In Winter Quarters 



for an outlook. He sat erect and, as he was 

 nearly the color of the ice, was not noticed 

 until we were quite near. They watched, 

 motionless for some time, throwing forward 

 their long necks and black-tipped noses as if 

 trying to catch and pass judgment on the 

 scent of the big, smoking, black monster that 

 was approaching them. 



"When we were within about fifty yards of 

 them, they started, walked a step or two, and 

 turned to gaze again as the strange object 

 came nearer. Then they showed fear and 

 began to lumber along over and across the 

 wavelike rough hills and dales of the ice, 

 afraid, perhaps, for the first time in their 

 lives. For polar bears are the master exist- 

 ences of these frozen regions, the walruses 

 being no match for them. First they broke 

 into a lumbering trot; then, into a panicky, 

 walloppy gallop, with fewer and fewer halts 

 to look back, until they reached the far side 

 of the ice-field and plunged into the water 

 with a splash that sent the spray ten feet into 

 the air. Then they swam; making all haste 

 towards a larger floe. If they could have 

 gained it they would have made good their 

 retreat. But the steamer gave chase at the 

 rate of seven knots an hour, headed them off, 

 and all were shot without the least chance of 



