642 



THE WORLD S WONDERS. 



"The whip is six yards long, and the handle but sixteen 

 inches, a short lever, of course, to throw out such a length of 

 seal-hide. Learn to do it, however, with a masterly sweep, or 

 else make up your mind to forego driving sledge ; for the dogs 

 are guided solely by the lash, and you must be able not only to 

 hit any particular dog out of a team of twelve, but to accompany 

 the feat also, with a resounding crack. After this, you find that 

 to get your lash back involves another difficulty ; for it is apt to 



DR. KANE'S SHIP AND SLEDGE PARTIES. 



entangle itself among the dogs and lines, or to fasten itself cun- 

 ningly round bits of ice, so as to drag you head over heels into 

 the ^now. 



" The secret by which this complicated set of requirements is 

 fulfilled consists in properly describing an arc from the shoulder, 

 with a stiff elbow, giving the jerk to the whip-handle from the 

 hand and wrist alone. The lash trails behind as you travel, and 

 when thrown forward is allowed to extend itself without an 

 effort to bring it back. You wait patiently after giving the 



