pe 

 as 



POLAR BEARS. 193 



personnel of our party, without giving full names, was 

 follows : The Doctor, who occupied a position in the 

 stern of the boat and acted as steersman; Mac., who, 

 contrary to orders, had smuggled a small rifle on board 

 and come with us for sport ; Con., an able seaman from 

 Newfoundland, and myself. 



The reason for orders having been given by our com- 

 mander to take no rifles with us was doubtless that we 

 might not allow sport to interfere with the object of our 

 commission. Besides Mac.'s single-shot rifle, I had in my 

 belt a 38-calibre S. & W. revolver, and these two arms, 

 a knife and an axe constituted our defences ; but no 

 special thought was given to these things as at six 

 o'clock on that summer morning, in the shadow of the 

 Arctics, our little expedition steamed away on its mis- 

 sion, following and mapping the various points and bays 

 of the rocky shore, and giving all attention to our work 

 as we ploughed through the cold blue waters. 



Before we had proceeded many miles it became neces- 

 sary to go ashore in order to obtain fresh water for 

 the boiler of the launch. Accordingly, observing what 

 appeared to be a little cascade falling over broken cliffs 

 into the sea, our course was shaped towards it ; but be- 

 fore we could gain the shore our purpose was for the 

 time forgotten, because of the sudden appearance, only a 

 few yards ahead, of two polar bears a large one and 

 her cub swimming in the water. 



Mac. and I quickly took our position in the bow and 

 opened hostilities, but on account of the roughness of the 

 sea and the tossing of the boat the shots were ineffective, 

 and so far as the old bear was concerned an opportunity 

 was not afforded for repeating them. Quick as a flash 

 13 



