POLAR-BEAR HUNT. 



359 



citing. We were gaining on Him. Ninoo saw this, and therefore 

 tried to baffle us. He suddenly changed his course, and went 

 out directly for the middle of the bay. In an instant we did the 

 same, the old crazy boat bounding forward as swiftly as our oars- 

 men could propel it in the heavy sea that then prevailed. But 

 we could not gain upon him. He seemed to know that his life 

 was in jeopardy, and on he went without any more stopping when 

 he heard a noise. The " voice of the charmer" no longer had 

 charms nor aught else for him. He had to make all speed away ; 

 and this he did at about four miles per hour, striking out more 

 and more into the open bay. Once he so changed his course 

 that by some dexterous movement of ours we succeeded in cut- 

 ting across his wake, and this gave us an opportunity to fire. 

 We did so, but only the ball of Koojesse's gun took effect. Ni- 

 noo was struck in the head, but the poor brute at first merely 

 shook himself and turned his course from down the bay in a con- 

 trary direction. The shot, however, had told. In a moment or 

 two we could see that Ninoo was getting enraged. Every now and 

 then he would take a look at us and shake his head. This made 

 the Innuits very cautious about lessening the distance between 

 him and the boat. Again we fired. One or more shots took ef- 



WOtTNDED N1MOO TOWS HIS OWN CAECASS FOE US. 



