262 A BEAR HUNT. 



five dogs were slipped, and the young men of the party 

 followed up the hunt. Gallantly did the dogs behave, 

 the wolf acting in concert : and at a most critical mo- 

 ment, when Punch (our Punch) was making a deter- 

 mined assault on the cub, mamma put her paw on him ! 

 All was breathless suspense, for this was our pet. At 

 this instant the wolf proved his superior tactics by at- 

 tacking Madam in rear, when Punch was released, and 

 escaped, not much damaged : but he was not cowed, 

 and proved himself a fine, courageous animal. One or 

 two ineffectual shots were fired, and the party returned, 

 when we renewed our journey, encamping at seven A.M. 

 on a low spit, probably a-wash, if free from ice. The 

 loss of one of the bears was much felt, our stock of food 

 for the dogs being now nearly gone ; however, from the 

 number of tracks, we expect soon to have more of their 

 society. The change of travelling time entails on me 

 the duty of watching the sun from nine A.M. until near 

 three P.M., but does not call for any assistant ; tempera- 

 ture at noon 44. Before starting this evening I deter- 

 mined on depositing the ' Hamilton' on this point, as 

 affording the most convenient spot for sea operations, 

 should her services be required ; and as our route now 

 seemed to promise an almost direct journey along the 

 land to Jones's Sound, it was not probable that we 

 should require her aid until it became necessary to make 

 further examination of North Cornwall in July next. 

 Here also were deposited the return rations of five days, 

 in iron-bound casks, for each of the two long-journey 

 sledges, 'Londesborough' and 'Dauntless.' A very con- 

 siderable pile was constructed of the surrounding frozen 



