Funnily enough, Wallace the collie took entire charge of this pack, for as soon as the Yak dogs were in-sledged, he took up his position to the right, and barked encouragingly all the way.
He was first on the tableland, barking down at them, and on the snow, when they seemed to flag a little, he swept round and round. Humpty Dumpty was driving, but he needed no whip, for Collie at once singled out the dog that was in fault, and gave him a sharp nip.
Grumpey and Meg submitted with a less easy grace, and required a good deal of reminding. When touched smartly on the nose with the whip, they shook their heads, and I’m afraid they made use of some terrible swear-words; but as they did so in the Russian or Ursine language, nobody was supposed to know what they said.
When they were well off and away on the tableland, Grumpey appeared to say to his wife—
“Meg,” said he, “I think we might cut some capers now.”
“If you say we might,” replied his wife, “then, of course, we might.”
“Stand on your hind legs, then.”
Grumpey threw himself on his haunches, and Meg followed suit.
Swish round their noses came the whip, and down they went again on all fours, talking much worse Russian.
“Mr. Slap-dash,” Collie appeared to say, “this is a somewhat peculiar case. Leniency is thrown away on Grumpey. I’ll ride him as postillion.”