136 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



Manby, in his " Voyage to Spitzbergen," relates several in- 

 teresting examples of his ferocity and daring. Having perceived 

 an ice-bear swimming in the sea, a boat went after him to cut 

 him off; when suddenly the monster changed his route, faced 

 the boat, and approached it, keeping up a continued growling, 

 with other indications of rage, such as showing his frightful 

 teeth, and elevating his head and much of his body out of the 

 water. Being desirous to preserve the head, Manby let him 

 come within twelve yards, when he fired a ball through his 

 shoulder, which deprived him of the use of a fore-leg. Eoaring 

 hideously, the infuriated animal pressed towards the boat in the 

 most ferocious manner, endeavouring to board or upset it, but 

 failed from the loss of his leg. He was then attacked by the 

 crew with lances, the thrusts of some of which he avoided with 

 astonishing dexterity, and, in the most resolute manner, again 

 made several attempts to reach the boat ; but being repulsed 

 by the overpowering thrust of a lance from the harpooner on his 

 flank, he was unable longer to continue the contest. He had 

 bitten a lance, in the heat of the combat, with such exasperated 

 rage, as to break one of his long tusks ; but finding his efforts 

 fruitless, he retreated towards the ice, swimming most astonish- 

 ingly fast, considering the great propelling power he had lost, 

 and finally ascended it with great difficulty, having only one 

 fore-paw to assist him, when, exhausted by the effort, he fell 

 down dead, uttering a tremendous growl. 



Captain Lewis, with a party of five hunters, attacked a bear, 

 and when at a distance of forty yards, four of them fired, and 

 each lodged a musket ball in its body, two of which passed 

 directly through the lungs. The enraged animal ran at them 

 with open mouth, and as it came near, the two men who 

 had reserved their fire gave it two wounds, and broke its 

 shoulder, which retarded its motion for a moment. But before 

 they could reload, it was so near that they were obliged to run, 

 and before they reached the shore the bear had almost overtaken 

 them. Two jumped into the canoe, the other four separated, 

 concealed themselves behind ice blocks, and firing as fast as 

 they could load, struck the bear several times. But although 

 eight balls had passed through its body, the bear pursued two 

 of them so closely, that they were obliged to leap down a per- 

 pendicular bank of twenty feet into the water. The dying 



