BEAR CUBS 91 



though to seek safety towards the centre of 

 the ice-field. In turning, it exposed its side to 

 me ; I fired, my shot piercing it through and 

 through between the shoulders. It leapt into 

 the air, twisting convulsively, then set off, 

 quickly followed by the cub, only to fall dead 

 twenty yards farther on. The bullet had 

 severed the aorta. 



The cub halted for a moment to examine 

 with great curiosity the mother that would 

 move no more, then it turned and fled inland. 

 Bergendhal, Recamier, and several of the men 

 instantly set off in pursuit, intending to get 

 ahead of it and bar the way. The ice, however, 

 was very bad. The men sank up to their 

 knees in snow or water, while the cub ran 

 without difficulty. Luckily, Bergendhal had 

 instantly rioted the topography of the field, 

 and, well used to snow as he was, progressed 

 swiftly. He bore to the left, seeking to drive 

 the cub to the right on to an ice promontory 

 advancing into free water. The men, running 

 as fast as they could, stationed themselves 

 among the hummocks with the object of form- 

 ing a semicircle. At full speed the Belgica 

 rounded the cape, and so came face to face with 

 Bergendhal. More men were disembarked, 

 and the semicircle completed. The bear was 



