kept up.

"Will it charge, Johannes?" said the captain.

"Don't know. I think it will begin to run. Be ready. It is sure to
charge when it is wounded. We'll take it then on the spears."

At that moment there was a diversion, and the bear raised its head a
little to look beyond them.

Steve glanced sharply round to see what the animal was looking at, and
became aware of the fact that Andrew McByle was stealing away on
tip-toe. This raised Steve's ire, for the thought flashed through his
brain that if anybody had a right to run it was he, the boy of the
party; and he wanted to make off very badly, but, paradoxical as it may
sound, he at the same time did not want to run, but to help shoot the
bear.

"Here! hi! Stop!" he shouted angrily; "don't run off with that gun!"

"Ahm only going to tak' oop a fresh poseetion ahint the stanes," said
Andrew hurriedly.

No more was said, for the bear now shook itself, making the beautiful
thick hair stand out, and giving the huge animal the appearance of
growing rapidly in size. It uttered a low, fierce growl now, and its
eyes flashed in the sunshine.

"You'll have to fire, Handscombe," said the captain in a low voice;
"it's going to charge. No, stop!"

For just then the bear swung its head round to the right and glanced
toward the ice, as if looking out for a way of retreat.

"It's going to run," said Jakobsen.

Hardly had the words left his lips than the bear made a rush right at
the centre of their line.

_Bang_--_bang_--_bang_! Three shots were fired almost simultaneously,
but they did not have the slightest effect, the bear rushing on, and the
next minute the doctor was gathering himself up, and the bear was
shuffling along the shore, apparently in pursuit of Andrew McByle, who
ran on yelling, and fired twice in the air, as if sending the charges of
the gun he carried right ahead, where he wished to be.

"Hurt?" cried the captain anxiously, as he held out his hand to the
doctor.

"Only the wind knocked out of me," was the panting reply. "Come on."

They re-loaded as they followed the bear at a trot, and to Steve's great
delight, there was a sharp barking, for Skene leaped up as the bear
passed him, and, apparently without much the matter, followed the great
beast.

"I don't think we touched him," cried the captain.

"Yes," said Johannes simply, as he ran by Steve's side with his spear at
the trail. "Blood."

He pointed to the ground, but Steve sa