220 OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



increases or slackens speed, and the others govern 

 themselves accordingly. Every time an order is 

 given, the leader turns its head without stopping 

 and looks at the master, as if to say, 'I understand/ 

 If the route has been already traveled the driver has 

 nothing to do : the leader follows the trail even when 

 it is invisible to man. In black darkness, in the 

 midst of violent snow-squalls, aided by its sense of 

 smell and its astonishing sagacity, it continues to 

 guide the rest of the team, and very seldom goes 

 astray. 



"In a single day 150 Kilometers are thus made. 

 If fatigue calls a halt, the Eskimo builds himself a 

 shelter with snow piled up for walls and a large slab 

 of ice for roof. Here he disposes himself as best he 

 can for sleeping, after a frugal lunch of salt fish or 

 flesh, thawed by the heat of a lamp. On awakening, 

 a signal is given and immediately all about the hut 

 little mounds of snow move and shake themselves. 

 They are the dog-team, which has slept outside, cov- 

 ered by the falling snow. The Eskimo doles out to 

 them a meager pittance, which is instantly swal- 

 lowed, and without delay he harnesses the sled to 

 resumejiis journey in quest of the white bear or the 

 reindeer on which he has set his heart. " 



