THE FRIENDLY ARCTIC 353 



It had been my intention at the beginning of this trip to bring 

 along four or five hundred boots but some one had blundered and 

 when we made a search of our loads we found less than two hun- 

 dred. These were made of canvas and each would be good for one 

 day. The boot is made without much shape to it, something like 

 a mitten without a thumb. When a hole has been worn on one 

 side we turn it around so that the dog walks on one side of the boot 

 in the forenoon and on the other in the afternoon. It is a well 

 known fact that thirteen dogs have fifty-two feet, but I don't think 

 any one realizes it fully who has not had the task of making boots 

 for dogs day after day. It took only four days to wear out the 

 ones we had with us. We were in a great hurry to get to Banks 

 Island, so at first we used to sit up evenings to mend these boots, 

 making a few additional new ones. But it soon became apparent 

 that this was not practicable and for the last week or ten days 

 we used to travel two days and then stop one day for making 

 boots. It helped a little to make some of these of sealskin or of 

 caribou skin so that they lasted a little longer, but here again there 

 was the disadvantage that we had to watch the dogs to see that 

 none of them ate their boots when we stopped. This was not 

 because they were hungry but merely because their appetites were 

 normal. 



When we got towards the southwest corner of Melville Island 

 our fat for food and fuel had run out, for the two old bulls were 

 extremely lean. At this season it is not possible to get at a seal 

 without crawling snake-fashion through much ice water. The dis- 

 comfort is not the worst feature, for it is almost impossible to keep 

 from making a splash now and then, and a splash will always put 

 a seal on his guard. Some of the ice we have to crawl over has been 

 undermined by little rivulets of water and even with the best of care 

 we break through. I therefore had to try several seals before get- 

 ting one. The sharp needle ice that I have described as so hard on 

 the feet of the dogs was no less hard on my old clothes as I dragged 

 myself forward, and they were almost as nearly worn out as I was 

 chilled numb when finally I got within about 150 yards of the seal. 

 I had been trying so long and the glare of the sun was so bright 

 that I knew shooting for the head was hopeless and I tried a body 

 shot. Luckily it not only went through near the heart but also broke 

 the spine. However, I got the seal by the barest margin for after 

 running as hard as I could he was just sliding into his hole when I 

 got there. That is the trouble with a body shot — the seal is lying 



