Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-07-24

EN- little mounds of Snow were
huddled close to q hut ON the
western coast Of Hudson's bay
when the sun rose over the sur
rounding wilderness. Far out
from the shore the bay was frozen
selid and over the ice and the land the
gale whirled the feathery snow in
great clouds. If there had been q
spirit thermometer at the hut it would
have recorded a 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 dashed a 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 it komatik-extended for
shout eight feet stout sealskin strand
known in those regions as bride.
Clearly 1t was meant that draft ami
mails Of some sort should be attached
thereto. But where were they? The
trappers knew. Looking at the ten lit
dc mounds Of snow, one Of them called
sAarply. He. no, 10, no. ho!"
After Might In Snow.
The effect was curious. The ten lit
To mounds moved, and then were
transformed into as many dogs, which
uacuried themselves, arose and shock
tie sAew from their shaggy coats. An
ether sharp call and they came bound
ing to the komatik Kicking and cuff
Ing them, the trappers get them into
De harness. To the lee1 at the free
end OF the bride they buttoned the
sealskin traces, one Of which extended
over each dogs back, there to divide
i1fo two loops, which. after his front
legs were thrust through them, Joined
ever his breast. Now there was q great
huliabaleo. the dogs leaping e1oitedly
shout, tugging at their traces and
hSwling with all their might as the
trappers took seats in the komat1k.
The man in front had q whip Of wal
rus hide fully twenty-five feet long.
Out 1t dew with a resonant crack.
whit! Whit" shouted the driver.
VIA final chorus Of bowls the dogs
bent forward. straining hard to get
their heavy load under way, and then
with . mad rush they were OF, the
varying lengths Of their traces pernit-
ting them to travel together like q
pack Of wolves.
Gradually their pace slackened IN
til 1t became q gentle trot. But on
and On all day they went. following
he coast line across frozen bays and
the little necks Of land that lay be-
tween them, their driver keeping them
ut their duty with his cry Of whit!
Whit" and an occasional crack Of the
whip. Sometimes the trappsrs ran
beside the komatik ON their snowshoes
to set 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 as
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 filled
the air with their bowls. The white
washed buildings Of the post had come
in sight. Faster and faster few the
dogs and. swinging the komatik diszily
around point of land they gave a
series Of leaps and bounds, to draw up
at the post with a great flourish that
would have done credit to a fashion
able coaching party.
A hard worker of extraordinary en-
DURANGO and indispensable withal. in
the desolate regions of the north.
whore snow and ice reign throughout
most Of the year, the Eskimo or
husky" dog yet receives a bad name
from the men for whom he slaves with
no other reward than one slender meal
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 y
moved by an incident bordering On Q