POLAR BEAR. 289 
rising from their meal and looking abroad, he was so far beyond their 
reach as to defy pursuit.” 
An equally imprudent attack made on a Bear by a seaman employed in 
one of the Hull whalers, was attended with a ludicrous result. “ The 
ship was moored to a piece of ice, on which, at a considerable distance, a 
large Bear was observed prowling about for prey. One of the ship’s com- 
pany, emboldened by an artificial courage derived from the free use of 
rum, which in his economy he had stored for special occasions, undertook 
to pursue and attack the Bear that was within view. Armed only with a 
whale-lance, he resolutely, and against all persuasion, set out on his ad- 
venturous exploit. A fatiguing journey of about a half a league, over a 
yielding surface of snow and rugged hummocks, brought him within 
a few yards of the enemy, which, to his surprise, undauntedly faced him, 
and seemed to invite him to the combat. His courage being by this time 
greatly subdued, partly by evaporation of the stimulus, and partly by the 
undismayed and even threatening aspect of the Bear, he levelled his lance, 
in an attitude suited either for offensive or defensive action, and stopped. 
The Bear also stood still ; in vain the adventurer tried to rally courage to 
make the attack ; his enemy was too formidable, and his appearance too 
imposing. In vain, also, he shouted, advanced his lance, and made feints 
of attack; the enemy, either not understanding, or despising such unman- 
liness, obstinately stood his ground. Already the limbs of the sailor began 
to quiver ; but the fear of ridicule from his messmates had its influence, 
and he yet scarcely dared to retreat. Bruin, however, possessing less re- 
flection, or being regardless of consequences, began, with audacious bold- 
ness, to advance. His nigh approach and unshaken step subdued the 
spark of bravery, and that dread of ridicule that had hitherto upheld our 
adventurer ; he turned and fled. But now was the time of danger ; the 
sailor’s flight encouraged the Bear in turn to pursue, and being better 
practised in snow travelling, and better provided for it, he rapidly gained 
upon the fugitive. The whale-lance, his only defence, encumbering him 
in his retreat, he threw' it down, and kept on. This fortunately excited 
the Bear’s attention ; he stopped, pawed, bit it, and then renew'ed the 
chase. Again he was at the heels of the panting seaman, w'ho, conscious 
of the favourable effects of the lance, dropped one of his mittens ; the 
stratagem succeeded, and while Bruin again stopped to examine it, the 
fugitive improving the interval, made considerable progress ahead. Still 
the Bear resumed the pursuit with a most provoking perseverance, except 
when arrested by another mitten, and finally, by a hat, which he tore to 
shreds between his teeth and paws, and would, no doubt, soon have made 
the incautious adventurer his victim, who was now rapidly losing strength, 
voi,. II — B7. 
