for being probably taken just as an
amusement--_pour passer le temps_.

The huge piles of muscle laid bare upon the neck and shoulders of the
animal told of such great strength that the wonder was that the dog had
not been killed; but there he crouched so little the worse, that all of
a sudden he made a dash by Johannes, stuck his teeth in the still warm
flesh, and gave it an angry shake--that is to say, held on and shook his
own head and neck, for the ponderous mass of flesh was pretty well
immovable.

The piles of fat had all been cleverly removed and sent on board, and as
no one evinced any desire to partake of bear-steaks or sirloin, the
sailors announced their work as done just as Andrew uttered a shout of
warning--"Look out!"

"What is it?" cried the captain, who had been vainly trying to get a
shot at a bird or two tempting enough for supper.

"The bear coming."

"Where away?"

"Three points on the port bow, sir!" cried Andrew, who treated his rocky
look-out place as a ship.

The captain took out his little binocular glass and swept the shore, to
make out the second bear away in the distance, walking slowly along on
the top of the ice-floe which shut them in to the north. It was raising
its head on high, and evidently on the look-out for its mate.

"What do you say, Handscombe?" said the captain; "shall we tackle it?
There is a good chance if we can approach the animal unobserved."

"For my part, I say no," replied the doctor, as the Norwegians, who had
been ridding themselves of the traces of their unpleasant task, picked
up their spears. "I have had enough bear for one day, and should like
some beef. It's past twelve."

"Oh, it must be later than that!" cried Steve. "Why, we've been hours
and hours ashore. I should have thought it was six o'clock."

"No," said the doctor, smiling. "My watch keeps good time. I say a
quarter to twelve."

"Then we'll go on board," said the captain. "I, too, had no idea it was
so late."

"Early?" suggested Steve.

"Why, Steve!" cried the captain, clapping him on the shoulder, "don't
you know where we are? This is the land of the midnight sun."

The boy stared at him in astonishment, then due north at the sun, which
was shining with a softer and less piercing light than usual, while the
captain and his friend the doctor exchanged glances and looked amused at
the boy's confusion.

He now looked round him, toward the ship and the ice; and then, as if
st