294 HUNTERS OF THE GREAT NORTH 



powerful paw, everybody now ran to the assistance of the 

 Commander and Storkerson. There were only two rifles 

 on the sleds, however, so there was little that we could do 

 except restrain the dogs from dragging the sleds into the 

 water, in their eagerness to attack the bear. 



"The white, shaggy monster was only twenty-five feet 

 from the dogs. Fortunately, he was on the opposite side 

 of the open water. He did not appear to be in the 

 least afraid of the dogs, which were rearing, plunging 

 and barking in their eagerness to be at him. But he 

 completely ignored them, and merely stood facing them, 

 with his head hanging downward and swinging slowly 

 from side to side. Then he would peer into the water for 

 a moment, as if trying to make up his mind to plunge 

 in and swim across. 



"Never in his life, it may safely be said, had this bear 

 seen a dog. In fact, the only animals he had seen were 

 foxes and seals, and he knew himself to be master of 

 these. Perhaps these barking creatures were another 

 species of fox. Well, he would plunge in, swim across, 

 climb out on the other side with the aid of his powerful 

 forelegs, and find out. By this time the Commander and 

 Storkerson had arrived at the sleds which were separated 

 from the bear by only a few feet of water, but the bear 

 gave no heed to them or to the dogs, which by this time 

 were in a perfect frenzy. He merely stood at the very 

 edge of the ice, looking into the water, swaying from 

 one side to the other like a polar bear in the zoo on a 

 summer day, and swinging his ponderous head. 



"Storkerson was the first to reach his rifle, which was 

 lying loose on top of the sled that was farthest from the 

 bear. Just as it appeared that the bear had made up his 

 mind to swim over and kill our dogs, Storkerson took 



