144 VIKINGS OF TO-DAY 



that the exigencies of existence have considerably 

 sharpened their faculties. 



To look at, they closely resemble the grey wolf of 

 the prairie, and wolves mingling with the team would 

 scarcely be recognised by an untrained e}^e. Usually 

 the dogs wander in summer around the land-wash, 

 in troops of say fifty, eating the offal below the fish 

 stages; or when caplin schools are close inshore, 

 they wade into the water and swallow the fish alive. 

 Always lean and lank at this time of the year, they 

 never neglect to lay up against an evil day, a fact 

 that becomes most ludicrously apparent on these oc- 

 casions, for they "swells wisibly." 



Perhaps the most interesting sight is to see them 

 ^catching flounders. The fish lie buried in the sand 

 in shallow water, and as the dog's paw comes down 

 on one it struggles to get away. He then literally 

 " puts his foot down," and after it his head, which 

 disappears under water only to reappear with a 

 struggling victim. This is carried kicking to the 

 land, to be devoured at leisure. 



The door of the chapel at the Moravian station of 

 Hopedale was one day accidentally left ajar. Such 

 a golden opportunity for a meal was not to be wasted, 

 and a company of dogs soon found its way in. Some 

 tempting hymn-books and litanies were shortly 

 brought to light, redolent with blubber from the 

 thumbs of the worshippers. Needless to say they 

 were sacrificed at the only shrine dogs recognise. 



On another occasion a similar oversight let them 



