i 9 o2] OUR SAD EXPERIENCE 343 



two methods which I have sketched above. We faced the 

 situation that the weaker animals must be sacrificed to 

 the exigencies of the work, though we hoped that a remnant 

 of the larger and stronger beasts would survive to enjoy again 

 a life of luxury and ease ; but, as events turned out, we saved 

 none : all were lost under the unavoidable pressure of cir- 

 cumstances. 



Probably our experience was an exceptionally sad one in 

 this respect, but it left in each one of our small party an un- 

 conquerable aversion to the employment of dogs in this 

 ruthless fashion. We knew well that they had served their 

 end, that they had carried us much farther than we could 

 have got by our own exertions ; but we all felt that we would 

 never willingly face a repetition of such incidents, and when 

 in the following year I stepped forth in my own harness, one 

 of a party which was dependent on human labour alone, it 

 would not be easy adequately to convey the sense of relief 

 which I felt in the knowledge that there could be no re- 

 currence of the horrors of the previous season. 



I have endeavoured to give a just view of the use of dogs 

 in polar enterprises. To say that they do not greatly increase 

 the radius of action is absurd ; to pretend that they can be 

 worked to this end without pain, suffering, and death is 

 equally futile. The question is whether the latter can be 

 justified by the gain, and I think that logically it may be ; 

 but the introduction of such sordid necessity must and does 

 rob sledge-travelling of much of its glory. In my mind no 

 journey ever made with dogs can approach the height of that 

 fine conception which is realised when a party of men go 

 forth to face hardships, dangers, and difficulties with their 

 own unaided efforts, and by days and weeks of hard physical 

 labour succeed in solving some problem of the great unknown. 

 Surely in this case the conquest is more nobly and splendidly- 

 won. 



It must not be forgotten, however, that few expeditions 

 can command the numerical strength to perform extended 

 journeys with men alone. A large party of men is not only 



