POLAR BEARS. 193 
personnel of our party, without giving full names, was 
as follows: The Doctor, who occupied a position in the 
~ stern of the boat and acted as steersman; Mac., who, 
contrary to orders, had smuggled a small rifle on board 
and come with us for sport; Con., an able seaman from 
Newfoundland, and myself. 
The reason for orders having been given by our com- 
mander to take no rifles with us was doubtless that we 
might not allow sport to interfere with the object of our 
commission. Besides Mac.’s single-shot rifle, I had in my 
belt a 38-calibre S. & W. revolver, and these two arms, 
a knife and an axe constituted our defences; but no 
special thought was given to these things as at six 
o'clock on that summer morning, in the shadow of the 
Arctics, our little expedition steamed away on its mis- 
sion, following and mapping the various points and bays 
of the rocky shore, and giving all attention to our work 
as we ploughed through the cold blue waters. 
Before we had proceeded many miles it became neces- 
sary to go ashore in order to obtain fresh water for 
the boiler of the launch. Accordingly, observing what 
appeared to be a little cascade falling over broken cliffs 
into the sea, our course was shaped towards it; but be- 
fore we could gain the shore our purpose was for the 
time forgotten, because of the sudden appearance, only a 
few yards ahead, of two polar bears—a large one and 
her cub—swimming in the water. : 
Mae. and I quickly took our position in the bow and 
opened hostilities, but on account of the roughness of the 
sea and the tossing of the boat the shots were ineffective, 
and so far as the old bear was concerned an opportunity 
was not afforded for repeating them. Quick as a flash 
13 . 
