prained at the ankle joint. When you fell, I
suppose?"

"Ay, sir. Ye see she had to try so hard to save her head, she couldna
attend to her legs and feet," said Andrew, with a cunning look at the
doctor, as he limped off in search of the rifle, leaving the rest
examining the magnificent animal lying motionless among the stones.

It was an enormous beast, with a coat of long, silky, cream-coloured
fur, which hung down from its sides, and hid the claws when its feet
were spread out.

"No wonder he could stand the polar winters with a great-coat like that,
eh, Steve?" cried the doctor. "Why, my lad, you must have that skin
carefully dressed, and use it as an ornament for your drawing-room when
you have one."

"_I_?" cried the boy.

"To be sure; it was your shot that brought him down, eh, Marsham?"

"Certainly," replied the captain; "he gave the finishing stroke."

The conversation was getting so personal that Steve walked away to where
Skene crouched in a soft, sandy place, his ears cocked up and his eyes
intent upon the actions of the two Norsemen, who were working away at
the skinning; and as every now and then their tugging at the tough hide
gave a slight movement to the left fore leg of the bear, the dog kept
jumping up, uttering a fierce growl, ruffling up the hair about his
neck, and showing his teeth as if about to attack.

"Down, Skeny! down, boy!" cried Steve, as the dog made one of these
demonstrations. "Let's have a look at you. Where are you hurt?"

He knelt down by the dog, patted him, and then took hold of one of his
legs; but Skene threw up his muzzle and made so piteous a cry that the
leg was immediately released and laid a short distance farther away by
its owner.

"Then you are hurt, old chap. Shall I fetch the doctor?"

The dog yelped.

"What does that mean, Johannes, yes or no?"

"Only his way of saying thank you, sir," replied the Norseman. "He's
hurt, but not badly; because, as you saw, he could run at the bear.
He's a good deal bruised, and he'll be a bit sore for days; but animals
soon get well again. They lick themselves right when they are hurt."

"But oughtn't he to be examined?"

"I did look at him, sir. He's only hurt in the shoulder and ribs, where
the bear struck him. There isn't a trace of blood. Let him lie, sir;
he'll curl up when we get him on board."

As the dog appeared to be in no pain and was intent upon the skinning
process, he was left alone; and the l