BEARS 55 



splashing onwards. Still our quarry remained 

 invisible and again we mounted a hummock 

 to prospect. 



A chaos of ice extended before us until lost 

 to sight, and in whatever direction we turned 

 we could distinguish no traces of a bear, or 

 rather, I should say, fresh traces, for of old ones 

 we discovered many, and even the spot where 

 our bear had killed a seal. 



The Commander had gone in advance and 

 overtaken Jonas, who now appeared away to the 

 left. We thus, as it were, formed a semicircle 

 of beaters, covering a wide area, yet seeing 

 nothing. 



Jonas rejoined us after a time and said that 

 he had seen the bear in the distance, and that, 

 after hiding a seal which it had commenced to 

 eat, it had trotted off towards the interior. 

 Disappointed we returned aboard. 



It was two o'clock, and we had been on the ice 

 since nine o'clock. We were soaked with per- 

 spiration and icy water. Reflecting that the bear 

 had breakfasted, we deemed the example ex- 

 cellent and sat down to table. During our 

 repast, those who had remained on board gave 

 us graphic accounts of what had been seen, 

 each one after his own fashion. 



Their recitals were both curious and varied. 



