So he cut down even the orthodox ration and tried to increase the day's travel.

His sister and brother-in-law seconded him; but they were frustrated by their heavy outfit and their own incompetence.

It was a simple matter to give the dogs less food; but it was impossible to make the dogs travel faster, while their own inability to get under way earlier in the morning prevented them from travelling longer hours.

Not only did they not know how to work dogs, but they did not know how to work themselves.
The first to go was Dub.

Poor blundering thief that he was, always getting caught and punished, he had none the less been a faithful worker.