166 SLED-DOGS OF THE NORTH TRAILS 



and voicing the while his disapproval of the dog's 

 conduct. Suddenly a yelp Mistewgoso had un- 

 snowed the culprit ! Fully one hundred yards 

 from camp the Indian's hawk-eyes had detected 

 the dog, though he had had to search so widely 

 to find its snow-lair, and had not overlooked it 

 in the dark. 



We were now ready to go. The dogs stood or 

 lay, one before the other, in their harness harness 

 made up of long, continuous side-traces con- 

 nected to saddle, and belly-band around their 

 middles, and to head-collars which rested on the 

 foreshoulders and received each dog's pulling 

 weight. But, having been left standing, of 

 course some of the dogs had got mixed up in their 

 harness : they invariably do, as that is accom- 

 plished by merely turning round or getting a 

 leg or two over the traces. Some mix-ups can be 

 righted in a second ; others take minutes and the 

 undoing of many buckles or thongs. However, 

 traces were soon straightened out this morning, 

 while impatient dogs gave voice to their wolf- 

 howls in eagerness to start. Then each driver 

 called out to the leaders and we were off, while it 

 was " Mush, Toyfayr ! Mush, Corni ! Tuok ! 

 Tuok ! Tuok ! . . . Ge-kook ! Ge-kook ! " (to 

 incite them to break into a gallop and warm 

 up). Then, " Ah ! . . . Peesu ! " in reproachful 

 tones, as you note the traces of that particular 

 dog slacken, and how he is not pulling his share. 

 Again, when it is desired to change your direc- 

 tion, the cry is " Hu, Corni (leader), Hu ! ' : if 

 the lead- dog is wanted to turn to the right, or 

 " Chac, Corni, Chac ! " if to the left. 



