islands. On the morning of August 2G, a party of us left the ship 

 at 6:30 a. m. in the steam launch to make a track survey of these 

 islands. Dr. Bell was in command. In addition were Messrs. Laper- 

 r i^ re — the officei in charge at Digges — Tyrrell, myself, the engineer of 

 the launch and one of the sailors. 



It was a cold, blustering day. The sea was running high, so much 

 so that when we got into the tide rips, we shipped large quantities 

 of water. Before we had been out an hour, one of our party, not 

 myself I am happy to say, became very sea-sick and "subsequent 

 proceedings interested him no more." 



After we had been out about three hours, and the work was becom- 

 ing monotonous, the sailor in the bow of the launch called out that 

 the re Ave re a couple of polar bears in the water between us and the 

 shore. Let me say here that these animals live in the water more than 

 they do on shore, and have been seen a hundred miles from land, 

 swimming about in apparent unconcern. On account of their amphib- 

 ious habits they have received the name, Ursus Maritimus. 



On this day I had the only rifle on board the launch and merely a 

 few cartridges, as Iliad not expected to see any game. As soon as 

 our party caught sight of the bears, the launch was headed for them. 

 As we approached, we saw they were a large female bear and a young 

 cub. When within range, I fired several shots, but the launch was 

 pitching about to such an extent in the rough water that it was impos- 

 sible to shoot with any accuracy and I did not hit either of them. 

 The little cub was very much alarmed at the firing and poked its nose 

 inquiringly in its mother's face to know what it all meant. The old 

 dame, however, had more serious business on hand than answering 

 questions, and roughly shoved her child away with her paws. When 

 within about fifty feet of the pair, and just as I was in the act of firing, 

 the old bear made a sudden dive, disappeared, and then came up under 

 the counter of the launch, and caught the gunwale with her jaws and 

 one paw, within about two feet of where Mr. Laperriere was sitting. 

 The rapidity wi; h which he vacated his seat was astonishing. Had 

 we not been going at considerable speed, five knots, the bear would 

 undoubtedly have got into the boat, but, as it was, she could not 

 retain her hold* and dropped astern. 



By the time we had recovered from our astonishment at the plucky 

 act of Mrs. Bruin, and had turned the launch about, she and her cub 

 were near a rocky promontory which jutted out from the shore, and 

 were soon on the rocks, whence they disappeared over the hill. 



After they had disappeared, we ran into a little bay to get fresh 



