ice, and so it was much easier than travelling in a forest
trail in the deep snow. Six hundred pounds are considered a good load
for four dogs on ordinary trails.

As Mr Ross's fishermen had hung up about fifty thousand fish, besides
packing a large number of the finest ones in ice or snow, there was
considerable work for the trains in dragging them home. The work is so
steady that it is considered capital training for young dogs. Of
course, they are not at first given as heavy loads as are the old
trains. The boys were allowed to go with their trains about three times
a week. This was quite sufficient for them, for, although they rode on
the empty sleds, wrapped in a buffalo skin, on the outward trip to the
fishery camp, yet they felt in honour bound to imitate the Indian
drivers of the older trains, and walk, or rather trot, as much as they
could on the return with their heavy loads.

The kind-hearted Indians, while admiring the pluck of the boys when, on
the first trip, they urged for heavier loads, wisely and firmly insisted
that they should take light ones to begin with.

"This is only fun," said Alec, "just running on the ice. I have walked
all day in the Highlands, and was all right the next day. I want a full
load, for I intend to run the whole distance on the home stretch."

"Twenty miles on ice, with some slipping and falling and managing a
lively dog-train, will seem a long journey ere it is ended," said
Mustagan, a grand old Indian who that year had charge of the work of
bringing home the fish.

Frank thought that with his strong dogs he could take more than Sam or
Alec, but even to this Mustagan objected.

"Yes," he said, "fine big dogs, but very young, bones still soft. Big
loads by and by, but not now."

"I wish we had brought our skates," said Sam, "and then we would have
had no trouble in making the twenty miles." This, it was unanimously
agreed, was a capital suggestion, and one that would be carried out on
future trips.

So in the meantime they decided to carry out Mustagan's request and only
take light loads. The wisdom of this was seen before they had gone many
miles. The gait at which the old, experienced dogs struck out, and
which was kept up by the drivers, as well as by the dog-trains of the
boys, was altogether too rapid for them.

Very gamely they kept up the pace for four or five miles, when Mustagan
called a halt for the first pipe. His observant eyes had been on the