196 ACROSS THE SUB_ARCTICS OF CANADA. 
them no particular inconvenience. A moment later they 
were lost to sight among the rocks. Resolved upon pre- 
venting their escape if we possibly could, Mac. and Con. 
—the latter armed with the axe—were allowed to go 
ashore and head off the retreat, while we in the boat. 
skirted along the shore where the bears might be most: 
hkely to take to the water. Our land party had no sooner 
reached the summit of the first ridge of rock than “bang” 
went Mac.’s rifle, and a moment later, as he crammed in 
another cartridge, there appeared over the ridge, not: 
more than five yards from his feet, the blood-bespattered 
heads of the two furies. 
It was a critical moment for our two sportsmen, and 
one of breathless suspense for those of us who looked 
on. Con. stood with uplifted axe ready to strike as 
Mac., again levelling, fired into the face of the foremost. 
bear, now almost at his feet, and sent a slug boring 
through his head. To ordinary bears this would have 
been received as sufficient intimation to drop dead, but. 
it seemed only to “rattle” this polar, so that instead of 
proceeding to demolish Mac. and Con., he plunged over 
the steep cliff into the sea and there terminated his 
career. 
The other bear, seeing the fate of his comrade, re- 
treated and took to the water, and as he did so, leaving” 
a trail of blood upon the rocks, Mac. sent his last slug 
after him. He and Con. then, descending to the shore, 
came on board, and with us gave chase to the wounded 
animal, who was swimming off at a rapid pace. Our 
launch, however, soon overtook him, and as we passed I 
gave hima volley from my revolver, which appeared to 
have little more effect than to increase his rage. 
