MY DOG-TEAMS. 103 



the same length, and hence the dogs run side by side, 

 and, when properly harnessed, their heads are in a 

 line. My traces are so measured that the shoulders 

 of the dogs are just twenty feet from the forward 

 part of the runners. 



The team is guided solely by the whip and voice. 

 The strongest dogs are placed on the outside, and the 

 whole team is swayed to right and left according as 

 the whip falls on the snow to the one side or the other, 

 or as it touches the leading dogs, as it is sure to do if 

 they do not obey the gentle hint with sufficient alacrity. 

 The voice aids the whip, but in all emergencies the whip 

 is the only real reliance. Your control over the team 

 is exactly in proportion to your skill in the use of it. 

 The lash is about four feet longer than the traces, and 

 is tipped with a " cracker " of hard sinew, with which 

 a skilful driver can draw blood if so inclined ; and he 

 can touch either one of his animals on any particular 

 spot that may suit his purpose. Jensen had to-day a 

 young refractory dog in the team, and, having had his 

 patience quite exhausted, he resolved upon extreme 

 measures. " You see dat beast ? " said he. " I takes 

 a piece out of his ear ; " — and sure enough, crack 

 went the whip, the hard sinew wound round the tip 

 of the ear and snipped it off as nicely as with a knife. 



This long lash, which is but a thin tapering strip of 

 raw seal-hide, is swung with a whip-stock only two 

 and a half feet long. It is very light and is conse- 

 quently hard to handle. The peculiar turn of the 

 wrist necessary to get it rolled out to its destination 

 is a most difficult undertaking. It requires long and 

 patient practice. I have persevered, and my perse- 

 verance has been rewarded ; and if I am obliged to 

 turn driver on emergency, I feel equal to the task ; 



