k as the lad tried to quiet the dog.

"Do you hear? Keep him quiet! We ought not to have brought him."

"She winna skear ta walrus," whispered Andrew, "for there are nane."

"The dog sees something yonder," said Johannes. "Yes, there! He sees a
bear close up in that break in the ice."

"A bear!" cried the captain excitedly. "Well done, dog! We should have
passed it."

The rifles were seized, and their eyes shaded to catch a glimpse of the
white-furred animal hiding in one of the crevices of the ice cliff until
the boat had passed. But the glitter of the snow made the task
difficult till they were much nearer, and then it was seen to be lying
at full length just clear of the water, and with its head well up,
apparently enjoying the warm sunshine and seizing a favourable
opportunity for a good sleep.

Rifles were held ready for a shot as the men rowed in till they were
within a hundred yards, without the bear, which was a monster, taking
the slightest notice of the boat, and then the captain said:

"Cease rowing the moment I hold up my hand. Johannes, Jakobsen, have
your spears ready; the brute may swim off and attack the boat when it is
wounded."

"We are quite ready, sir," said the Norwegian in a whisper; and he and
his companion gently raised the heads of their spears from where the
weapons were lying along the thwarts.

"Good. Now, Steve, we'll get in another fifty yards if we can, and then
rest on our oars. You shall have the first shot. Do you know where to
aim?"

"About six inches behind his eye, sir."

"Nonsense, boy!" cried the captain sharply. "Fire right at the brute's
shoulder, sending the bullet through the shoulder-blade to the heart."

"Yes, sir," said Steve; and he turned to Johannes. "You told me to
shoot six inches behind the eye," he whispered.

"At a walrus, sir; not at a bear."

By this time they were about fifty yards away from the bear, which had
not stirred. The captain raised his hand, and the men ceased dipping
their oars, the boat gliding forward a short distance, and then coming
to a stand.

"Now, Steve! Quick!"

"I--I don't care to fire," whispered the lad.

"Bah! What do you mean?"

"The bear's asleep, and it seems so cowardly."

"I'm not so particular about a dangerous beast," said the doctor; and,
kneeling in the stem of the boat, he rested his elbows on the gunwale,
took a long aim, and fired, the bullet striking the bear's shoulder with
a dull thud