and put 

 them in the right direction, but the other two were off 

 On the new course. Afterwards, of course, they tried 

 to make out that they thought we were all going that 

 way. I smiled, but said nothing. It had happened 

 more than once that my own dogs had taken charge; 

 no doubt I had felt rather foolish at the time, but after 

 all ... 



It was not till noon that we all assembled with our 

 sledges. The drivers of the runaways had had stiff 

 work to catch them, and were wet through with their 

 exertions. I had some thoughts of turning back, as 

 three young puppies had followed us; if we went on, 

 we should have to shoot them. But to turn back after 

 all this work, and then probably have the same thing 

 over again next morning, was not a pleasant prospect. 

 And, above all, to see Lindstrom standing at the door, 

 shaking with laughter no, we had better go on. I 



