196 ON SNOW-SHOES TO THE BARREN GROUNDS 



and tucked-up stomachs, and realized that my thirst for 

 adventure was the cause of it all. We were fortunate 

 enough to kill caribou and musk-oxen at intervals which 

 enabled us to give the dogs just a bite sometimes every 

 day, and at least every other day, with the exception of 

 that three-day period. 



When we killed caribou the dogs were fed on the spot, 

 and the little meat remaining was divided among the 

 sledges, to be carried for them against the days we were 

 not so lucky. We never were lucky enough to kill before 

 this little supply was exhausted. Had we been, we, the 

 seven Indians and I, would have eaten meat. As it was, 

 we ate the intestines and fat, and the dogs ate the meat, be- 

 cause there was not nourishment enough in the intestines 

 for the dogs. Before we left Resolution, Beniah and I had 

 a thorough understanding on this point. Many of the 

 Indian expeditions to the Barrens are crippled by loss of 

 dogs from starvation, and I knew the loss of our dogs 

 meant failure; so we decided if there was any starving 

 the greater part of it should fall on us, realizing of course 

 that if the worst came we could eat the dogs. Beniah 

 held to his agreement, and enforced compliance from the 

 others, and to his wisdom in this direction, in fact, is due 

 much of our success in getting out of the Barrens in such 

 good condition. 



When it is remembered that the ordinary meal for a 

 dog -train i.e., four dogs, that are travelling thirty or 

 more miles a day consists of a caribou hind and fore 

 quarter, that we had twenty-eight dogs, and that we never 

 got more than a caribou or two at intervals of several 

 days, the reader may understand why the dogs were like 

 wild animals, and why we ate the intestines and grease 

 and saved them the meat. 



When we killed musk-ox we first cut off meat for a day 



