POLAR-BEAR-HUNT. 



533 



had now neared them, and constantly attacked the cub until it 

 became separated from its mother. Then another dog sprang 

 at the hinder part of the old bear, which turned and made a 

 plunge at the dog, causing both to tumble headlong down the de- 

 clivity, which was so steep that I wondered how the bear could 

 have ascended it. 



The fight now became earnest, and the dog yelped with pain, 

 as the bear's paw came heavily upon him. Presently Bruin was 

 obliged to turn again, and, with head swinging to and fro, and 

 roaring plaintively on hearing the cries of her cub, she reascend- 

 ed the mountain where it was impossible for dog or man to fol- 

 low. The eleven dogs finally all took after the cub, which was 

 part way up the mountain side, and, as one seized it, over rolled 

 cub and dog together, and so came tumbling down. While Koo- 

 jesse and Sharkey sought to get a shot at the old one, I went 

 forward simply to see the fray between young polar and the dogs. 

 On making my way from the main ice to the shore, the cub made 

 a rush at me with jaws widely distended. I instantly placed my- 

 self in position, prepared to receive the threatened shock. I re- 

 ceived young polar on the point of my spear, having directed it 

 well toward the neck, and pierced it through. The dogs at once 

 flew to my aid, and soon the savage beast was flat over on its 

 back. Withdrawing the spear, a stream of hot blood immediately 

 poured forth ; and then, with heavy blows on the head, I broke in 

 its skull, and thus killed it. I took it that my Innuit friends would 

 rejoice on learning my success, but I soon found how mistaken I 

 was in this idea. On showing them what I had done, they shrug- 

 ged their shoulders and — said nothing. Of course I was sur- 

 prised, and knew not what to make of such conduct, it being the 

 reverse of what I had expected. It was not long before I learn- 

 ed the mistake I had made in killing the young bear. This I as- 

 certained in the following way: While Koojesse and Sharkey 

 were engaged skinning ar-tuk-ta (young polar bear), I proposed to 

 them to go into camp where we were. They objected to this. I 

 then told them how desirous I was to remain in that locality for 

 a day or so. My great and earnest object was to ascend the high 

 land close by, and connect together some of the points of my past 

 and prospective visitation. I found that nothing whatever would 

 induce them to stop and make encampment there. They said 

 that the old bear would return in the night, and, smelling the 

 blood of her young, she would be enraged to madness, and kill 



