The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-08-04


their kayak to see it: and they noticed
that the quiet pools which had formed
in the caves were the resorts OF seals
and walruses during part of the day.
Il shall have some good spearing
there" said Oscar, as they turned their
KAYAK toward home. 80 he ground his
spear sharp. and oiled the barbs at the
point, which was shaDrd like an arrow:
bent a new line to the handle and tho
next day set out alone in the kayak.
Meanwhile. Hilda went up the valley
for the goats. Her parting words to her
brother were to be careful and to keep
watch for bears, as this was favorite
haunt of the fierce polar bears
Pulling his kayak up on the rocks,
Oscar proceeded out to the berg, the
base of which was not less than two
acres in area, and from it rose to con-
siderable height two columns of dark
blue ice somewhat resembling towers
in form. One of these was honeycombed
at the base. and through the sides of the
low fiat mass upon which the towers
rested were various openings, so that
when an ocean swell came rolling in. it
went through these perforations with
piping sound lie decided that he would
enter the main cave at the base of the
ice tower, hide there. and wait
Moving along carefully. with the coil
of line hanging upon his shoulder and
the spear in his hand. he entered the
! told me. was about forty feet square,
| and in the center of it, dipping eight or
ten feet below the floor of the passage
way, was deep pool of water covering
about half the area of the floor of the
cave. Into this large, square block of
ice had fallen from the roof.
| How fortunate its presence was will
soon appear.
| Oscar crouched down on the cold gray
ice. his spear grasped in his hand, and
his coil of rope lying beside him with
one end fastened to his wrist A CUR
CLING sound. as of hurrying water on the
other side of the pool. came to him, and
he watched aud listened to make out
the cause. Presently he saw two round
black heads disappear rs if they had
gone through the ice at the place whence
the sound came. and then four or five
other heads of seals bobbed mp, as il
they had entered the little lake from
that point. He knew tii-n that it must
be a passage leading to the sea.
But while the gnrgling sound of the
water came to him from the pool. he
heard a slighter and different noise
coming from the mouth of the cave by
which he had entered. Turning, he
saw. to his unspeakable horror. a huge
polar bear, its shaggy hide dripping
water, The beast had seen him and
was hulking along toward him. Oscar
turned and faced il for a moment-bui
what could he do with his spear agains,
such an assailant? The spear could
never go through that shaggy coat ana
thick hide How the animals claw.
spread and stretched over the ice as i
came along, Nearer and nearer it came
now crouching lower. its muzzle thrus
out. and its claws stretching farthel
than ever from its feet.
There was only one course. Osca
lsprang into the icy water. and in tire,
Tor four strokes was close tn the ice
cube. His spear and coil of rope wer,
upon his shoulder. and by driving tn
spear into the hard blue cube he wa
enabled to get upon it. 1t was jus
large enough TO bear his weight; but h
, was obliged To stand very still on tn
: middle of it to prevent it from heelin
to one side and sliding him into tn
water. 1t was almost Is dark as nigh
in the pool. and Oscar could see tn
two glowering eyes of the bear lookin
: down upon him. But the beast did NJ
! come into the pool. Ii turned ava
!. from the brink, and for two hours-tw
y hours of wet. and cold. and terror
, Oscar did not see the bear again.
Then Oscar resolved to go to the to
again and sprang into the waite
!, climbing hastily 10y the easiest way
' the floor of the cavern. To his utt,
: dismay he saw the great brute living G
. the ice close To the caves mouth,
Hour after hour passed. until Csc:
knew that il must he late in the afte
. noon. for the sun shonc yellow on Il
y ice beyond the mouth of the caver
:. Still his savage jailer made no NOV
. still Oscar sat. not moving from Il
. lump of ice, thinking of the terror
;. | ti> s'Aii a
~ other hour went by. and the gold,
y glow on the ice outside began to tn
- To gray, for the sun was below the hi
" that sheltered Upernavik.
:. Another haif-hour of terror passe
- and then Oscar saw the bear spring
its feet, thrust ont its head. and ma
for the opening Of the cavern. Csc
a held his breath. and peering ont saw
- seal slowly crossing the great ice pl
~ form. making for the rocks. The be
=, swiftly disappeared. making after Il
10 new prey. and you may be sure OsS
~ was not long in getting outside Of Z
- terrible dungeon.
What was Oscars amazemcni pr
'" emily tn see the seal stand up. thr'
back the fur from its head and sho
liarS ani turn iutn . ,ri,.l'-- into