THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



day*. but were forced to return before accomplishing their ob- 

 ject, on account of the destruction of their provisions by bears, 

 which beset them in great numbers. At one place where the 

 party camped, toward midnight their slumbers were interrupted 

 by an intrusive visitor, no less important than a bear, which, set- 

 ting aside formality, pushed open the tent cover and walked in 

 to inspect the commissaries. Scratching and growling, the ani- 

 mal was not long in awakening his hosts, who, however, were 

 hospitable only through sheer necessity. As they sprang up, 

 oulv to confront the vicious head of bruin, their excitement and 



A SOCIABLE BEAR. 



fear increased amazingly, for all the guns had been left on the 

 sledge outside. Lucifer matches and burning paper failed to 

 disturb the intruder, who took up a position at the tent entrance 

 and began stuffing himself with the carcass of a seal which had 

 been shot the day before. One of the party, at length, managed 

 to cut a hole in the tent, through which he crawled out and se- 

 cured the guns, with which bruin was speedily despatched. 



As the Polar bear is frequently found above a hundred miles 

 from the nearest land, upon loose ice steadily drifting into the 

 sea, it seems but fair to assign him a place among the marine 

 animals of the Arctic zone. He hunts by scent, and is constantly 



