234 A YEAR WITH A WHALER 



in good condition, despite the earliness of the 

 season. They were stretched on frames fash- 

 ioned by the cooper, and tanned. 



A week or so later we sighted a lone bear on 

 an ice floe making a meal off a seal it had killed. 

 It was late in the afternoon and one had to look 

 twice before being able to make out its white 

 body against the background of snow-covered 

 ice. When the brig sailed within seventy-five 

 yards the bear raised its head for a moment, took 

 a squint at the vessel, didn't seem interested, and 

 went on eating. 



Resting his rifle on the bulwarks and taking 

 careful aim, Mr. Winchester opened fire. The 

 pattering of the bullets on the ice seemed to 

 puzzle the bear. As it heard the missiles sing 

 and saw the snow spurt up, it left the seal and 

 began walking all about the floe on an investi- 

 gation. Finally it reared on its hind legs to its 

 full height. While in this upright position, a 

 bullet struck it and turned it a sudden twisting 

 somersault. Its placid mood was instantly suc- 

 ceeded by one of ferocious anger. It looked 

 toward the vessel and roared savagely. Still the 



