Mertz & Me, by Basilisk. Adventures of an Antarctic sledge-dog

In this illustrated narrative, Basilisk, acknowledged as top sledge-dog, recounts the adventures and misadventures of Douglas Mawson’s historic Australasian Antarctic Expedition. It was a tough assignment: travelling by ship from his Arctic home, through the tropics (no place for a Greenland dog with thick fur), to unknown Antarctic regions, enduring storms at sea, facing blizzards in the windiest place on earth, then leading a team of dogs over treacherous ice fields; but Basilisk was a tough, resilient dog, who could enjoy the moment. He was proud to claim northern wolves as his ancestors; he adored the beautiful Alexandra; he smelt the salt on the ocean wind and the strange odour of penguins; and he chased those penguins at every opportunity. He observed the strange behaviour of the men, but adapted to their ways as he established his leadership and kept his pack of dogs in check. He formed a close bond with his trainer Dr Xavier Mertz, the first Swiss in Antarctica. They worked hard and had fun together, but the challenges they faced were huge – and then things got worse.