246 



NEW LAND. 



expected ' Bamsen ' to escape in this manner, did not seem at all 

 inclined to follow his example. 



Fosheim and I came hurrying up, very angry with the dogs, 

 which had not had the intelligence to run back the way they had 

 come and follow the bear, which was now, of course, making off 

 towards Jones Sound as hard as it could go. But when I had got 

 round the iceberg I saw the situation at a glance, for there stood 

 the bear, growling by the side of the lane, looking very large 



Bay. 

 PHEW ! THAT COALING ! 



and ferocious, and ready to spar at the first dog that should 

 be incautious enough to come down. Now it was his turn, thought 

 he ; and he seemed to be quite in his element. No wonder the 

 dogs had stayed where they were, with their heads on one side and 

 their coats bristling, yelping with all their might. They were not 

 so stupid after all. 



As luck would have it, I had come bear-shooting that day 

 without a gun, but the others had theirs, so it was all right. I 

 therefore stepped back a couple of paces and gave place to Fosheim, 

 who sent the bear a ball through the shoulder. He had aimed 



