298 HUNTERS OF THE GREAT NORTH 



self at the stern of our sled, telling me to take up my 

 position at the bow. 



"The sled was broadside to the lead. Charlie stood 

 behind us where the dogs were tied, ready to quell any 

 disturbance they might make when they caught sight of 

 the bear. 



"We waited patiently for the bear to come opposite. It 

 is difficult to drag a heavy bear out of the water after he 

 is shot, so we thought we could wait until he climbed out 

 upon the ice before shooting him. 



"Evidently the bear had seen the dogs sleeping in a row 

 on the ice and had taken them to be seals. For at that 

 time of the year seals like to lie on top of the ice beside 

 their holes or beside open leads, basking in the warm sun- 

 shine. Polar bears make their living by sneaking up to 

 these basking seals unawares, so it was not strange he 

 should mistake the dogs for seals. The sled and tent 

 looming up black against the white background resembled 

 dirty ice, but as bears are used to seeing dirty ice he did 

 not pay any particular attention to this. 



"Thinking no doubt that he was soon to have a feed of 

 fine fat seal meat, the bear took great pains in stalking 

 the dogs. He would swim slowly back and forth across 

 the lead, occasionally lifting his head a little above the 

 level of the ice to see if the (supposed) seals had noticed 

 him. The dogs were tired from their day's work and 

 were lying stretched out comfortably asleep on the ice and 

 suspecting no danger. 



"Finally the bear reached a spot nearly opposite us. 

 Stealthily he raised his massive forepaws upon the ice. 

 Then quickly but without a sound, he lifted himself out 

 of the water and in an instant this ferocious beast with 

 its wicked pig-like eyes and yellow-fanged snarling 



