110 
THE LITTLE WILLIE. 
The sledge I used for them was built, with the care 
of cabinet-work, of American hickory thoroughly sea¬ 
soned. The curvature of the runners was determined 
experimentally : (20; they were shod with annealed steel, 
and fastened by copper rivets which could be renewed 
at pleasure. Except this, no metal entered into its 
construction. All its parts were held together by seal¬ 
skin lashings, so that it yielded to inequalities of sur¬ 
face and to sudden shock. The three paramount con- 
LITTLE WILLIE, AND NEWFOUNDLANDER S. 
siderations of lightness, strength, and diminished fric¬ 
tion, were well combined in it. This beautiful, and, 
as we afterward found, efficient and enduring sledge 
was named the “Little Willie.” 
The Esquimaux dogs were reserved for the great 
tug of the actual journeys of search. They were now 
in the semi-savage condition which marks their close 
approach to the wolf; and according to Mr. Petersen, 
under whose care they were placed, were totally use¬ 
less for journeys over such ice as was now before us. 
A hard experience had not then opened my eyes to 
