SLEDGE DOGS OF THE NORTH. 183 



a load of 1,000 pounds or more- single about one- 

 half, depending largely on condition of them- 

 selves and the road they travel. The Esqui- 

 maux seldom spares them or the whip, "Brring" 

 them on and "Hi-ying" if needs be. 



About eight hours' work constitutes a day's 

 travel or they go until played out, the latter 

 case most likely. \¥hen traveling they are fairly 

 obedient and preserve a steady equal pulling 

 that occasionally is relieved by a jerky, gallop- 

 like pace. Well trained dogs preserve their pace 

 and tug on the harness for hours at a time. Usu- 

 ally they stop ever^^ hour or so for breathing 

 spells as the atmosphere in those regions winds 

 them easily. If traveling fast on ice and one 

 falls or slips, he is dragged along, half strangled, 

 until he regains his feet, place and position in 

 line again, or, becoming tangled he is loosened 

 up. By this time he has been snapped a few 

 times by the dogs about him as if to punish him 

 for his carelessness. 



Ordinarily, the leader responds promptly 

 to the driver's voice, guiding, turning, halting 

 or increasing speed at the given command. 

 When, however, they scent game, they become 

 difficult to manage, requiring utmost application 

 of the whip to keep the trail or direction and this 

 invariably ends in confusion, hopeless tangle 

 and upset sledge. 



