Most of the goods were taken from the dog sledge and piled in a heap at the foot of the forked trees.

The other sledge was brought alongside and unloaded also, then Katherine dragged the hand sledge on to the top of the packages, with the runners sticking upwards, so that a curious wolf might think it was a trap of a fresh shape, and avoid it accordingly.

All this took time, however, and when she had got her 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.