A SUMMER SAIL TO THE LABRADOR COAST 191 



him in confronting a frolicking pack. There are cases when, while 

 dinner was in course of preparation, the kitchen. has been invaded 

 and everything edible instantly devoured. Human beings have 

 been torn to pieces by the brutes, and many very narrow shaves 

 are related owing to the fortunate appearance on the scene of the 

 owner just at the nick of time armed with the thrice terrible dog- 

 whip, which in skilful hands becomes a truly formidable weapon. 

 Even in midsummer, when discipline is relaxed, the first glimpse of 

 the whip is sufficient to arrest the most mischievous intentions. 



The whip is made with a short, thick, wooden handle, with an 

 immensely long leash of thick walrus hide, tapered off with sealskin. 

 There is an old yarn current of a dog being cut in two by a stroke 

 from the driver, who immediately stuck together the severed parts 

 of the body, which (of course) grew together. Unfortunately 

 for the dog's future prospects in life the hindquarters were put 

 together the wrong way, so that the animal went about with his 

 hind legs sticking straight up in the air. 



There is another story told of a lean Yankee fisherman who 

 offered to stand up at a distance of forty feet to receive two blows 

 at the hands of an expert driver for a bottle of rum. By way of 

 precaution he incased his lower limbs in two pairs of woollen drawers, 

 and over them a couple of pairs of strong trousers. The first stroke 

 cut through the trousers, drawers, and flesh nearly to the bone. 



BIG COD-FISH. 



