186 HUNTING DOGS. 



other scrap, in wliicli often one bunch will par- 

 ticipate in, 'take sides," and chew np each other, 

 until all pitch in, aiming to settle things some- 

 how. If too tired, thej await the morrow. As 

 a rule, the best sledge dogs are the poorest scrap- 

 pers (so we have to be partial at times) especi- 

 ally to the leader who is usually the most intelli- 

 gent ; hence fayored. 



In a pinch, when game and rations are 

 scarce, they make good eating, of course, being- 

 sacrificed. At these times, their peculiar sayage 

 nature asserts itself, when you kill one for food, 

 b^' signs of joy, ratlier than fear for they seem 

 to be deyoid of sympathy or unaffected by the 

 scene. Their flesh is pale, tender and tasteless 

 much like rabbit, bloodless and poor, and they 

 will eat anything from a tin can label to Kip- 

 ling's '^Rag, Bone or Hank of Hair." When 

 meat is plenty, they take on flesh and fatten 

 quickly but seldom does this happen as the Es- 

 quimaux says, ''Him no good, lazy, much fat." 



Wolf-like, stolen food tastes better and one 

 will leaye his own ration to steal a fello^y■s equal 

 share and risking by his greediness both, as it is 

 stolen in turn by another. Their thieying pro- 

 pensities are great, a tin can of meat, skin boots, 

 oil lamp, old soup kettle, or their own harness if 

 sealskin or ra^yhide. 



Tied, penned up or left harnessed any 



