THE WINTER NIGHT 329 



blood by the gangway; but that might quite well have 

 been a dog that had cut itself. On the ice below the 

 gangway we saw some bear-tracks, and we started away 

 west, the whole pack of dogs with us, running on far 

 ahead. When we had got away a bit from the ship, 

 there was suddenly an awful row in front, and it wasn't 

 long before a great beast came rushing at us, with the 

 whole troop of dogs around it. As soon as we saw what 

 it was, we turned and ran our best for the ship. Mog- 

 stad, you see, had moccasins (komager) on, and knew his 

 way better and got there before me. I couldn't get 

 along so fast with my great wooden shoes, and in my 

 confusion I got right on to the big hummock to the west 

 of the ship's bow, you know. I turned here and lighted 

 back to see if the bear was behind me, but I saw nothino- 

 and pushed on again, and in a minute these slippery 

 wooden shoes had me flat on my back among the hum- 

 mocks. I was up again quick enough ; but when I got 

 dowai on to the flat ice close to the ship I saw something 

 coming straight for me on the right-hand side. First I 

 thought it was a dog — it's not so easy to see in the dark, 

 you know. I had no time for a second thought, for the 

 beast jumped on me and bit me in the side. I had lifted 

 my arm like this, you see, and so he caught me here, 

 right on the hip. He growled and hissed as he bit' 



'" What did you think then, Peter?" 



"'What did I think.? I thought it was all up with 

 me. What was I to do ? I had neither gun nor knife. 



