The stories of the marvellous sagacity of certain leaders are easy of belief to "the 

 men that know the North" as Service calls them, but they would appear to be gross 

 exaggerations or absolute untruths to those who have never seen dogs work in harness 

 on the trail. 



A leader has certain privileges, such as getting into the sled when the driver is not 

 at the handle bars, and reposing in comfort and dignity on the furs while the rest of the 

 dogs lie in the snow; and other perquisites which may occasion bitter jealousy and 

 make necessary the utmost precaution in guarding him from the attacks of his envious 

 team-mates. Sometimes an old leader, discarded or pensioned, will craftily wait for a 

 chance to kill his successor this chance generally occurring when the new aspirant for 

 honors is tied and at a disadvantage. Some leaders, however, through wonderful 

 strength and other superior qualities, become more or less exempt from this ill feeling, 

 and their leadership is freely and pleasantly accepted both in and out of "business 

 hours." Of these, Dubby, a magnificent specimen of the McKenzie River huskie, 

 brought down from Dawson by "Scotty" Allan, was one of the most prominent. Dubby 

 lived to be twelve years old, but was pensioned on his ninth birthday, while still in 

 perfect condition and well able to enjoy the rewards of his faithful service. He had a 

 record of over thirty thousand miles, in harness, to his credit, and the anecdotes of his 

 intelligence are legion. He was often driven "loose," running ahead of the team instead 

 of being hooked up with them; and he was so efficient as a "general manager" that 

 the loss of his pulling power was of small moment compared to his ability to find and 

 keep an obliterated trail, and his capacity for doing the many clever and helpful things 

 that his active mind found to do. A mere hint that some dog was not working was 

 enough, and Dubby would rush back to critically examine them all till the shirker was 

 located by a slack tow line or traces not held taut. The culprit received a warning 

 nip on the ear or flank, which was a threat of worse punishment if he did not mend his 

 laggard habits ; then Dub would dash off to give some other evidence of his real gen- 

 eralship. Perhaps it would be to decide that the ice on the river was not thick enough 

 to bear the weight of the heavily loaded sled for some strange instinct enabled him to 

 know that fact, when an experienced Musher could be readily deceived; or he would 

 choose the correct trail where many met and crossed, in spite of the efforts of an 

 exasperated driver to convince him of the error of his ways. "You stubborn old 

 Siwash (an insult indeed to apply the name of the most shiftless of Indians to a self- 

 respecting huskie), I'll wager you're wrong; but do as you please, keep us all out here 

 in thirty below weather, tired and hungry, and then maybe next time you'll listen to 

 reason." But Dubby never did make the predicted mistake, and many a comfortable 

 night's rest in shelter and warmth was the result of his unerring confidence in his own 

 ability which no argument could disturb. He would politely wag his stump of a tail 

 while he listened tolerantly to your opinion, but he ignored it with the same amiable 

 disregard one would show toward the foolish suggestions of a babbling child. 



The tragedies of the Arctic wastes are many, and would be more but for the 

 faithful dogs ; the list oi canine heroes is long, and would be much longer were all of 

 their brave deeds recorded. They have never, like some of whom we read, attended an 

 "Acadamie pour Chiens," and acquired, with a diploma, such unnatural refinements 

 and useless accomplishments as are displayed by "dogs in society." If invited to 

 attend a luncheon of chicken a la Maryland, served on a decorated table, with Fifi and 

 Bijou as fellow guests, they would not only demolish the chicken in short order, but 

 also the decorations, and possibly Fifi and Bijou as well classing them with cats and 

 other legitimate prey. 



There is no downy cushion before the blazing fire, no chosen corner of the 

 limousine, no tooth brush or manicure set for the work dog of the North ; yet they are 

 probably happier than their kin of the governess and college education. They have 

 no time for ennui there are duties to be done, and it is rare indeed to find a sled 

 dog who does not take pride in his task, show delight at the sight of his harness, and 

 eagerly welcome the preparations for a good long mush. 



Perhaps one of the most striking features of the races is the pleasure that the dogs 

 manifest not only in the preliminary training, but in the contest itself. One frequently 

 sees a team of dogs, old in the knowledge of racing, perfectly familiar with the hard- 

 ships before them, waiting for the signal to leave, and so eager to be off, that three or 

 four men are barely able to restrain them till the dip oi the flag starts them on their 

 dash to the' Arctic. So, too, it is not unusual for a Mail Team, becoming impatient of 

 the delay in unloading the mail, to run away after having carried a thousand pounds of 

 mail for a distance of two or three hundred miles. 



In summer when the dogs are not being used they often spend the time about 

 mining camps where they are fed ; or if in town they select one or more houses to which 

 they make daily visits at meal hours if they find the inmates hospitably inclined. In 

 many districts the dogs are virtually turned out to forage for themselves, when the 



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