Читать книгу The White Czar. A Story of a Polar Bear онлайн

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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 savagely at each other. Then the long black lash would come hissing about their faces and they would subside.

At last everything was in readiness. Nearly half the inhabitants of Eskimo Town were there to see them off. The three sledges led the way to the top of the hill, the drivers restraining their teams with difficulty that those on foot might be at the top of the hill to see them off. Finally the crest was reached. Here the wind and the cold smote them like a scourge from the very pole, but they did not mind. The waiting men and women huddled together for warmth while the sledges made the start. Then the drivers unloosed their ugly whips and cried, "Hoo, hoo!" which means mush, and the straining teams sprang into their traces. The Komatiks creaked and groaned, and the ghostly little caravan passed rapidly down the hillside and over the frozen barrens. Faster and faster they went. Eagerly the inhabitants of Eskimo Town strained after them until finally the snow hid them from sight. Then they went quickly back to their warm igloos to wait for the return of the hunting party.