ANOTHER SPRING 471 



him to pull a sledge. We tried but he refused to work, and 

 his final victory was complete. 



One more story : Dimitri is telling us how a " funny old 

 Stareek" at Sydney came and objected to his treatment of 

 the dogs (which were more than half wolves and would eat 

 you without provocation). " He says to me, ' You not whip ' 

 — I say, ' What ho ! ' He go and fetch Mr. Meares — he 

 try put me in choky. Then he go to Anton — give Anton 

 cigarette and match — he say — 'How old that horse?' 

 pointing to Hackenschmidt — Anton say, very young — he 

 not believe — he go try see Hackenschmidt's teeth — and 

 old Starouka too — and Hackenschmidt he draw back and 

 he rush forward and bite old Stareek twice, and he fall back- 

 wards over case — and ole woman pick him up. He very 

 white beard which went so — I not see him again.' " 



