ALASKAN BEAR. 155 



driver shrieking 'Nannook! Nannook !' and 

 all straining every nerve in pursuit. 



"The bear rises on his haunches, then 

 starts off at full speed. The hunter, as he 

 runs, leaning over his sledge, seizes the 

 traces of a couple of his dogs and liberates 

 them from their burthen. It is the work 

 of a minute, for the motion is not checked, 

 and the remaining dogs rush on with ap- 

 parent ease. 



"Now, pressed more severely, the bear 

 makes for an iceberg, and stands at bay, 

 while his two foremost pursuers halt at a 

 short distance and await the arrival of the 

 hunter. At this moment the whole pack 

 are liberated ; the hunter grasps his lance, 

 and, tumbling through the snow and ice, 

 prepares for the encounter. 



"If there be two hunters, the bear is 

 killed easily; for one makes a feint of 

 thrusting the spear at the right side, and, 

 as the animal turns with his arms toward 

 the threatened attack, the left is unpro- 

 tected and receives the death wound." 

 11 



