58 HUNTERS AND HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



whilst I, accompanied by Jonas, who carried my 

 ('577) gun* s tl e cautiously forward. Due to 

 the fact that the bear was constantly changing 

 its position amid the ice, our approach was easy. 

 Wishing to get beyond the wind, we commenced 

 to skirt some piled masses of ice. This led us, 

 however, to soft snow into which we sank up to 

 our hips, and when we regained firm ground 

 it was to see the bear leaving us at a trot, 

 looking back from time to time. 



Jonas instantly began to shout at the top 

 of his lungs and to wave my second gun in 

 such manner as to render it quite impossible 

 for me to fire, inasmuch as he was between the 

 bear and myself. The only opportunity I had of 

 firing was when the beast passed between the 

 ice hummocks away to the left. I sent a ball 

 after it, and Jonas discharged my heavy hunting 

 gun, the recoil of which knocked him flat in the 

 snow. The bear disappeared. A short time 

 afterwards I again saw it ascending an elevation. 

 Again I fired, and again the bear disappeared. 

 Approaching the spot where I had last seen it, 

 I searched thoroughly, but vainly. 



Recamier came up to me. Together we 

 clambered to the top of a pyramid of icebergs, 

 but could find no bear. It had vanished 

 completely, mysteriously, the thawing ice not 



