70 HUNTERS AND HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



driven shorewards by a fresh south-westerly 

 wind, threatened to crush us flat. There was 

 nothing for us to do but to resort to the ex- 

 pedient of again burning herrings to attract 

 the bear's attention. Failure rewarded our 

 efforts. The animal remained behind its hum- 

 mock, moving only to bathe itself in a pool 

 or to roll itself in the snow. The beast's actions 

 confirmed my suspicions that it was the bear 

 I had already wounded. 



Swensen, however, disagreed with me and 

 requested permission to go after it. He em- 

 barked in a canoe, taking with him Hans and 

 Ottersen. We on board followed the pursuit 

 through our glasses, and very quickly regretted 

 that we, too, had not accompanied them. We 

 saw the men disappear amid the hummocks 

 and surround the bear without disturbing it. 

 Then they essayed to drive it towards the sea, 

 by openly advancing towards it. But though 

 the bear saw the men, instead of running, it 

 turned on them. Ottersen, who was nearest, 

 fired his rifle in the air, hoping to frighten it. 

 The bear was not to be frightened. It came 

 straight for the men, and at eight yards Swensen 

 was obliged to lodge a ball in its neck, which 

 did not, however, kill it. Swiftly it turned and 

 charged Hans, who was behind a hummock. 



