BARENTZ' THIRD VOYAGE. 251 



the bears observing them running, gave chase, a.d. 



1 51)6 



and followed them into the ship, where they were 

 for a time diverted by pieces of wood being 

 thrown upon the ice, which they " ranne after as 

 a dogge vseth to doe at a stone that is cast at 

 him." Meanwhile the crew below endeavoured 

 to strike a light for the use of the matchlocks, 

 but in this they failed, so that they could not 

 shoot their assailants, and the bears growing 

 fierce with disappointment at the loss of their 

 prey, made a desperate attack upon the few who 

 remained upon the deck of the vessel. Most for- 

 tunately, the largest of these ferocious beasts re- 

 ceived a wound upon the snout with a halbert, 

 which occasioned him so much pain that he with- 

 drew from the vessel, and was immediately fol- 

 lowed by the others. "And we thanked God 

 that we were so well delivered from them." 



No sooner had the sun sunk below the horizon 

 for the last time, than the bears also took their 

 departure, and were seen no more until the 

 return of sunshine. This was a great relief to 

 the party, who were occasionally obliged to go in 

 search of wood, which, in the darkness of the 

 winter, would have been a very hazardous duty, 

 had they been subjected to the attacks of these 

 animals : their place, moreover, was supplied by 

 white foxes, which now ventured to range about, 



