The Ordway new era., 1914-05-15


western coast OF Hudson's bay
when the sun rose over the sur
rounding wilderness. Far out
from the shore the bay was frozen
solid and over the ice and the land the
gale whiried the feathery snow in
great clouds. II there had been .
spirit thermometer at the hut It would
have recorded temperature Of At
least forty degrees below zero.
With the FIRST appearance Of the sun,
two swarthy men, wrapped to their
eyes in fur, emerged from the hut on
snow shoes and drew from out the
lean-to long, low sledge on which
was lashed great load Of skins. They
were trappers about to start for the
trading post some forty miles up the
coast. From the front of the sledge-
they call 1t komatik-extended for
about eight feet stout sealskin strand
known in those regions as q bride.
Clearly It was meant that draft ami
mails Of some sort should be attached
thereto. But whefs-yere theyf fhe-
trappers knew. Looking at the ten lit
tie mounds Of snow. one Of them called
sharply, "Ho. ho. ho. ho. ho!"
After Night In Snow.
The effect was curious. The ten lit
tie mounds moved. and then were
transformed into a. many dogs. which
uncurled themselves, arose and shook
the snow from their shaggy coats. An
other sharp call and they came bound
ing to the komatik. Kicking and cuff
ing them. the trappers got them into
the harness. To the loop at the free
end of the bride they buttoned the
seAlskin traces. one Of which extended
over each dogs back. there to divide
into two loops. which. after his front
legs were thrust through them, Joined
over his breast. Now there was great
hullabaloo. the dogs leaping excitedly
about. tugging at their traces and
bowling with all their might a. the
trappers took seats In the komatik.
The man In front had . whip Of wal
rus hide fully twenty-five feet long.
Out It new with = resonant crack.
whit! Whit" shouted the driver.
With q Anal chorus Of howls the dogs
bent forward. straining hard to get
their heavy load under way. and then
with . mad rush they we're on. the
varying lengths Of their traces permit
ting them to travel together like a
pack Of wolves.
Gradually their pace slackened un-
til It became a gentle trot. But on
and on all day they went, following
the coast line ACROSS frozen bays and
the little neeks Of land that lay be-
tween them. their driver keeping them
at their duty with his cry Of whit!
Whit" and an occasional crack Of the
whip. Sometimes the trappers ran
beside the komatik on their snowshoes
to get their blood in circulation, and
once in awhile they would have to
help the dogs haul the komatik up a
steep slope. Darkness was falling -
they approached the end Of their 40
mile Journey. The dogs were tired
and Jagged more and more. The driver,
chilled through and hungry, became
savage In his use Of the whip. But
suddenly on their own accord. the
dogs broke into run, and again filed
the air with their howls. The white
washed buildings Of the post had come
in sight. Faster and faster new the
dogs and. swinging the komatik dixxily
around . point Of land they gave q
series Of leaps and bounds. to draw up
at the post with great flourish that
would have done credit to a fashion.
able coaching party.
A hard worker Of extraordinary en-
durance and indispensable withal. in
the dceolata segions Of the north.
where snow and ice reign throughout
most OF the year. the Eskimo or
husky" dog yet receives q bad name
from the men for whom he slaves with
no other reward than one slender meal
q day and bullet in the head when
his i've winters Of service have worn
him out. Extreme ferocity, cannibal-
ism. treachery and cowardice are the
charges brought against him. That
they are not without their basis ID
peovsd by an incident bordering on .