A POLAR HUNT. 243 



ward. I ached with longing for him to run away, but he 

 seemed in no mood for running. It was mean of him not 

 to, for I hadn' t done anything to cause him to wait for me. 



One, two, three ! 



Bang ! bang ! 



The Bear gave a low moan and sank on the ice, blood 

 pouring from his chest, and the dogs worrying the inanimate 

 carcass. We knew then that he was dead. 



"I don't think much of Polar Bears, anyhoW," quoth 

 "Will; "we're their medicine, every time. Didn't I just 

 drop him ! " 



"You be hanged," said I, indignantly; "/killed that 

 Bear." 



"No, you didn't; I killed him." 



"Well, don't let us quarrel. Come and look at him." 



On one side of the breast-bone a hole twice the size of 

 one's fist could be seen; on the other, the explosive bullet 

 had done its work. We had both killed the Bear. 



"Will, we're Bear exterminators from Chicago. Our 

 mission on earth is to clear out the entire genus Ursus 

 mar itimus . Forward! march! Our task is but begun.'' 



We kicked the dogs off the carcass, and scrambled on. 

 The Bears seemed to know that two Illinois terrors were 

 out, for they laid low, and for some time we could see none. 

 After another hour' s scrambling, we saw one waltzing in the 

 distance, and the dogs sighting at the same time, soon 

 brought him to a stand. This second Bear wasn't as big as 

 the other, but he seemed far more active, and, before we got 

 near, had managed to reach two of the dogs with what 

 result need not be said. 



We were cool and collected. Why should we fear? 

 Hadn't we just killed one Bear, off-hand? Will gave the 

 signal this time; but, hang it! that Bear didn't drop. He 

 charged through the dogs and came straight for us. I 

 plunged in another shot, and missed; so did Will. The 

 Bear was thirty yards away, and I had only two shots left, 

 for I had forgotten to recharge my magazine. Will had 

 none. Bang! Another miss, and one shot left! Will was 



