Evening star., 1922-10-29

I trust, would be Of more real service
to them than many of the gimcracks
which they are tempted to trade for
at the Hudson Bay Company. They
promised to return with their dog
teams when conditions for sledging
became favorable.
.NUR field work began on the 26th.
~ when Small and McCue sailed out
of the harhor in our fit;-er-'oC dp.Y
for seal hunt along the coast. On
the same day Whitehouse and Broom
field started back into the country for
caribou meat for our larder and the
warm light skins for clothing. I'm
happily, however, the weather of the
next day-rain. snow and wind-pre-
sented tent life in such q striking
contrast to that on board the very
warm little Bowdoin that the latter
two returned on the 2sth.
Robinson surprised US on the 2sth.
not so much by his mere arrival on
board with three appetizing looking
trout. but by his declar.- ion ha.
he had caught them in his hands. A
fisherman's story which proved to be
true! Possibly our environment was
not as inimical as it seemed. Encour-
aged by this display and not to be
outdone, ever active Whitehouse
promptly brought in five elder ducks.
nine pound arctic hare. one hand
caught trout and live white fox. If
this continued we could snap our fingers
at old Boreas, Jack Frost and other
evil spirits of the north.
Our two other hunters returned on
the 30th, reporting strong winds,
heavy sea and very strong tides.
They were convinced that We had Sc
lected the best harbor on the coast.
as game was apparently more plenti-
full in it's vicinity than elsewhere.
In early October the temperature
dropped to below freezing and snow
squalls were frequent Although the
ponds and lakes were partly frozen
over, many Of the birds were reluc-
tant to leave for warmer climates.
The old squays were plentiful. as
were the elders. the red-throated
looms, sea pigeons. glanevus gulls
herring gulls. mergansers, snow bunt-
ings, ravens, gyrfalcons and purplA
sandpipers. Bearded and little ringed
seals were seen repeatedly about the
ship and few secured.
But of greater interest were the
fresh tracks OF q polar bear, which
put us all on the qui vfve, as evil
denced by the precautions taken by
the men when going on shore for 3
walk or to get water. Goddard and
his automatic were inseparable.
Broomfield, I noticed, carried an oar
with him when he walked from the
dory to the pond after a bucket Of
water.
Whether or not q polar bear Is
really dangerous is a mooted ques-
ton. But we were all familiar with
the experience OF Johansen, the COM
panion of Nansen. who writes OF the
incident As follows:
'Nansen had just brought his sledge
to the edge OF the water and stood
holding 1t, as the ice inclined down
toward the water. My sledge and
kayak were standing . little way
back and went across to fetch 1t.
I leant down to pick up the drag rope.
when I suddenly observed an animal
just behind the kayak. thought at
first that it was 'Sugsen.' but the next
moment / discovered that 1t was not
he, but a bear sitting in a crouching
position ready to spring at me.
Before had time to get up from
my STOPPING position 1t was right
upon me, pressing me backward with
Its two legs down slight incline to a
Ieresh-water pool. The bear then dealt
me q blow on the right cheek with
ons Of its powerful foeepaws, making