166 SLED-DOGS OF THE NORTH TRAILS 



and voicing the while his disapproval of the dog's 

 conduct. Suddenly a yelp — Mistewgoso had un- 

 snowed the culprit ! Fully one hundred yards 

 from camp the Indian's hawk-eyes had detected 

 the dog, though he had had to search so widely 

 to find its snow-lair, and had not overlooked it 

 in the dark. 



We were now ready to go. The dogs stood or 

 lay, one before the other, in their harness — harness 

 made up of long, continuous side-traces con- 

 nected to saddle, and belly-band around their 

 middles, and to head-collars which rested on the 

 foreshoulders and received each dog's pulling 

 weight. But, having been left standing, of 

 course some of the dogs had got mixed up in their 

 harness : they invariably do, as that is accom- 

 plished by merely turning round or getting a 

 leg or two over the traces. Some mix-ups can be 

 righted in a second ; others take minutes and the 

 undoing of many buckles or thongs. However, 

 traces were soon straightened out this morning, 

 while impatient dogs gave voice to their wolf- 

 howls in eagerness to start. Then each driver 

 called out to the leaders and we were off, while it 

 was " Mush, Toyfayr ! Mush, Corni ! Tuok ! 

 Tuok ! Tuok ! . . . Ge-kook ! Ge-kook ! " (to 

 incite them to break into a gallop and warm 

 up). Then, " Ah ! . . . Peesu ! " in reproachful 

 tones, as you note the traces of that particular 

 dog slacken, and how he is not pulling his share. 

 Again, when it is desired to change your direc- 

 tion, the cry is " Hu, Corni (leader), Hu ! " if 

 the lead-dog is wanted to turn to the right, or 

 " Chac, Corni, Chac ! " if to the left. 



