330 THE GEEMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



we had cartridges enough. I being more practised in 

 shooting than Wagner, took his breech-loader, which for 

 this case was the best weapon. Carefully did I pick the 

 spot in the silvery shining fur of Bruin where the heart 

 ought to be, and fired. With a fearful howl he disap- 

 peared behind the hill. We followed him as fast as our 

 legs could carry us, and found the huge beast about 

 twenty paces from the spot where he had been standing 

 mortally wounded. We gave him an extra shot to make 

 sure, and then opened the jugular vein. I think this was 

 the largest specimen of Ursus maritimus that we saw 

 during our stay in the Arctic regions. He was very fat, 

 proving that though his teeth were gone, the experience 

 of age had taught him how to supply all necessaries. 

 Our united exertions could not turn him round, so, for the 

 present, we had to leave him. Our comrades on board 

 were delighted at the prospect of being so richly provided 

 with fresh meat ; and on the following morning, at half- 

 past two, we started with seven men, two boats, and a 

 light sledge. At two p.m. we returned laden with the 

 carcases, heads, and skins of our three oxen, and the 

 head and skin of the great bear, besides some foxes 

 which we surprised at our meat store. One of them 

 seemed fond of liver, and was making off with a large 

 piece when a shot brought him down. At dinner, 

 when the liver came on the table, some shot in the 

 piece which had fallen to my lot, showed that I had 

 shared the unlucky fox's last morsel. Our careful sailors 

 were of opinion that no gift of God's should be lost, so 

 they had brought it away and found it useful for the 

 cabin table." So far Dr. Oopeland's account. 



Frost had now set in, and we could not tell how soon 



