ACKOSS THE SUB-AECTICS OF CANADA 



He was up in an instant, though, and followed the Indian, 

 who had taken to the ice, thinking that in a conflict he would 

 there have the advantage. But in this he found he was mis- 

 taken. The hear was quickly overtaking him, being at home 

 on the ice, so he turned and with a second shot again knocked 

 the animal down. 



As Louis made for the shore the bear regained his feet, and 

 with blood streaming from his wounds, and a roar of fury, 

 made one more desperate charge. He was now within a few 

 feet of Louis. The intrepid hunter, realizing his situation 

 as critical, turned quickly and by a well-aimed shot laid his 

 savage pursuer dead at his feet. 



It was a most fortunate shot for our whole party, as well 

 as for the Indian, who, being unable to handle the carcase 

 himself, had returned for assistance, meeting his brother by 

 the way. We all gladly followed him to the scene of the 

 combat, where, judging from the tracks and blood, there was 

 abundant proof of the veracity of his story. 



On a hill near the carcase some dry moss was discovered, 

 and with this, even before the skinning had been completed, 

 some of the flesh was toasted and greedily devoured. The 

 reviving effect produced upon the spirits of our party was 

 marked. Though the flesh of the polar bear is famed for its 

 rankness, we would not have exchanged it at that time for 

 its weight in silver. 



I The carcase was found to be extremely poor, the only food 

 found in the stomach being the droppings of reindeer. At 

 the first meeting, therefore, Louis must have been considered 

 a very desirable prize. It was merely a question of which 

 should eat up the other iu order to prolong existence. 

 Fortunately for our party the Indian proved to be the fittest 

 survivor. No part of the carcase was wasted, but every 

 scrap, amounting to between three and four hundred pounds, 

 including the hide, was placed in. bags, and carried to the 

 canoes, which we reached with much diflBculty long after dark. 



178 



