the cabin and hide it in the leg of her boot. The reason was now plain. We pulled off the boot without asking leave and found there a large assortment of articles stolen from us. Two or

three knives, a spoon, a bit of hoop-iron, and a marline spike. I have tried to make them understand by signs that this is very wicked conduct, but they only laugh at me. They are not in the least ashamed, and evidently regard stealing as no sin.

"We have shot a musk ox. There are many of these creatures in other parts of the Arctic regions, but this is the first we have seen here. He fell to my rifle, and is now being devoured by ourselves and our dogs with great relish. He is about the size of a very small cow; has a large head and enormously thick horns which cover the whole top of his head, bend down towards his cheeks, and then curve up and outwards at the point. He is covered with long brown hair, which almost reaches the ground, and has no tail worthy of the name. He seems to be an active and an angry creature. When I wounded him he came at me furiously, but had not pluck to charge home. As he turned away I gave him the shot that killed him. The meat is not bad, but it smells strongly of musk. Walrus is better.

"Myouk and his son Meetek and I have had a most exciting bear-hunt since we returned. I followed these men one day, as I thought them

bold active-looking fellows who would be likely to show me good Eskimo sport. And I was not disappointed.

"About two fresh bear tracks.

miles from the brig we came on A glow of the aurora gave us plenty of light. 'What is yon round white lump?' thought I. 'A bear? No, it must be a snow-wreath!' Myouk did not think so for he ran behind a lump of ice, and became excited. He made signs to me to remain there while he and his son should go and attack the bear. They were armed each with a long lance. I must say, when I remembered the size and strength of the polar bear, that I was surprised to find these men bold enough to attack him with such arms. had my rifle, but determined not to use it except in case of necessity. I wished to see how the natives were accustomed to act.

I

"They were soon ready. Gliding swiftly from one lump of ice to another they got near enough to make a rush. I was disobedient! I followed, and when the rush was made I was not far behind them. The bear was a very large one. It uttered an angry growl on seeing the men running towards it, and rose on its hind legs to receive them. It stood 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.

But the

"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. 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 iny self-denial.

* See frontispiece.

"Half an hour later, while we were dragging the carcase towards 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 me!"

These two bears were the last they obtained that winter; but as a good supply of meat had been obtained from the Eskimos they were relieved from anxiety for the time, and the health of the men began to improve a little. But this happy

state of things did not last till spring. These sorely tried men were destined to endure much suffering before the light of the sun came back to cheer their drooping spirits.

CHAPTER XI.

CHRISTMAS TIME DEATH

RETURNING LIGHT AND

HOPE-DISASTERS AND FINAL DELIVERANCE.

CHR

HRISTMAS came at last, but with it came no bright sun to remind those ice-bound men of our Saviour-the "Sun of Righteousness" -whose birth the day commemorated. It was even darker than usual in Refuge Harbour on that Christmas-day. It was so dark at noon that one could not see any object more than a few yards distant from the eyes. A gale of wind from the nor❜-west blew the snow-drift in whirling ghostlike clouds round the Hope, so that it was impossible to face it for a moment. So intense was the cold that it felt like sheets of fire being driven against the face! Truly it was a day well fitted to have depressed the heartiest of men. But man is a wonderful creature, not easy to comprehend ! The very things that ought to have cast down the spirits of the men of the Hope, were the things that helped to cheer them.

About this time, as I have said, the health of