164 Our North Land. 



that was eight feet high sitting on his hunkers. In short, there 

 were many and strong reasons why we didn't want them. We had 

 no room for them on the Neptune ; and, what is more, we had no 

 means of transporting their carcases to the boats, suppose we did 

 shoot them. Taking the matter altogether, we came to the unani- 

 mous conclusion, each man for himself, without argument or per- 

 suasion, without favour, but with a surplus of intimidation, that we 

 didn't want and wouldn't have those bears. 



What did we do ? Why, we took council together, reasoned 

 together, as it were. The lumps had gone from our throats, and our 

 voices kindly returned. 



" See here," said Bridge ; " we are not afraid of those bears, or 

 anything of that sort ; but we don't want to make fools of ourselves. 

 Those bears are valuable, and we don't want to lose one of them. 

 Suppose we were to fire " 



" Don't talk so loud ! " expostulated one of our party, knitting 

 his brow into a terrible frown of disfavour, and interrupting Mr. 

 Bridge. 



" As I was saying," says Bridge, in a lower tone, " we are not 

 fools, but we don't want to scare those bears. Suppose we were to 

 fire, each man of us picking out his bear, ten chances to one, two or 

 three of them would get away and we would run ourselves out of 

 breath chasing them, and, perhaps, in the race shoot one another. 

 Now, sir, I'll tell you what to " 



" For heaven's sake, talk lower," broke in another. 



" As I was saying," says Bridge, " I'll tell you what to do. I 

 will go back " 



" Easy ; lay low ; that brute is looking this way ! " interrupted 

 yet another. We laid low accordingly. 



" As I was saying," says Bridge, " I will go back to the ship and 

 bring out " 



Here I could not help interrupting Mr. Bridge with an intimation 

 to the effect that I was a good runner, and could go to the ship, 

 most likely, quicker than he could. I thought it most unselfish to 

 make the suggestion. 



At this juncture, not wishing to frighten the bears away, and 



