430 Hall Lmids at New Bedford, Massachusett'^. [Sepit-mber, isog. 



aud giving them to the wind, to be sure that we were keeping our persons aloof 

 from all possibility of the bear scenting us. All sand on and about our boots 

 was carefully brushed off", so that our last stragetic advance toward the bear 

 might be made without making any noise, for all our precautions and movements 

 were needed to be from sharper forethought and ready wit than are required in 

 deer-hunting; so we acted accordingly. At length, at the end of half an hour, 

 we left our final preparation spot, and, under the shelter of the rocks, stealthily, 

 sloM'h', and, I must confess, with hearts thumping pit-a-pat, advanced directly to- 

 ward the still sleeping, but now and then awaking, beast of the icy wilderness. 

 Every few steps we would raise the heads of our low-bended bodies to catch a view 

 of the awaking of our foe until we finally reached the spot we desired, which was 

 within easy gunshot. It was quite certain that we had the bear to kill outright, or 

 he would kill us if only wounded ; for on the discharge of our arms we should have 

 nothing whatever with which to defend ourselves. The time came when signals 

 passed between myself and Joe; he fired, and the next instant the charge from 

 my right barrel followed. Joe's ball i)onetrated the brain through the skull in 

 front, knocking the bear stifi'; mine ploughed its way through the jugular of the 

 neck. So ni-noo was twice killed instantly. It proved to be a she-bear, very fat, 

 but Avithout a particle of anything in her paunch. We skinned and quartered and 

 placed all underneath the skin, close by a rock, and ready for the Ansell Gibbs. 



The whaler left the Welcome on the 28th, passed through Hud- 

 son's Bay and Straits without the occurrence of any incident of unusual 

 interest, and came into the harbor of New Bedford, Mass., Septem- 

 ber 26th. 



When nearing the light-house off Nantucket, Mass., Hannah and 

 and lier child doffed their native dresses for those of a civilized land. 

 At tlic l^arker House, New Bedford, Hall made his last journal entry: 

 " September 26, 1869, 2 p. m. :— How thankful to High Heaven ought 

 m}' poor heart to be for the blessed privilege of again placing my foot 

 uj)on tlio land of my country." 



He immediately telegraphed his arrival to >\Ir. Henry Grinnell, 

 expressing liis ]io])e oi seeing liim in a few days in New York. Within 

 \\\<' next iiK.iitli. he was at work in tliat city for tlie Nf>rtli Polar Expe- 

 dition of 1 s7 1 . 



