SLEDGE AND BOAT TRIP. 



333 



111 an instant the dogs were off toward the prey, drawing the 

 sledge after them at a marvelous rate. The seal for a moment 

 acted as if frightened, and kept on the ice a second or two too 

 long, for just as he plunged, " Smile" ' the noblest-looking, best 

 leader, seal, and bear dog I ever saw, caught him by the tail 

 and flippers. The seal struggled violently, and so did dog Smile, 

 making the sledge to caper about merrily ; but in a moment more 

 the other dogs laid hold, and aided in dragging the seal out of his 

 hole on the ice, when Smile took it wholly in charge. The prize 

 was secured this time wholly by the dogs. 



DOG u SMILE" CAPTURES A SEAL. 



On the 18th we had an excellent supper of fresh flsja, caught by 

 the Innuits with spears and hooks among the ice cracks ; and al- 

 most daily something fresh was added to our food. 



At this time most of the ship's crew were again at the whaling 

 depot, cruising in every direction for whales. Indeed, Mate Bog- 

 ers and some of the men had been left there to keep a look-out 

 when the captain came away, to see about getting the vessel round, 

 and frequent communication had, as usual, been maintained. 



On the 23d it was necessary to send a supply of sundries to the 

 company there, and a boat's crew were dispatched, I accompany- 

 ing them. 



As the ice still hung together between the ship and open water 

 in the bay, the boat was lashed upon a sledge drawn by dogs, my 

 favorite Barbekark being one, and away we started, arriving at 

 the sea-edge of the ice in about two hours' time. There we launch- 

 ed the boat, and were soon bounding along upon the sparkling 



