CHAPTER XV. 

 POLAR BEARS. 



As IT was impossible to launch until the return of the tide, 

 Pierre and Louis were given our rifles and sent off to try 

 their fortunes. As they departed, leaving us lying in the 

 shelter of a rock, we sincerely wished them success. We had 

 done our utmost and had failed; if .they also should fail it 

 was too apparent what must soon be the result. Two of the 

 other men were sent off with shot-guns. Then anxious hours 

 of waiting followed. ISTo shots were heard, but towards 

 evening Pierre and Louis, and afterwards the other men, 

 could be seen returning in the distance. None of them 

 appeared to be bringing any game, so far as we could 

 see, and at the sight, I confess, my heart grew sick. As 

 they came nearer, however, Louis, holding up something in 

 his hand, exclaimed, " I got him !" It was the claw of a polar 

 bear, and we soon learned with joy that, sure enough, he had 

 killed a bear, which he had unexpectedly come upon at the 

 edge of a lake while following the deer. 



The encounter had taken place about six miles inland, and 

 Louis was alone at the time, his brother having gone off on 

 a diverging track. The meeting was a mutual surprise, for 

 the bear, which was lying on the snow near the ice, being 

 very white himself, was unobserved until the hunter's 

 approaching footsteps aroused him. There was then a dis- 

 tance of not more than fifty yards between them, and no time 

 for consideration. 



The bear, springing to his feet, made straight for Louis, 

 who met his charge with a slug and brought him to his knees. 

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