THE ICE-BEAR. . 137 
animal sprang after them, and was within a few feet of the 
hindermost, when his strength at last failed him. 
Scoresby relates that in 1783, Captain Cook, of the Arch- 
angel, of Lynn, landed on the coast of Spitzbergen, accompanied 
by the surgeon and mate. While traversing the shore, the 
captain was unexpectedly attacked by a bear, which seized him 
in an instant between its paws. At this awful juncture, when a 
moment's pause must have been fatal to him, the unfortunate 
man called to his surgeon to fire, who immediately, with ad- 
mirable resolution and steadiness, discharged his piece, and 
providentially shot the bear through the head, thus literally 
saving the master from the jaws of death. 
**One evening,” says Beechey, “ we set on fire some sea-horse 
fat, in order to entice within reach of our muskets any bears 
that might be ranging the ice; as these animals possess a 
very keen scent, and are invariably attracted by burnt animal 
matter. About midnight we had the satisfaction of seeing one 
of them drag his huge carcass out of the water, and slowly make 
Ice-bear approaching the ‘‘ Dorothea” and “Trent.” 
his way towards us. The sight of the tall masts of the ships 
appeared to alarm him a little at first, for he occasionally hesi- 
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