BATTLES OF THE DOGS 



for exercise or training in a sledge, for not only did they 

 chase and kill penguins when we had these birds with 

 us, and hunt placid, stupid Weddell seals, but two of the 

 best dogs had a violent antipathy towards each other, 

 and more than once fierce fights took place in conse- 

 quence. Trip, one of our dogs, was pure white in 

 colour, and was a fine upstanding beast of a very an° ec- 

 tionate disposition. Adams looked after Trip, taking 

 him for his sledge-training, whilst Marshall fancied 

 Scamp, who was an older dog, more set in his bones 

 and with a black-and-white coat. It was between 

 these two that the battles raged, and I think there 

 was little to choose between them as far as strength 

 and courage were concerned. On the occasion of a 

 fight the combatants were surrounded by all the puppies 

 and a couple of the bitches, the latter observing the fight 

 with the keenest interest, and I think some of these battles 

 must be put down to the desire to gain the approval of 

 the females. 



The presence of the dogs around winter quarters 

 and on our walks was very cheerful, and gave a home- 

 like feeling to the place, and our interest in the pups 

 was always fresh, for as they gradually grew up each one 

 developed characteristics and peculiarities of its own. 

 Names were given to them regardless of their sex. 

 Roland, for example, did not belong to the sterner sex, 

 and was in her earlier days a very general favourite. 

 She had a habit of watching for the door to be opened, 

 and then launching herself, a white furry ball, into 

 the midst of the party in the hut. Ambrose, a great 

 big sleepy dog, was so named by Adams, perhaps owing 

 to his portly proportions, which might bear resem- 

 blance to the well-favoured condition of a monk. Some- 

 how or another the name Ambrose seemed to suit 

 him. He had a trick of putting his head between 



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