

ioo HUNTERS AND HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



trotted towards us. Duly we arrived at the edge 

 of the ice-field. I left my post on the forecastle 

 and took up a position before the charthouse, 

 where no one could disturb me and I would be 

 able to observe every movement of our visitors. 

 As they neared the ship, the mother displayed 

 some uneasiness and hesitation. After having 

 snuffled the wind blowing from our direction, 

 she curvetted like a circus-horse. She intended, 

 it appeared, to depart in the opposite direction, 

 and as at that moment her side was towards 

 me, I fired. The bullet entered her head, and 

 she fell dead without even a groan. It was 

 curious then to observe the cub. It seemed 

 surprised to the point of stupidity, unable to 

 comprehend what had passed. It flung itself 

 upon its mother, hugged her, walked round her, 

 and finally found the wound from which the 

 blood had escaped and set itself to lick it. Then 

 again it commenced to wander around the 

 body, crouched upon it, rose and stood on its 

 hind legs, then sat down again like some over- 

 grown Newfoundland dog. It manifested not 

 the slightest intention of quitting the body. 

 This was quite contrary to all my experience 

 of cubs. Reflection leads me to believe 

 that this was due to the different manner in 

 which the mother had been killed. In the 



