286 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Aug. 



shivering fits when anyone appears in sight ; he is evidently 

 aware that if he is taken on board he will not only get a 

 warmer nest, but certain tit-bits which his soul desires. 

 So to-day we have hardened our hearts and put him out 

 again. 



'There is a world of character in these animals of ours. 

 One of the greatest pities is that they cannot be made to 

 follow or to obey a word of command unless they are in 

 harness. They are great losers by it in missing many a walk. 

 To lead them continually about on a string is very trying, as 

 they pull hard the whole time, and it is odds that the dog 

 rather than the man directs the course of the walk ; at other 

 times they will be particularly meek and ingratiating, trotting 

 alongside and pressing their noses into one's mit, all in the 

 most companionable spirit, until one rashly slips the leash, 

 when in a moment they are off on their own devices, and are 

 seen no more until a wild hubbub at the kennels signifies 

 their return, and someone has to rush out to prevent a fight. 



' The sport they most dearly love is to worry a seal. The 

 hunting instinct is paramount j the most listless, weary, bored- 

 looking dog or team of dogs has only to catch sight of the 

 black dots afar off over the snow which signify the presence 

 of seals, to become electrified into a state of wild excitement. 

 If a person has a single animal on leash, the chances are that 

 he is caught unprepared and the next moment finds himself 

 without a dog or being dragged violently along on his stomach : 

 if he is with a team harnessed to a heavy sledge, a load which a 

 moment before appeared to be taking all heart out of the animals, 

 becomes the merest bagatelle, and he is lucky if he has time 

 to add his own weight and so prevent himself from being left 

 behind. 



In the early part of the winter, when the seals came up 

 frequently, loose dogs immediately made for their haunts, and 

 the distant furious barking would soon tell what was going 

 forward. We did our best to capture these stray animals and 

 prevent the slaughter of the unfortunate seals, but of course 

 we were not always successful, and more than one lifeless form 



