I90 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Mar. 



tions ; here and there is a dog of such commanding temper or 

 such truculent demeanour that he can afford to be treated 

 differently from the rest ; but even he seems to have to silence 

 criticism by being more than usually aggressive, if he should 

 have been absent for any length of time. Such a dog becomes 

 the natural leader of the pack ; he is unceasingly watchful ; he 

 never pauses to parley, but attacks at the first sign of insolence, 

 for he knows well that the sharpest and quickest fang commands 

 the situation. 



These revelations of dog nature came to us gradually. It 

 was on March 15, whilst we were cut off from the shore, and 

 were casually watching the dogs as they idly trotted about on 

 the snow, that we witnessed the first attack. There was a 

 growl, a wild rush to a central spot, a heap of heaving, snarling 

 forms, and the horrid deed was done, almost before we realised 

 that the peace had been disturbed. We shouted and whistled, 

 but might just as well have held our breath. The deed done, 

 peace once more prevailed, and one would scarcely have 

 imagined that anything had happened but for the stiff, lifeless 

 form on the snow. 



On the following day the wind still blew hard. We had 

 determined, however, that we must risk the passage to get 

 these bloodthirsty wretches chained up ; but even whilst the 

 boat was being manned the last night's tragedy was re-enacted, 

 and another poor beast lay mangled on the ice-foot. As the 

 boat's crew landed, the murderers welcomed them as though 

 nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and with a few 

 exceptions they were easily caught and chained up. Then, 

 one by one, they were led out and severely chastised in front 

 of their victims. The punishment helped to relieve our 

 righteous indignation, but otherwise, I think, we might have 

 spared our energy again, for the dogs evidently didn't know 

 what it was all about. You cannot change dog nature. 



Meanwhile, however, we had lost two good sledge dogs, 

 which we could ill afford, and we decided that, however trying 

 it might be to their feelings, the remaining animals must be 

 kept on their chains. As we expected, the victims proved to 



