PREPARATIONS FOR WINTERING. 349 



disturbance or the unusual sight of the ship, hesitated 

 somewhat, making a large circle round it, often standing 

 still, and tossing its snout in the air. As he seemed inclined 

 to go to land, and take no farther notice of us, we tried 

 to entice him by a savoury-smelHng fire of bacon, 

 but in vain. At last, after some time, we discovered 

 him again by the observatory, fumbling over all sorts 

 of offal placed there as a bait for foxes, ravens, &c. 

 Armed with guns and ammunition, we approached him 

 cautiously from two sides. The combat began, and, hit 

 in the leg, the bleeding animal turned to bolt with mighty 

 strides sheer across the land, but was soon forced to 

 rest; our hunters rushed across the stones towards 

 him, and once more shots rattled round him. The bear 

 gathered himself up and made for the ice, and was given 

 up for lost by his pursuers, when he suddenly fell. 

 Hurrah ! But it was nine o'clock, and we had no time 

 to lose, for at a temperature of 0° Fabr. he must be 

 quickly skinned. This not very agreeable work in the 

 cold and twilight was undertaken by Messrs. Copeland, 

 Pansch, and Iversen, whilst others went on board for a 

 sledge. On this the carcase and the skin were laid. 

 Dr. Pansch, however, would not leave the preparation of 

 the bones, which he already mentally saw gracing some 

 German museum. His gun lay ready beside him, for it 

 was very likely that a second bear, drawn by the smell of 

 flesh, might come to help at the work. But nothing hap- 

 pened, and about two o'clock the skeleton lay upon the ice. 

 The beginning of November the first black fox was 

 brought in ; it was caught in a trap, and was a fine 

 creature. Thus for the zoologists there was instructive 

 work enough on land. But the question always rose 



