THE WHITE BEAR. 173 
^ Jjoat belonging to a whaler fired at an 
of this species at a little distance 
wounded him. The bear immediately 
up a most hideous howl, and ran along 
, ® ice towards the boat. Before he reached 
was hit by a second shot, which served 
I'^ly to increase his fury. He soon swam to 
boat, and in attempting to get on board 
Waced one of his fore-feet on the gunwale : 
one of the crew, having a hatchet in his 
^^d, cut it off. Still the animal continued 
swim after them till they reached the ship. 
®''eral shots were then fired at him and took 
‘®ct : but on arriving at the ship he imme- 
di 
9'tely scrambled upon deck ; and the crew 
'’•^lug fled to the shrouds, he was pursuing 
‘^^Ui thither, when another shot laid him dead 
the deck. 
Captain Scoresby mentions that a sailor 
^'^Saged in the whale fishery, with a handspike 
"^*^tacked a polar bear which was prowling near 
