Aiisiiivt, 1SG4.J A Second Bear Captured. .53 



Spitzbergen, the skin of one of whicli measured 12 feet, and of the 

 other 13 feet] 



Ebierbing scarcely gave himself time to finisli wltli the assistance 

 of two of the crew, the work of skinning and cutting u}) this animal, 

 before he was at the ship's side, glass in hand, on the sharp lookout for 

 a second. At 2.30 p. m. he espied one fast asleep about two miles dis- 

 tant, and Captain Chapel consented to the delay of lufhng and again 

 sending out a crew, as he found the ice closely and heavily packed in 

 the ship's way. After a pull of two miles the same party approaclied 

 their new game — this time within thirty yards — and Ebierbing was 

 again the first to fire. Ninoo No. 2, however, took to his heels and 

 was soon out of sight beyond the hummocks, and, as the floe was quite 

 large, it was scarcely to be exjjected he would be again seen. But the 

 crew, by sharp pulling, reached an open- water space on the opposite side, 

 and, on inspecting closely every piece of ice, at last espied Ninoo stand- 

 ing erect facing them, pawing the snow, and fiercely roaring. Ebierbing 

 again fired and again the animal bounded into the water. Heading him 

 ofi", and following closely through the floes, the marksman fired ten more 

 shots, but still without fatal eftect. At times springing upon the loose 

 pieces of ice, and again spurning these with his feet as he plunged into 

 the deep, the animal at last rested on his haunches on a hununock, his 

 whole frame quivering from the eff'ects of the shots. He struggled hard 

 with death, at one moment sitting up, with head erect and quiet, and the 

 next striking it in the most terrific manner first with one paw and then 

 with the other: and roaring till, as Hall says, " the very ice mountains 

 seemed to quake." But Ebierbing, by a well-directed shot at the brain, 

 ended this second piteous scene, and, advancing cautiously and touch- 

 ing the carcass with his ramrod, pronounced the bear dead, though 



