" Making off" 



57 



avoiding us by swimming and diving . I fired a second 

 shot at about fifty yards, which, passing through his 

 skull, killed him instantaneously. He was a fine 

 young bear, measuring close upon seven feet. The 

 skins of bears, after being flinched, are treated in 

 the same way as are those of seals, a large quantity 

 of blubber being taken off them. 



Twisted Harpoons. 



We are now in a large water-hole, entirely sur - 

 rounded by ice. The captain does not anticipate 

 much trouble in getting clear, though we shall pro- 

 bably have to bore through over fifty miles of rather 

 heavy ice ! 



Saturday, May 24th. — This being a fine calm 

 day, and no whales having been observed, advan- 

 tage was taken to perform the operation of " making 

 off." To carry out this duty, in which " all hands " 



