166 Our North Land. 



But we had reached the spot, and, peering over the rocks, found 

 that two had disappeared round the bluffs, the other three having 

 moved over to the foot of the high cliffs where a ridge of snow, 

 sheltered from the rays of the sun by the high wall of rocks, skirted 

 the range. One of them was looking up the cliffs, as if to pick out 

 a passage from ledge to ledge by which he might reach the summit. 



Our force was then divided. Four were sent forward, ordered 

 to charge upon the bears. The remaining five were to follow up 

 and relieve the advance as soon as their rifles were discharged. All 

 being ready, the order was given, and four men dashed forward in 

 open view to the enemy. The distance was about two hundred 

 yards at the start. This was reduced by at least fifty yards before 

 the brutes began to move. They looked at our advancing host in 

 great surprise, and, I suppose out of respect to our numbers, decided 

 to move -on. Instead of escaping up the ravine they undertook to 

 climb the cliffs, at which, I am bound to say, they are decided 

 experts. Stretching up their great paws to a sharp ridge eight or 

 ten feet above them, they can haul up their immense bodies in a 

 manner that fills one with wonder and admiration. 



We were within a hundred yards, or nearly, when the foremost 

 had ascended the steep rocks some twenty or thirty feet, and the 

 others were rapidly following. The word was given to fire. At 

 this point discipline proved a failure. The great desire to have a 

 hand in the sport outweighed the orders of our commander, and, from 

 the nine rifles, explosive and Snyder bullets. fairly rained against the 

 cliffs. 



The uppermost bear was first struck in the hind leg by Lieu- 

 tenant Gordon. She was not badly injured, but, turning round, gave 

 vent to horrifying growls that might have been heard for more than 

 a mile away. She was now ready for the fight, and manifested a 

 disposition to descend rather than make farther effort to escape. 

 Meanwhile the others had reached her height upon the rocks, and 

 one of them pushed on up, from ledge to ledge, until at least seventy- 

 five feet above the frozen snow at the base. Here he received a 

 bullet which disabled him, and he turned his face toward us, join- 

 ing the first in giving vent to his anger and pain. 



