202 VISIT FROM A BEAR. 



and was immediately despatched to survey tlie main 

 branch of the harbour, in the lesser fork of which we 

 were located ; the tracks of bears, probably the grizzly, 

 were now becoming numerous, and I cannot but 

 consider that myself and companion, one of the crew, 

 had a very narrow escape from death by one of these 

 animals. As I was about to go on with work at some 

 distance from the ship, we took, one morning, the 

 tent and several other articles, intending to remain 

 out a night or two, but heavy mist and drizzling snow 

 coming on, I resolved to return that day and resume 

 on the morrow. Accordingly we dug to some depth 

 in the snow and buried the tent, and with it, among 

 other things, a pair of snow-boots, which I had brought 

 for a change in case of need. Next day on returning 

 to the spot we found the track of a very large bear 

 leading to it, and discovered that the brute had 

 exhumed our buried goods, and finding nothing to its 

 taste, had bitten my snow-boots all to pieces, through 

 an inch of cork and wooden pins, which must have 

 sadly torn its mouth ; it had scattered everything 

 about as if in mischief or rage, and pulled down om- 

 marking staves, which were bitten all to pieces. As 

 these brutes are very ferocious, particularly when 

 hungry, I think we were fortunate in our absence, nor 

 did we after this think it wise to risk a night's stay 



