CHAPTER XI 



A PROVIDENTIAL CHECK SOFT SNOW SLEDGE DOGS. 



MY next journey to Hebron contained one of 

 those adventurous touches that all Labrador 

 travellers know. The winter weather is always 

 treacherous, and however carefully one may study 

 the barometer, and however wise and experienced 

 the drivers may be, storms may arise and snow may 

 fall at the shortest notice. 



We made our start at five o'clock on a calm, cold 

 morning, with a cloudless sky above us all twinklin 

 with stars. It seemed an ideal travelling morning 

 the dogs were brisk and in the best condition, an 

 the track was as good as a winter track can be 

 We had every prospect of making a fast run, an 

 when the sun rose I had my first taste of the re 

 pleasures of travel. 



There was an exhilaration about the keen, frosty 

 air and the crackling snow, and I thoroughly enjoyed 

 the alternate running for warmth and resting on the 

 sledge in the cold sunshine. 



In less than six hours we reached the neck of 

 land that stands half way between Okak and Hebron, 

 and climbed the steep slope at a pace that took my 

 breath away. The drivers seemed quite at their 

 ease; as a matter of fact, Eskimos are so used to 

 running and climbing that they never seem to pant 

 or lose their wind however hard they are pushed. 

 Running is part of their nature. 



