od nearly
eight feet high when in this position, and looked really a terrible
monster. I stood still behind a hummock at a distance of about fifty
yards, with my rifle ready.

"On coming close up the father and son separated, and approached the
bear one on each side. This divided his attention, and puzzled him very
much; for, when he made a motion as if he were going to rush at Myouk,
Meetek flourished his spear, and obliged him to turn--then Myouk made a
demonstration, and turned him back again. Thus they were enabled to get
close to its side before it could make up its mind which to attack. But
the natives soon settled the question for it. Myouk was on the bear's
right side, Meetek on its left. The father pricked it with the point of
his lance. A tremendous roar followed, and the enraged animal turned
towards him. This was just what he wanted, because it gave the son an
opportunity of making a deadly thrust. Meetek was not slow to do it.
He plunged his lance deep into the bear's heart, and it fell at once at
full length, while a crimson stream poured out of the wound upon the
snow.

"While this fight was going on I might have shot the animal through the
heart with great ease, for it was quite near to me, and when it got up
on its hind legs its broad chest presented a fine target. It was
difficult to resist the temptation to fire, but I wished to see the
native manner of doing the thing from beginning to end, so did not
interfere. I was rewarded for my self-denial.

"Half an hour later, while we were dragging the carcass toward the brig,
we came unexpectedly upon another bear. Myouk and Meetek at once
grasped their lances and ran forward to attack him. I now resolved to
play them a trick. Besides my rifle I carried a large horse-pistol in
my belt. This I examined, and, finding it all right, I followed close
at the heels of the Eskimos. Bruin got up on his hind legs as before,
and the two men advanced close to him. I stopped when within thirty
yards, cocked my rifle, and stood ready. Myouk was just going to thrust
with his lance when--_bang_! went my rifle. The bear fell. It was shot
right through the heart, but it struggled for some time after that. The
natives seemed inclined to run away when they heard the shot, but I
laughed and made signs of friendship. Then I went close up and shot the
bear through the head with my pistol. This affair has filled my savage
companions with deep respect for