POLAR BEARS. 197 
As I was about to fire again he disappeared, and a 
moment later reappeared at the side of the boat, threw 
one paw over the gunwale, and with open blood-thirsty 
jaws, made a lunge for my leg. Fortunately for me his 
reach was a little too short, and the result was he got 
the worst of the scuffle. Putting my revolver up to the 
side of his head, I gave him the contents of the five 
chambers before he could retire. These shots, however, 
did not penetrate the skull, and beyond causing a with- 
drawal, only had the effect of further enraging him. 
Hostilities having been commenced at close quarters, 
we continued the fight until I had fired my last cart- 
ridge and bruin’s scalp was riddled with lead. But the 
wounded fury still swam powerfully, and with ammuni- 
tion now exhausted it appeared as if we would not be 
able to complete the task we had undertaken. For a 
short time we watched his movements, and observing 
that he seemed inclined to go ashore, we decided upon a 
new plan of action. Steaming away around the point 
we beached the boat, and armed with axe, ice-gaff, and 
knife, we climbed the farther side of the cliff, and there 
concealed ourselves in such a position that we were able 
to watch the enemy’s movements. 
We had not long to wait, for, thinking fimsclt unob- 
served, he swam ashore at the foot of the bluff and hid 
among the broken rocks. Feeling that our opportunity 
had now arrived, we descended stealthily from ledge to 
ledge and from rock to rock, taking care that we should 
not be scented or observed. Step by step we drew 
nearer, until close to the foot of the cliff, and almost at 
our feet, we came upon the wounded bear. He was 
much out of humor, and feeling sore enough from his 
