THE ICE-BEAK. 



137 



animal sprang after them, and was within a few feet of the 

 hindermost, when his strength at last failed him. 



Scoresby relates that in 1783, Captain Cook, of the Arch- 

 angel, of Lynn, landed on the coast of Spitsbergen, accompanied 

 by the surgeon and mate. While traversing the shore, the 

 captain was unexpectedly attacked by a bear, which seized him 

 in an instant between its paws. At this awful juncture, when a 

 moment's pause must have been fatal to him, the unfortunate 

 man called to his surgeon to fire, who immediately, with ad- 

 mirable resolution and steadiness, discharged his piece, and 

 providentially shot the bear through the head, thus literally 

 saving the master from the jaws of death. 



" One evening," says Beechey, " we set on fire some sea-horse 

 fat, in order to entice within reach of our muskets any bears 

 that might be ranging the ice ; as these animals possess a 

 very keen scent, and are invariably attracted by burnt animal 

 matter. About midnight we had the satisfaction of seeing one 

 of them drag his huge carcass out of the water, and slowly make 



Ice-bear approaching the "Dorothea" and "Trent.' 



his way towards us. The sight of the tall masts of the ships 

 appeared to alarm him a little at first, for he occasionally hesi- 



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