father packed into the sledge in readiness for a start it was
almost dark, while the snow was coming down thicker than ever. The
brown-and-white dog was howling dismally again, while the black one
which had a cropped ear seemed disposed to follow suit.

It was of no use trying to guide the dogs now, and, falling into
the rear, Katherine shouted to them to go forward, and left it to
their instinct to find the way home. She had to keep shouting and
singing to them the whole of the way. If from very weariness her
voice sank to silence, they dropped into a slow walk; but when it
rang out again in a cheery shout, they plunged forward at a great
pace, which was maintained only so long as she continued shouting.
But at last, after what seemed an interminable time, she heard the
noise of the water coming over Roaring Water Portage; the dogs
heard it too, and the need for shouting ceased, for they knew they
were almost at the end of the journey.




CHAPTER III

Outwitting the Enemy

Among his neighbours at Seal Cove, 'Duke Radford counted one very
pronounced enemy, and that was Oily Dave, master of one of the
sealing boats, and keeper of the only whisky saloon within twenty
or thirty miles of Roaring Water Portage. The cause of the enmity
was now nearly two years old, but like a good many other things it
had gained strength with age. Oily Dave had been supplying the red