SHOOT A BEAR FROM THE DECK. 183 



different directions. "We took one each, and 

 killed them both. 



Lord David had returned on board, and I 

 was also rowing back, when we discovered a 

 bear on a small iceberg close to the sloop. The 

 people on deck also observed him immediately, 

 and called to Kennedy, who was below, but 

 quickly came on deck with his rifle. The bear 

 looked coolly at the sloop for a little before he 

 could make up his mind that it was time to be 

 off. "When at last he did so the sloop quickly 

 sailed up to him, and Lord David shot him 

 from the deck as he swam under the bows. 



My boat being still in the water, we took hold 

 of the bear, and dragged him on an iceberg to 

 flense him. While we were doing so, a seal 

 came capering about in the water, popping up 

 his head close to us, and looking at our proceed- 

 ings exultingly, as if he was thinking with 

 Charles IX. that " the smell of a slaughtered 

 enemy was sweet." I punished him for in- 

 dulging in such unchristian-like emotions, by 

 shooting him through the head. 



N 4 



