CHAPTER XXXII. 



A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. 



WE had often wondered if we should have a ' Christmas pig ' this 

 year. Once, on the first ' Fram ' expedition, we had one as 

 opportunely as December 22, but this time we had not to wait so 

 long, for it appeared at the beginning of December. 



Baumann one day was walking on the ice near the ship with 

 his rifle, when he suddenly heard the puppies barking. The older 

 dogs were lying about round the ship, having eaten so much that 

 they were unable to move. He felt sure it must be a bear, and 

 called to the mate to ask him if he cared to come and look for it ; 

 and while the mate was fetching his rifle, Bay and Baumann 

 started in advance. 



When they had almost reached the point, they saw that the 

 dogs were barking at something on the flat ice ; but it was dark, 

 and what it was they could not make out. On approaching 

 nearer, that is to say, to within twenty or thirty paces, they saw 

 that it was a bear lying quite unconcerned, and letting the puppies 

 make as much noise as they liked. Once, when one of them 

 ventured a little too far, it just turned over on its back and hit out 

 at him with its paw, but without reaching him. 



At ten or twelve paces Baumann fired, but, as far as I re- 

 member, only hit the animal in the foot. The bear then sprang 

 up and slunk away inwards, towards the ice-foot, where it received 

 another shot, this time in the shoulder, which was fatal. Close 

 by the ice-foot it sank to the ground, and remained lying there. 



At this juncture the mate arrived on the scene with a sledge ; 

 the booty was put on to it and conveyed on board, where it was 

 skinned, and in the afternoon taken in hand by Baumann, Bay, 

 VOL. i. 305 x 



