84 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



— 13° F., his scalp healed so perfectly that not a single 

 portion was missing." 



Bbrgen's narrative was as follows : — 



"About a quarter before 9 p.m. I had gone out to 

 observe the occultation of a star, which was to take place 

 about that time, and also to take the meteorological 

 readings. As I was in the act of getting on shore, 

 Captain Koldewey came on to the ice. We spoke for a 

 few moments, when I went on shore, while he returned to 

 the cabin. On my return from the observatory, about 

 50 steps from the vessel, 1 heard a rustling noise to the 

 left, and became aware of the proximity of a bear. There 

 was no time to think, or to use my gun. The grip was so 

 sudden and rapid that I am unable to say how it was 

 done ; whether the bear rose and struck me down with his 

 fore-paws, or whether he ran me down. But from the 

 character of the injuries I have sustained (contusions and 

 a deep cut of the left ear), I conclude that the former 

 must have been the case. The next thing I felt was the 

 tearing of my scalp, which was only protected by a skull- 

 cap. This is their mode of attacking seals, but, owing 

 to the slipperiness of their skulls, the teeth glide off. 

 The cry of help which I uttered frightened the animal for 

 a moment ; but he turned again and bit me several times 

 on the head. The alarm had meanwhile been heard by 

 the captain, who had not yet reached the cabin. He 

 hurried on deck, convinced himself that it was really an 

 alarm, roused up the crew and hastened on to the ice, 

 bringing assistance to his struggling comrade. The noise 

 evidently frightened the bear, and he trotted off with his 

 prey, which he dragged by the head. A shot fired to 

 frighten the creature effected its purpose, inasmuch as 

 he dropped me, and sprang a few steps aside ; but he 

 immediately seized me by the arm, and, his hold proving 

 insufficient, he seized me by the right hand, on which was 



