OUR FIRST MEETING WITH THE POLAR OX. 51 



I returned to try and get another shot at the animals, although I 

 had only five cartridges left. 



It was not long before I had managed to steal unawares 

 on the herd, and was within eighty yards of them as they were 

 grazing on a little patch of grass; but I had good cover behind 

 a big stone on a moraine-ridge close by. The herd consisted of 

 a large bull, a large cow, with her calf, and a heifer. As the 

 cow was in the most convenient position for a shot, I fired at her, 

 and she fell to the ground on the spot. 



RICE STKAIT, NORTH OF FBAMS HAVN. 



The other animals, when they saw her fall, began to bellow 

 and behave just as the cattle do at home when they smell blood. 

 They walked round and round in a ring with lowered heads, 

 pawed up the earth so that the moss flew in all directions, lowed 

 and snorted, and altogether behaved in a most alarming manner. 

 I then carefully aimed at the bull, and ft fell. Then I shot the 

 heifer ; but just as I was aiming at the calf, the bull came to life 

 again, so I gave it the charge instead. I again aimed at the calf, 

 and that with my last cartridge, and then the heifer got up ! I 



