swimming in the direction of the boat, in its efforts to es¬ 
cape, and being shot from the deck. 
Early the evening of August 12th the Laura was run on 
the inclined surface of a huge, projecting ice-foot in such Aug. 12 th 
fashion as to raise her bow several feet, and to bring it in 
contact with ice hummocks quite as high as itself. Mean¬ 
while ice was closing in rapidly, astern, two floes having 
drifted together. 
Our danger increased momentarily. All hands were set 
to work against the port-bow, causing the ship to glide to 
starboard and off the ice. Meantime, other ice, closing in 
around the propeller, was another source of anxiety, since, by 
striking the ice in the course of its revolutions, the blade 
might be broken. Repeated stopping and starting finally got 
us free, but only after several moments of rather keen excite¬ 
ment. This, however, is all a part of the game, and is always 
to be expected when in these waters. 
From this southward course we turned, to attempt a 
straight one westward, trusting that this, at least, might lead Aug. 13th 
to Shannon Island. The waters were fairly free of small drift- 
ice here, though several huge floes were sighted, and we kept 
the course fairly well till four in the morning. 
Early of the 14th, ice conditions became very bad again, 
and, it being plain that Shannon Island could not be reached, Aug. 14th 
the course was once more set for the coast to the south, down 
near Franz Josef Fjord. Another memorable bear hunt that 
day served to cheer our drooping spirits; for we brought down 
a mother bear and a pair of cubs after quite a chase ’cross 
the ice. 
The ladies took a decided hand in this hunt; the first 
women, without doubt, to shoot bear in these wastes. 
The 15th brought still more bear, five being killed and Aug. 15th 
one taken alive inside of a very few morning hours. 
Mrs. Holmes in “The Log of the Laura” relates of one 
kill in particular: 
“About eight o’clock we were awakened by the good news 
that three bear were on the ice ahead, and all of us were on 
deck in a trice. The rapidity with which every one dresses 
under the stimulus of a prospective hunt is quite remarkable 
—and sometimes the costumes are equally remarkable. Dr. 
Holmes, Mr. Petersen, and two sailors formed a skirmish 
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