BACK TO CIVILIZATION 447 



dog was sent on the track. In a short time one of 

 the bears plunged down the steep bank into the 

 water and a few yards from land dived. Several 

 minutes later we espied him a considerable distance 

 off-shore, among small ice. We gave chase at once 

 in the power-boat, and when within fifty yards I 

 told Fuller to shoot. But he was not accustomed to 

 shooting from a boat, a heavy swell made it particu- 

 larly difficult in this instance, and after five shots, 

 all of which went high, I tried my luck, as we had 

 but few cartridges with us, and my second shot killed 

 the game. Shooting from a boat with any degree 

 of precision is a difficult feat for a novice. My ex- 

 perience with the Eskimos had given me the needed 

 practice. To my delight this proved to be a bear of 

 exceptional size and Captain Sam, who had seen many 

 in his day, declared it the largest he had ever seen. 



Night had set in before we reached Cape Raper. 

 It was excessively dark, and how we were to make the 

 harbor I did not know. The Eskimo assured me, 

 however, he could do it, and relying on Providence 

 and his skill we placed ourselves in his hands. He 

 took the Jeanie safely to her anchorage, but how he 

 ever accomplished it in the pitchy darkness is beyond 

 my comprehension. 



When daylight came I went ashore and found 

 several Eskimos camped at the mouth of a small river. 

 They had three excellent bearskins, captured the 

 previous day, and I exchanged some tobacco for them. 

 They had killed six in all, they told me, but the 



