TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 67 



use of firearms. He handled my Mannlicher next, 

 as though he would wrest from it the secret of our 

 astonishing success. Then thoughtfully he laid the 

 weapon down. I think this last hunt completely con- 

 verted Ned, who ever afterwards treated us with the 

 same consideration and respect which he accorded 

 the masculine element of the expedition. And where- 

 fore not ? 



Were we not dressed alike, in the quaintest of fur 

 parkas, with a modicum of knickerbocker showing 

 below ? and did we shirk damp, danger, or dismay ? 

 " I grant I am a woman ; think you I am no stronger 

 than my sex?" Cecily quoted laughingly to Ned. 

 But in his eyes there was no answering light of recog- 

 nition. The Immortal One has not as yet been trans* 

 lated for the benefit of the Aleuts. 



Next to the skinning, and though we did not take 

 any part in it, we helped at intervals to shift the 

 massive bear to a more get-at-able position. The 

 "he," I regret to say, was a "she" of "uncertain 

 age," with much-worn teeth and claws. 



All Ned had with him was an insignificant bit of 

 string, so, producing all we could offer, he tied the 

 pelt together, and with the skull hanging over his 

 shoulder we set out campwards. We also took a little 

 of the meat, because of course we wanted to be able 

 to say that bear steak had at least been sampled. 



The ground was very bad going, and at intervals 

 we sank in marshy hollows above our knees. We 

 wondered how on earth our man could struggle on 

 impeded as he was, forgetting the immense strength 



