IlKDI.Il'KA] 



WRITER'S TRIP ON YUKON 105 



and the red spot following. He runs clumsily, but other shots follow, 

 some seemingly taking effect, and then he drops, first on his belly, 

 then, twisting, turns over on his back. A few more movements with 

 his paws and head, and he lies still, quite dead. Can not but feel 

 sorry for the poor bear, who did not know why he was being killed, 

 and had no chance. 



A motor boat is lowered and goes to get him. They find on the floe 

 the remains of a seal on which he fed. Tie a rope to him, drag him 

 into the water, tow him to the Bear, which has stopped and where 

 all stand on the bows in expectation and with all sorts of cameras, 

 and prepare to hoist the brute aboard. Captain says it is the second 

 case of this nature in 20 years. Ropes are fastened about the big 

 body, attached to a winch, and the big limp form is hauled up. though 

 not without some difficulty, due to its size and weight. All stand 

 about him. examine, photograph. They will let the natives at Wain- 

 wriglit skin it and give them the flesh. It is a middle-sized, full- 

 grown male. It shows only two wounds, the one in the side and one 

 where the bullet passed through his mouth, knocking out one of the 

 canines. 



Cold — must put on second suit of underwear. Very gloomy, but 

 storm abated. No land in sight — above Cape Lombard all is flat. 

 It rains in that direction. We meander among the floes, now and 

 then bumping and shivering. Should a wind come up and blow the 

 ice landward we would be in danger of being closed in and stopped 

 or delayed. 



Evening. Arrive off Wainwright. Village recent — older site 20 

 miles away. People the usual type of Eskimo. Visit the village, but 

 soon return. 



After supper the boat stops — fear the ice. Another passenger is 

 added here, Jim Allen, the local trader, with a bagful of white 

 fox skins and a bear skin. Conditions becoming a bit crowded. 



Sunday, August 1. No movement to-day. They are apprehensive 

 of the ice, and so we stay here, the one place of all where there is 

 nothing for me to do. Of course there are the natives, but with the 

 constant uncertainty as to when we shall start and a lack of facilities 

 I can not do much with them. 



The weather is quiet but still cloudy, though the sun may possibly 

 peep out. Ice seen in the offing. Would be more interesting to be 

 in it, as yesterday. The bear has been skinned, cut up. and we shall 

 try some of its flesh at noon. Rest of day quiet but still mostly 

 cloudy, though occasionally a little of pale, lukewarm sun. At 

 3.30 give lecture to the officers and fellow passengers on the subject 

 of evolution. Seems quite appreciated. Reading, writing, and 

 walking the deck fills the time. Ate a little of the bear meat — some- 

 88253°— 30 8 



