It was the duty of the dog-drivers to thus prepare the track for those who were toiling behind with the heavy boats.

These boats were hauled in relays, about sixty yards at a time.
I did not wish them to be separated by too great a distance in case the ice should crack between them, and we should be unable to reach the one that was in rear.

Every twenty yards or so they had to stop for a rest and to take breath, and it was a welcome sight to them to see the canvas screen go up on some oars, which denoted the fact that the cook had started preparing a meal, and that a temporary halt, at any rate, was going to be made.

Thus the ground had to be traversed three times by the boat-hauling party.

The dog-sledges all made two, and some of them three, relays.