Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-04-19

by dropping on my right knee and TAX
ing deliberate aim at the largest bear.
There was a moments pause. Then
came the sharp report of the rifle fol-
lowed by an angry roar, and through
the smoke, the bear, only slightly
wounded, made a rush at us. The
spearmen promptly fell back, but the
other rifeman knelt down with great
GOODNESS and discharged his gun at the
furious animal. Again, however. the
wound was not fatal. S%pringing to his
feet the man made a lunge at the in
furiated bear with his empty gun. but
with a swift blow the great brute sent
the rifle flying in the air, and with an
other laid. low the unfortunate sailor.
The forepaws of the bear were laid on
the shoulders of the PROSTATE man. and
the hind feet were being brought to
bear with repeated efforts TO rip his
tough tarpaulin jacket, when, carried
away by my excitement, l rushed up
and, with the muzzle of my gun held
almost at the ear Of the savage beast.
literally blew it's head to fragments.
Unmindful of a few hurts and a stream
of blood trickling from his face and
neck, the fallen man, to our amaze
ment, jumped to his feet and, appar-
emily half-crazed by his recent maui
ng, performed something very like a
%war-dance on the dead body of his late
assailant.
Inc bears now appeared to be some
what cowed by the death of their COM
rades. The reserve line was weakened
by the desertion of the two she-bears
with their cubs, and the four monsters
IN the front rank did not seem much
inclined to take the aggressive.
All wild beasts, however, will usually
forget their fear of man on three oc-
casions: at mating time, when their
young are in danger, and when their
food is threatened. There was nothing
for it, therefore, but to keep blazing
away at the front guard until all were
wounded. Finally, 1 ordered an adj
vance of my little force, w]hereupon
the disconnected animals suddenly
broke Il fled, carrying away the real
line in their retreat. The bears were
utterly routed.
We were now kept busy for hours
IN sklnning the slain bears and in cut
ting out the whalebone from the laws
OF the prize. Then, we'll satisfied with
our work, we loaded down the boat
with u spoils and proceeded on our
way to rejoin the ship. But our perils
Wfra NOT vnf nJ-nJ l,,a11> ,,..
up which rapidly developed into a
gale, accompanied by binding sleet
and snow showers. until our position
grew hazardous in the extreme. Great
uninterrupted waves broke over the
~heavy-laden boat, and we were kept
necessarily occupied baling out the wa
ter.
Nevertheless we rowed on dog@edlv
TOR hours, until at length our wrists
grew swollen, and it really seemed as
If out of the peril of the bears we had
rushed into a greater danger still.
Fainter and fainter grew our hopes of
safety, as the gale rose and the bill
lows rushed past madly, driven to fury
by the scourging blasts.
Suddenly, through a rift in the driv-
ing storm-clouds the awful form of a
towering iceberg was seen. rearing it's
~glistening columns against the dull
@reyness of the snow-darkened SKY.
Inc Weather-side of the iceberg re-
ce1ved the full shock of the long, grey
green rollers as they swung I'D and
broke again and again over its shelly
ing icy strand, while the steep ice
side. sinking sheer into the ocean
depths. kept the water there as calm
as some landlocked harbor. Quickly
we seized the proffered opportunity.
BY ~herculean efforts the boat was
brought up against the full force of
opposing wind and tide. and safely
steered to the lee-Side of the iceberg.
e the ice anchor was got out and
she was made fast to the giant berg.
The next danger which confronted us
was that in the long wait we might
perish of cold. There was coffee
aboard and fresh water, but how were
we to manage for fuel and cooking
utensils? 1 thought for. a moment.
"" IhSh liz llell " pare OIL
wood shavings from the thwarts, floor
ing and SunWale of the boat until we
collected a good-sized parcel of fuel.
For a stove we perforated the bot
tom of a large kettle, hanging a smaller
one over the fire. Soon we were able
to pass round a draught of steaming
hot coffee, which wonderfully cheeredr
our spirits. This was repeated towards
the break of day. Then the storm
gradually subsidized. and we knew that
the danger was over. Once more we
steered u course to the ship, and
finally arrived safely with the rich
prize Of the Whalebone which had cost
us so much labor and peril.
Some of the rest of the crew were
anxious to be allowed to visit the de-
rellct carcass for another bear hunt.
but the captain was known to hold
white bears in high respect, and it
surprised nobody when he announced
his immediate intention of proceeding
homewards. And so the ships course
was set towards the Straits of Belle
isle, where, like a jagged tooth gnaw-
| ING 9t tho Arotio o,,rropt fbo JoJ.~s