AN ARCTIC RESCUE 



at Saunders Island. He was a very handsome animal, but 

 of an unusually surly disposition. He would have nothing 

 to do with the other dogs, and would not eat the same food 

 that was given to them. Any kindly attention shown him 

 was resented, but he never dared to bite. A dog that 

 would not eat or fight was an anomaly. He seemed to be 

 in a torpid condition. The only time that he aroused him- 

 self proved fatal to him. In attempting to walk on the 

 main rail, he fell overboard, and was drowned. 



Some mention should certainly be made of the whalers, 

 who joined us in the early part of our quest. There was 

 a large number of them in the beginning, but none remained 

 to the end. Both officers and men were fine fellows, of 

 superb physique and of bright, cheery, and genial natures. 

 Their broad Scotch accent also had its attraction. They 

 were generous in their rivalry, and always ready to lend a 

 helping hand. They were not as well equipped as the re- 

 lief ships, and their one advantage was their experience, if 

 indeed this was an advantage. As I have previously stated, 

 it is a debatable question whether the importance of expe- 

 rience on such an expedition as we were engaged upon 

 may not be greatly overestimated. 



The life of these whalers is an interesting one. They 

 begin their annual cruise in January or February. The 

 sealing captain takes the place of the whaling captain, who 

 remains on board, but, so to speak, as a passenger. A 

 tremendous number of seals is captured, the vessels being 

 loaded down with them. After the middle of April, when 

 the taking of young seals is forbidden by law, the ships 

 return to St. John's, discharge the sealing captain, and pre- 

 pare for the whaling cruise. It is their code of honor that 

 the stronger must help the weaker, and this has never been 

 known to be violated. Any captain who would abandon 

 another in the ice would probably be discharged, and cer- 

 tainly would receive the execrations of his countrymen. 

 A story is told that one captain who abandoned his con- 

 sort to her fate drowned himself, when in sight of the home 

 port, rather than meet the stormy reception which he knew 

 was in store for him. 



While the whalers were with us, we were initiated into 

 the mysteries of a " Mollie." When the whalers are com- 



27 



