CHAP. V.] A WHITE BEAR. 321 



and though otherwise fine the temperature was 

 only 24° + . 



April 23d found us twelve or fifteen miles off 

 Seahorse Point, which, nevertheless, we did not 

 get beyond, the wind being light and very un- 

 steady. Certainly either the tide was not strong, 

 or the whole body of ice moving together pre- 

 vented our observing it. Some ducks were 

 seen, apparently looking for open water. About 

 4 h p. m. the ice slackened considerably round the 

 ship and to the southward, causing in the course 

 of two hours several lanes and holes of water, 

 but too far disconnected to have aided our 

 escape, even had we been at liberty. It was not 

 a little singular that with so much water there 

 should have been no appearance of seals, sea- 

 horses, whales, or any other denizen of the 

 Arctic regions. This evening, however, a visitor 

 was announced in the following manner. De- 

 tached groups of the crew were sauntering about 

 the ridged and extremely uneven ice that formed 

 the nucleus of our floe-pieces, when the Cor- 

 poral of Marines, who was somewhat apart from 

 the rest, gazing listlessly upwards at the peaked 

 hummock above his head, saw, to his amaze- 

 ment, quietly looking at him, a white bear. At 

 the first glimpse he started off with all the 

 speed which circumstances permitted, leaped 

 a wide opening, which, on common occasions, 



Y 



