Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-11-08
FOR THE CHILDREN
Brjn

The following story, told by DR.. win.
fred T. Grenfell, the Labrador medical
missionary, in st. Nicholas, is a strik.
Ing Illustration of the instinct of north.
ern 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.
Dor, where there was a case Of sick.
ness, and "they doesn't know what
t sickness" It 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 off himself as he
lentered.' Harry, who was familiar with
the route, had an errand over part OF
the route to bring in two stays that
he had killed, and so it was agreed to
make the attempt to go that way.
DR.. 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 last
years team was a yellowish brown
animal, with black-striped markings
somewhat like tiger. These lent to
his face the suggestion that he was
externally grinning, and impression
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 morn.
ing they were astir, for it would require
all the day to drive the sixty or
seventy miles. Harry, with his good
team and knowing the route well, led
the way until about ten o'clock, when
ne had to turn aside to bring in his
game. Before they parted all halted
under some spruce-trees to boil "a mug
of tea
Then the doctor and his comosnion
set out on an unmarked trail Their
only assets were their pocket com.
passes, giving the general direction:
their axes to clear path when they
should get staged; hopeful DISPOSE
ton which never spoiled for troubles
until they should come along; and
Brin. A trackless marsh lay before
them. Dr. Grenfells companion said:
Dent say a word. Let's see if Brin
will head right-across the marsh,
anyhow
"An right replied the doctor.
Mum is the word. Col" Brin, with his
good team, led off in gallop in the .di-
rection the compass Indicated should
be the course sg5 isl1#
Their friend Harry had told them OF
certain landmarks,-a tall lone spruce
at one place; at another, forked
ijuniper-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 CON-
panion shouted, There she is" There
is what?" exclaimed the doctor. "Why
the skull in the tree" he responded.
AS they passed this, they both thought
that Brin looked around and grinned;
but, if the dog did not the doctor did,
for their spirits were high that another
ten miles lay behind them.
The shadows of even were now
falling, and between them and their
Igoal were miles of rolling forest. How
much longer could they trust Brin?
At one point he swung off almost at
fright angles from the direction in which
| down a long slope, they came to long
lake onto which they ran at right
angles. Facing them was a steep
bluff, and the lake seemed to end in a
narrow def1le, through which they sup
posed the river had escaped, and to-
ward which they expected to turn, but
no such notion entered Brin's head He
made exactly for the opposite direction,
| on +t10Y
the lake, he started to climb the hill in
front Of them. The, travellers had
hoped before this to come upon the
snow-shoe tracks of hunters, but moth
ing of the kind could be seen.
AS they swung around a big drift Of
snow, a fresh fox track ran directly
down a bluff. Without looking back,
Brin jumped right into the track and
followed it. The men found it hard not
to butt in and tell mere dog that
he was probably foolish in following
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, if they
meant to make camp for the night,
it had to be done. The team was
stopped, and they were about to gather
wood for fire, when the doctors COM
panion said, II am for giving Brin
another chance" "All right" replied
Grenfell, and Brin was given the signal
to go. 1t was now dark. Running into
a tree, they were compelled to stop.
Getting out Of the sledge, DR.. Grenfell
found they were in a wellcut path.
Taking this trail, they were soon at the
Gray Cove, and by eight o'clock had
reached the patients house.
Before turning in that night, DR..
Grenfell went out to see If the dogs
were all safe, and as he was about to
re-enter the cottage door, something
warm and furry rubbed against his
Ileg BY the light that streamed from
the open door he found himself looking
into Brin's eyes. They were asking,
'How did I please you today, master?"
'I could not help putting my arms
around his neck and hugging him."
says DR.. Grenfell. '"Then We both went
off to our beds the happier for it,
Pepn in Windows: Knock at