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LO 



CHAPTER XIV. 



POLAR BEARS. 



As IT was impossible to launch until the return of the 

 tide, Pierre and Louis were given our rifles and sent off 

 to try their fortunes. As they departed and left us 

 lying in the shelter of a rock we sincerely wished them 

 success. We had done our utmost and had failed; if 

 they also should fail it was too apparent what must 

 soon be the result. Two of the other men were sent off 

 with shot-guns ; then anxious hours of waiting followed. 

 No shots were heard, but towards evening Pierre and 



>uis, and afterwards the other men, could be seen 

 returning in the distance. None of them appeared to 

 be bringing any game, as we had hoped they might, and 

 at the sight I confess my heart grew sick. As they 

 came nearer, however, Louis, holding up something in 

 his hand, exclaimed, " I got him." It was the claw of 

 a polar bear, and we soon learned with joy that, sure 

 enough, he had killed a bear, which he had unexpect- 

 edly come upon at the edge of a lake while following 

 the deer. 



The encounter had taken place about six mile& 

 inland, and Louis was alone at the time, his brother 

 having gone off on a diverging track. The meeting was 

 a mutual surprise, for the bear, which was lying on the 



