14 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



we bewailed onr ill-luck to our host, who remarked 

 that had he known we were going out shooting, he 

 would have lent us his own dog, a capital retriever. 

 He introduced us forthwith to " Eover," a dapper- 

 looking, smooth-haired dog, in colour and make like a 

 black and tan terrier, but the size of a beagle. When 

 it is known from the sequel of this history how im- 

 portant a person Eover became, how faithfully he 

 served us, how many meals he provided for us, and 

 the endless amusement his various accomplishments 

 afforded both to ourselves and the Indians we met 

 with, we shall perhaps be forgiven for describing 

 him with such particularity. Amongst our Indian 

 friends he became as much beloved as he was hated 

 by their dogs. These wolf-like animals he soon 

 taught to fear and respect him by his courageous and 

 dignified conduct ; for although small of statm-e, he 

 possessed indomitable pluck, and had a method of 

 fighting quite opposed to their ideas and experience. 

 Their manner was to show their teeth, rush in and 

 snap, and then retreat ; while he went in and grappled 

 with his adversary in so determined a manner, that the 

 biggest of them invariably turned tail before his vigo- 

 rous onset. Yet Eover was by no means a quarrel- 

 some dog. He walked about amongst the snarling 

 curs with tail erect, as if not noticing their presence ; 

 and probably to this fearless demeanour he owed 

 much of his immunity from attack. He appeared so 

 exactly suited for the work we required, and so 

 gained our hearts by his cleverness and docility, that 

 next morning we made an ofier of 25 dollars for him. 



