The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-26
BRIN

| The following story, told by DIR
Wilfred T, Grenfelf. the Labrador
medical missionary, in st. Nicholas, 4.
a striking illustration of the instinct
of northern dogs for following the
trail.
One evening. as he was feeding his
dogs, there came upon them suddenly
another team driven by Joe. who had
come to call the doctor to Island Har-
bor where there was case of sick
ness, and "they doesn't know what
{ sickness" 1t was sixty miles across
the country, and twice that distance
around the shore; but there was no
trail over the cross-country. route.
Around the fire that night they
were discussing the cross-country trip,
when Harry. an old acquaintance,
came in, beating the snow eff him
self as he entered. Harry. who was
familiar with the route. had ean err
rand over part of the route to bring
in two stays that he had killed. and
so 1t was agreed to make the attempt
to go that way.
DIR. Grenfell and his fellow-doctor
had left their experienced dogs at
the hospital. and were breaking in
a new team The only dog OF their
brown animal with black striped
markings somewhat like tiger. These
lent to his face the suggestion that
he was eternally grinning. an impress
sion intensified by an odd way he
had of turning up the corners OF his
mouth when he caught ones eye, The
dog was named "Brin."
Long before daylight the next
morning theywwere astir. for II would
require all the day to drive the sixty
or seventy miles. Harry, with his
I,x h. 20
well, led the way until about 10
O'Clock, when he had to turn aside
to bring in his game. B@&re they
parted all halted under some spruce
trees to boil "a mug of tea"
Then the doctor and his ompanion
set out on an unmarked trail Their
only assets were their pocket com
passes, giving the general direction;
their axes to clear a path when they
should gts staged; a hopeful DISPOSE
ton which never spoiled for troubles
until they should come along: and
Brin. A trackless marsh lay before
them. DR. GrenfelFs companion said:
Don't say word Let's see If
Brin will head right--across the
marsh. anyhow"
"All right" replied the doctor.
Mum is the word. CO." Brin. with
his good team, led off in a gallop in
the direction the compass indicated
should be the course.
Their friend Harry had told them
Of certain iandmarks--a tall, lone
spruce at one place; at another, a
forked tuniper-tree from which the
top boughs had been stripped and
the skull and antlers of an old caribou
placed in the forks. AS the galloping
dogs ran on. Brin led them by the lone
spruce. Some ten miles farther the
doctors companion shouted, There
she is.'' There Is what?" exclaimed
the doctor. why, the skull In the
tree, he responded. AS TREY pusscd
looked around and grinned; but. If
the dog did not the doctors did. for
their spirits were high that another
ten miles lay behind them.
The shadows of evening were now
falling and between them and their
goal were miles of rolling forest. How
much longer could they trust Brin?
At one point he swung off almost at
right angles from the direction in
which they had been travelling. Pass
ing down long slope, they came to a
long lake onto which they ran at right
angles. Facing them was steep
bluff, and the lake seemed TO end In
a narrow defile, through which they
supposed the river had esca ped. and
toward which they expected to turn.
but no such notion entered Brin's
head He made exactly for the OPP
posite direction. and then, crossing a
narrow portion of the lake. he started
to climb the hill In front of them.
to come upon the show-shoe tracks OF
but nothing of the kind could
be seen.
AS they swung around big drift of
snow. fresh fox track ran directly
down blum. without looking back
Brin jumped right into the track and
it. The men found it hard
not to butt In" and tell a mere dog
that he was probably foolish in fol-
lowing. a fox track; but the men did
not know just which way they did
want to go. and on they went.
1t was now almost dark; and. II
they meant to make "A camp for the
night, 1t had to be done. The team
was stopped. and they were about
to gather wood for n fire. when the
Doctors companion said II am for
giving Brin another chance" "All
right" replied Grenfeil. and Brin
was given the signal to go. II was
now dark. Running into tree, they
were compelled to stop. Getting out
81 the siedge. DIR. Grenfeil found they
we're in a weil-cut path. Taking this
rail. they were soon at the Gray
Cove, and By o'clock had reached
he patients house.
Before turning in that night. DIR.
SrenfeN went ont TO see IL the dogs
we're all safe. and as he was about
% re-enter the cottage door, some
hing warm and furry rubbed against
his leg. BY the light that streamed
rom the open door he found himself
into Brin's eyes. They were
asking, How did / please you today,
around his neck and hugging him"
iays Dr. Grenfell. Then we both /
vent off to our beds the happier for /
t."