BEARS 57 



the feet, while in skating, the feet must of 

 course be raised. To endeavour to skate on 

 skis means inevitable disaster. My own first 

 efforts were attended by numerous falls. In 

 fact, I found it almost impossible to pass the 

 many small lakes formed by the melting ice 

 without becoming quite intimately acquainted 

 with them. I fell into one of them so completely 

 entangled in my skis, that I was submerged 

 altogether. Fortunately, the three thick 

 jerseys I wore prevented my suffering any ill- 

 effects. 



Particularly difficult were the ascents and 

 descents of the ice hummocks, but we contrived 

 to advance without vanishing into any of the 

 snow crevices, and our progress was fairly 

 rapid, all things considered. 



We reached the ice-block near which we 

 hoped to find the bear. After a short search 

 I discovered newly made tracks and the remains 

 of a seal. At the same moment I perceived the 

 bear itself, restlessly roving amid the hummocks 

 a little distance away. It snuffled the breeze, 

 sat down, then rose on its hind legs and 

 examined the ship. Five hundred yards only 

 separated us from the beast. 



Recamier posted himself in the track of the 

 bear to prevent it escaping should it double, 



