DOGS AND SLEDGES 107 



Some great stories are told of the loads drawn by the 

 Mackenzie River dogs, whose tails are docked short, to 

 give a more workman-like appearance, and keep the meek 

 and lowly from advertising their shrinking nature and spoil- 

 ing the appearance of the train by sticking the offending ap- 

 pendage between their legs. It is said that eight or nine 

 hundred and even a thousand pounds are commonly hauled 

 in the Mackenzie district by four dogs. But I am inclined 

 to class these stories with those I heard concerning the 

 wonderful strength of the old-time packers. When I was 

 going in on snow-shoes marvellous tales were related for 

 my benefit of men who had carried five and six hundred 

 pounds, and of one particular giant who had loaded him- 

 self with seven hundred pounds, and had written his name 

 on the wall with three hundred pounds' weight tied to his 

 wrist ! When I was coming out on the Hudson's Bay 

 Company flatboat I discovered no Indian or half-breed 

 who packed more than two hundred pounds on his back, 

 while the name-writing Hercules had left no successor. 



