The tenacity with which arctic animals hold to life was frequently instanced in our experience, and the thought occurred that it arose from the survival of the strongest and hardiest individuals in a clime where nature ever seems at strife with nature's life. A few days later two of our hunters ran across a pack of wolves, of which two were shot, but both escaped. A rifle-ball went completely through the body of one animal, which bled profusely. The wolf was followed for several hours by its trail of blood on the snow, but it finally escaped. Later, a single wolf came within one hundred yards of our house, and in the early twilight was for a time mistaken for one of the dogs, who were much disturbed. He was eventually pursued by several hunters, and was shot through the body by Lieutenant Kislingbury. Knocked down by the ball, the wolf lost in a few minutes at least a cupful of blood. He was chased for some time, his blood marking his path, but no one got within gunshot. He was let alone for several hours in hopes that he would die, but, pursued by the hunters later, he travelled on, stopping and waiting as did his pursuers. Leaving drops of blood in the snow, he kept walking out of gunshot, until he fell down dead with his body substantially bloodless.
As the repeated efforts of our best huntsmen failed to further diminish the number of the pack, it became necessary to resort to other means of offence, for our interests were too important to be neglected. The terror and dismay of our dogs promised their destruction, and with their loss was involved our future sledging trips. Again, the health of the party depended largely on the herds of musk-oxen, which the wolves were running down. Acknowledging ourselves beaten as man against beast, we resorted to poison. Here we were surprised at their craft and caution. Different poisons skilfully arranged in meat were visited and left untasted by the animals. Eventually, by mixing good and bad meat together, we succeeded in killing four wolves; but on more than one occasion the animals ate all the good meat and left the poisoned. While the remaining wolves gave anxiety to us, yet this was not unmixed with a certain feeling of satisfaction that a brute of such courage, endurance, and craft had been able to hold his own against man, as he had against nature in her sternest mood.
A. W. Greely.
[DAILY DRILL.]
This drill, used regularly, will be found of advantage in giving grace and freedom to the movements of the body, and a better command of the muscles most needed in every-day work and play. In order to learn them correctly the exercises should be taken slowly at first. When learned, fifteen minutes per day is all that is needed for a "drill." Each motion is made a certain number of times, usually from four to eight, and should be done vigorously and steadily.
Begin by assuming the "correct position," which must be rigidly maintained during the drill, only excepting those parts of the body in action.
Toes at right angles; heels together, with weight upon balls of feet; legs stiff; abdomen well back; chest out; shoulders back and down; arms stiff at sides; chin slightly in; slight forward incline of whole body.
Head and Neck.—Bend the head forward upon the chest, and then up again to erect position; bend the head backward, and then erect; to the right side, and then erect; to the left, and then erect; "twist" it, looking over right shoulder, and then back again to position; around to the left, and again to position; "roll," dropping head upon chest; roll it toward the right side, around to back, continuing to the left, and back to front position. Reverse this roll.
Shoulders.—"Shrug" shoulders up, shrug forward, shrug back; roll, going up, to the back, down, and then forward. Reverse this roll.