ADVENTURES WITH BEAES. 395 



posed of sail-cloth lined with woollen stuff, with leathern 

 soles, which we had on board. Then the tent must be 

 worked at and enlarged in proportion ; the fur sacks also 

 and coverings for our sleeping-place had to be sewn. 

 We need scarcely say that the school of navigation was 

 carried on as industriously as ever. 



On the 10th, as in the morning twilight our engineer, 

 who was entrusted with the melting apparatus, was re- 

 turning alone with the sledge, heavily burdened with snow, 

 from the Germaniaberg to the ship — he looked round him, 

 and suddenly saw, at a little distance, a bear slowly follow- 

 ing him. Struck with terror, he hastily left the sledge 

 and hurried forward to the ship, the creature following him 

 for some distance, and then turning back. Scarcely had 

 the fact transpired when, in a moment, all were in motion, 

 and soon a number of well-armed forms were hurrying in 

 all directions to the land — the irresistible charm of bear- 

 hunting urging them on. But Bruin did not seem inclined 

 to face our heroes, and, after a short hour, the hunters 

 returned disappointed. 



Thus this bear adventure ended as happily as all former 

 ones had done. But much more serious was the position 

 into which, a short time afterwards, one of our sailors 

 was betrayed. On the morning of the 13th, Theodor 

 Klentzer, during the time the men were busied without, 

 or were obliged to take their daily walk, climbed the Ger- 

 maniaberg to view the landscape in the increasing mid-day 

 light. Reaching the top, he seated himself on a rock, 

 and sang a song in the still air. As he looked behind 

 him, however, he saw, not many steps off, a huge bear, 

 which with great gravity was watching the stranger. Now 

 to our " Theodor," who was as quiet and decided a man 



