Angust, 1S64.I A Bettv Capturcd. 51 



morning- watcli "thundering in the companion way, 'White IJear! 

 White Bear!'" In a few moments the glass showed from tlie deck a 

 huge Polar; and the mate, with Hall and Ebierbing, started with a 

 stalwart crew, who were quickly over the ship's side. Chester steered. 

 Hall and Ebierbing, with loaded rifles (the gifts of Mr. Chapell, of New 

 London), were in the boat, and five pairs of oars " pulled lustily as foi- 

 dear life." Bruin was nearly a mile off, but though every effort was 

 made to keep to the leeward, he showed that he scented his pursuers 

 when they had passed over but a fourth of that distance, by his shuf- 

 fling to and fro on the ice and by throwing up his head, shaking it at 

 them, roaring furiously, and showing his tusks; with intervals of quiet 

 gaze at the boat. At the outset, Eberbing pronounced the animal to 

 be one of the largest of its kind, and a male; calling it an Anjujua 

 Commenting in his journal on the acuteness of the Innuits in discrim- 

 inating the signs and habits of the animals of their country, Hall 

 notes Ebierbing's quickness in deciding the sex and character of this 

 bear from its size and its yellowish-white color. He showed further 

 tact by frequent lusty shoutings, in order to arrest the progress of 

 Ninoo after he had dropped himself stern foremost into the water, and 

 had commenced swimming at the rate of full six knots an hour. Ninoo 

 by his delay in turning around nearly his whole huge body gave his 

 pursuers much advantage. At the distance of 50 yards, on Ebier- 

 bing's making the first shot at his head, which alone was above water. 

 Polar instantly dropped, and his huge carcass floated lifeless. Tlie 

 crew, making it fast, towed it back to the Monticello within thirty 

 minutes from the time they had set out on the chase, and in a few 

 moments more, with pulleys and hemp, landed him safe on deck. 



