GULLFOOT'S DOG-TEAM 179 



expansion and contraction secured by the admix- 

 ture of fibrous moss. A sled so made serves well ; 

 verily " necessity is the mother of invention." 



While thus working, outside the cabin door 

 Gullfoot's dogs, and my own, prowled about ; 

 but to those he paid no visible heed. An Indian 

 has no warm affection for animals, and Gullfoot 

 was no exception. However, in reply to my 

 questions, he pointed out his best team, and 

 named them in Chipewyan — which names were 

 in English translation Day Star, Raven, Smoke, 

 Evil Eye, Lynx ! 



Those dogs were typical of an Indian's team 

 in the north, and therefore, perhaps, worth brief 

 description : Raven : A very big husky, larger 

 than the common, and with longer, almost shaggy 

 hair. He was black in colour except for a fawn 

 mark on the eyebrow over each eye. Gullfoot 

 used him in his team as the sled-dog — the dog 

 next to the prow of the sled — where his weight 

 served well to steady the slew, or buffeting, of 

 the sled when in motion. 



Smoke : A dog of striking colour, and purity 

 of breed. A splendid-looking husky in form; 

 and white throughout with just a tinge of buff. 

 He was such a dog as everyone in a city would 

 turn to look at in admiration and wonder, did 

 you transport him there. He was a good worker 

 and well broken. 



Evil Eye : This unfortunate dog was blind in 

 the right eye, which shone glassy green. Other- 

 wise he was without blemish and a fine, powerful, 

 active-looking dog. He was grey- wolf colour 

 except for an old white left-shoulder mark. 



