284 FARTHEST NORTH 



did not slacken away much during last night after the 

 violent pressure ; and, what was worse, there was no 

 indication of slackening in the morning, now that we 

 were quite ready to go. Slight signs of it showed 

 themselves a little later, upon which I gave orders to 

 get up steam ; and while this was being done I took 

 a stroll on the ice, to look for traces of yesterday 

 evening. I found tracks not only of the bear that had 

 been killed and of a larger one that might be the 

 mother, but of a third, which must have been badly 

 wounded, as it had sometimes dragged itself on its hind 

 quarters, and had left a broad track of blood. After 

 following the traces for a good way and discovering 

 that I had no weapon to despatch the animal with but 

 my own fists, I thought it would be as well to return to 

 the ship to get a gun and companions who would help 

 to drag the bear back. I had also some small hope 

 that in the meantime the ice might have slackened, 

 so that, in place of going after game, we might go 

 north with the Frani. But no such luck ! So I put on 

 my snow-shoes and set off after our bear, some of the 

 dogs with me, and one or two men following. At 

 some distance we came to the place where it had spent 

 the night — poor beast, a ghastly night ! Here I also 

 saw tracks of the mother. One shudders to think of her 

 watching over her poor young one, which must have had 

 its back shot through. Soon we came up to the cripple, 

 dragging itself away from us over the ice as best it could. 



