Sledge Riding, 343 



hour. The leader, which is always a w^ell-broken dog, is 

 placed ahead of the pack, with a draft line of from six to 

 ten fathoms in length, and the rest with successively 

 shorter ones, until they come to within eight feet of the 

 sledge. They are not coupled, however, as they aie 

 usually represented in engravings, but are attached each 

 loose from all others, so that when they are in motion, 

 travelling, they appear like a flock of partridges all flying 

 loosely, and yet all the same course. They always 

 travel in a gallop, no matter wdiat the state of the country 

 may be. Going down hill is most difficult and danger- 

 ous, and at times it is necessary for the rider to guide 

 the sledge with his feet, as boys steer their sleds sliding 

 down hills, and sometimes it is done by long poles stuck 

 into the snow. When the sledge is heavily laden, and 

 the descent steep, the dogs are often taken off, and the 

 vehicle made to slide down the precipice by the man 

 alone, who lies flat on the sledge, and guides it with his 

 toes from behind, as he descends head-foremost. The 

 dogs are so well acquainted with the courses and places 

 in the neighborhood, that they never fail to take their 

 master and his sledge to the house where he wishes them 

 to go, even should a severe snow-storm come on while 

 they are on the journey ; and it is always safer for the 

 rider at such times to trust to the instincts of the dogs 

 than to attempt to guide them by his own judgment 

 Cases have occurred where men have done this, and paid 

 the penalty by freezing to death in a desolate wilderness. 

 In such cases the faithful dogs, if left to themselves 

 make directly for their home. 



" When two travellers meet on a journey, it is neces 

 sary for both parties to come circuitously and slowly to 

 wards each other, and give the separate packs the oppor- 

 tunity of observing that their masters are acquainted, or 

 otherwise a fight might ensue between the dogs. Mr. 



