THE WALRUS 169 



between itself and the coast is certain of being 

 in a safe channel. Unwise is the navigator who 

 disregards these natural buoys ! 



At two o'clock we were off Newton Island, and 

 set sail to take advantage of a slight breeze 

 which had sprung up. The weather had cleared, 

 and it was possible to distinguish clearly the 

 dome of Hooker Island. Swensen saw a bear 

 on the ice in Bruyn Straits, and we set our course 

 towards it. The first bear was joined by 

 another. They lay side by side, their backs 

 to the wind, and we surmised that it was a 

 mother and her cub. The Captain began to 

 make preparations to cage the cub in case it 

 was captured, but to me it appeared too fully 

 grown to risk the lives of men by bringing it on 

 board alive. 



The two animals were sleeping on a small 

 floe surrounded by broken ice, near an ice free 

 lake. Proceeding with great caution, we suc- 

 ceeded in taking up a position between the bears 

 and the bay ice, and advanced on them without 

 disturbing them. Soon we were within range, 

 and still the bears remained unconscious of 

 their danger. From the bows of the Belgica 

 I fired, aiming between the female's shoulders. 

 She rose on her hind legs, swayed a little, then 

 fell stone dead. 



