184 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



spring, when sleds slide easily, they often manage more than 

 that." Then dreamily puffing at his pipe he added : " I remem- 

 ber when six dog-trains of four dogs each hauled from Fort 

 Chipewyan on Lake Athabasca to Fort Vermillion on the 

 Peace River loads that averaged six hundred and fifty pounds 

 per sled — not including the grub for the men and dogs and the 

 men's dunnage. Then, again, William Irving with Chief Factor 

 Camsell's dogs brought to Fort Simpson a load of nine hundred 

 pounds. The greatest load hauled by four dogs that I know 

 of was brought to Fort Good Hope by Gaudet. When it ar- 

 rived it weighed a trifle over one thousand pounds. But 

 Factor Gaudet is one of the best dog-drivers in the country." 

 Then, re-settling himself more comfortably before the fire, 

 he continued: 



"And while I think of it we have had some pretty fine dogs 

 in the service of the Company. The most famous of all were 

 certainly those belonging to my good friend Chief Factor Wm. 

 Clark. He bred them from Scotch stag hounds and "hus- 

 kies" — the latter, of course, he procured from the Eskimos. 

 His dogs, however, showed more hound than husky. Their 

 hair was so short that they had to be blanketed at night. Once 

 they made a trip from Oak Point on Lake Manitoba to Winni- 

 peg, starting at four o'clock in the morning, stopping for a 

 second breakfast by the way, and reaching Winnipeg by one 

 o'clock at noon, the distance being sixty miles. They were 

 splendid dogs and great pets of his. They used to love playing 

 tricks and romping with him. Frequently, when nearing a 

 post, they would purposely dump him out of his carriole and 

 leaving him behind, go on to the post, where, of course, on their 

 arrival with the empty sled, they were promptly sent back for 

 Mr. Clark. Understanding the command, they would at once 

 wheel about and, without a driver, return on the full 

 gallop to get their master. When coming upon him they would 

 rush around and bark at him, showing all the while the greatest 



