d his tusks turned wrong way on."

For there, swimming about, or climbing on to a great mass of ice a
quarter of a mile away, but which looked half that distance in the clear
air, was the herd in perfect safety. They were of all sizes, from
calves not half grownup to unwieldy cows and the huge massive bulls.
Some floated quietly, others were gambolling about, and the rest lay in
various attitudes as if basking or sleeping in the warm sunshine; while
one great fellow had dragged himself on to the highest point, raised
himself on his fore flippers, and, with head erect, was looking about in
different directions.

"That's the sentinel," said Johannes quietly. "He'll warn them of
danger, and he must have seen us."

"No," said Jakobsen; and he pointed to their right.

Johannes laughed.

"Right," he said. "No wonder you did not get a shot, gentlemen; there
was some one stalking them first."

"Some one?" cried the captain. "Who? where?"

Johannes chuckled, and pointed to where the water was being parted by
something swimming.

"I see it," cried Steve; "a bear!"

"Yes, sir; he has been trying to get one of the young calves, but they
were too sharp for him; and now he has gone down to the water, and is
swimming across to the floe to have another try. If you watch him, Mr
Steve, you'll see some fun."

"Have a look, Steve," said the captain, drawing the small double glass
from its case and passing it to the boy, who carefully laid down his
heavy rifle, and focussed the binocular upon the bear, bringing it, as
it were, almost to his feet. He could see the long, cruel-looking head,
with its pointed nose just clear of the water, the eyes the same, and
the whole body so nearly submerged that there was nothing visible but
the long hair, waving like a streaky ripple as the bear swam steadily
on.

"It's not going after the walrus," said Steve.

"Wait a bit, sir. I think it is," said Johannes. "That's the bear's
cunning. If it went straight at them they would all plunge into the
water, and swim and dive away. You'll see the antics directly; those
beasts are as cunning as cats."

In effect, as Steve watched, he saw the bear swim right away to the ice,
a couple of hundred yards apparently from the walrus herd, climb out on
to the surface, shake itself to get rid of the water two or three times,
and then move away from the edge a little and lie down in the sun, while
the walrus herd paid no more attention to it tha