70 THE NORTH POLE 



been brought up to regard me as the patron, pro- 

 tector, and guide of their people. Their capacities, 

 peculiarities, and individual characteristics were per- 

 fectly known to me, and they were chosen out of the 

 whole tribe for the final great effort because I knew 

 them to be most perfectly adapted to the work in 

 hand. 



Before taking up the story of our advance from 

 Cape York, a word ought to be said about those 

 remarkable creatures, the Eskimo dogs, for without 

 their help success could never have crowned the efforts 

 of the expedition. They are sturdy, magnificent 

 animals. There may be larger dogs than these, there 

 may be handsomer dogs; but I doubt it. Other dogs 

 may work as well or travel as fast and far when fully 

 fed; but there is no dog in the world that can work 

 so long in the lowest temperatures on practically noth- 

 ing to eat. The male dogs average in weight from eighty 

 to one hundred pounds, though I had one which 

 weighed one hundred and twenty -five pounds. The 

 females are somewhat smaller. Their special physical 

 characteristics are a pointed muzzle, great breadth 

 between the eyes, sharp-pointed ears, very heavy 

 coat underlaid with a thick, soft fur, powerful, heavy- 

 muscled legs, and a bushy tail or brush similar to that 

 of the fox. There is only one breed of Eskimo dogs, 

 but they are variously marked and of different colors, 

 black, white, gray, yellow, brown, and mottled. Some 

 scientists believe that they are the direct descendants 

 of the Arctic wolf, yet, as a rule, they are as affectionate 

 and obedient to their masters as our own dogs at home. 

 Their food is meat, and meat only. That they cannot 



