I9I2] 
THE WAYS OF DOGS AND MULES 
343 
The dogs' weights here having been much reduced, 
they were able to relieve the mules to a large extent. 
The routine of the march was now changed : from one 
to two hours after the males had started, the dogs followed 
them. The change in the dogs and in their rate of progress 
was now wonderful : when they had something to follow, 
and especially when the mules came into view, they 
proceeded during the whole of the day at a full gallop. 
Abdullah, Hooper's mule, had constituted himself 
leader throughout, and continued so until his return 
from the Barrier towards the end of November. This 
was a difficult feat, as the first mule has always the added 
hardship of having to break the track. 
The surface was extremely good, hard, and almost 
marbled, and the sledges followed the animals easily. 
Each night, on camping, a wall was built for the mules, 
consisting of large slabs of hard snow dug in the Barrier ; 
they were a considerable amount of trouble, but afforded 
shelter to the beasts from the wind and drift. The mules 
had so eaten their covers that it required much ingenuity 
to make these useful for protecting the beasts. 
The day's rest had done everyone good, and on a 
glorious day we proceeded and soon finished the twelve 
miles for the day. 
On the night of the 6th and 7th we started at 10.30, 
and, on a slightly worse surface, did seven miles up to 
lunch. All along this way we had been building cairns 
of snow at intervals of from two to four miles apart. The 
day, which was cloudy, cleared towards morning, and 
was much colder. During this time we were marching 
