THE POWER OF THE NORTH 167 



There were three dog-trains on the trail, for 

 two Indians were with me Mistewgoso and 

 J'Pierre. We had been out a week, and were 

 still heading north. 



North, always north, even against the stirring 

 warnings of the voices of the vast unknown, 

 and the threatened overpowering grip of the 

 giant elements of heartless Arctic cold. At times 

 it seemed preposterous that against those forces 

 such little things as we, mere dust-specks in such 

 mighty company, should dare to go on, and go on. 



Ah ! there is power in the North, an almost 

 overwhelming strength of surroundings. You 

 know you are up against it ; within you you are 

 almost sure it will get you in the end, if you 

 go just a little too far, or are contemptuous for 

 an hour of its antagonism. 



On this occasion we were travelling far and 

 travelling fast. Those long, speedy-looking sleds, 

 running lightly on the surface, contained but a 

 few " sticks " of fish for dog-feed, our rifles, axes, 

 snow-shoes, cook-cans, and deerskin sleeping- 

 bags. We carried no freight, though, if neces- 

 sary, the sleds could be loaded up to 100 Ibs. 

 per dog. 



Light-fashioned those sleds looked ; narrow, 

 flat-boarded things with curling, upturned prows, 

 rear upright back-rest, rope side-rails from back 

 to front, and thereto attached the coffin-like body 

 of tough parchment skins which were laced up the 

 sides and across the bottom. But into such sleds 

 an astonishing load can be packed. When fully 

 loaded the bundles of freight are piled to a height 

 of two feet or thereby, particular care being 



