Page:The white czar; a story of a polar bear (IA whiteczarstoryof00hawk).pdf/36

 long and narrow, perhaps fourteen feet long and two and a half feet wide. The runners flared out slightly so that they would not skid. This sledge was Eskimo-made and a wonderful piece of work. Not a nail or a screw had been used in its construction. The cross pieces were lashed to the runners by means of thongs. These thongs were as tough as steel.

The Eskimo dog team is harnessed quite differently from that of the white man. The white man's team travels tandem, each dog behind his fellow and all strung out in a long line. The Eskimo's team is fan-shaped, and each dog has his separate set of traces running back to the sledge.

The dogs were so eager that Eiseeyou experienced some difficulty in harnessing, but soon other men came running to help and the team was made ready. His weapons and supplies were firmly lashed to the sledge. Then two other teams came creaking up to Eiseeyou's igloo. These sledges were also drawn by eager, yelping, straining dogs, their eyes gleaming like wolves'. Often they showed their fangs and snapped