rough an inch plank with a bullet of
frozen mercury; if I had any oil it would amount to nearly the same
thing, for he speaks of a ball of sweet almond, which was fired
against a post and fell back to the ground unbroken."

"That is hardly credible!"

"But it is true, Johnson; this piece of metal may save our lives; let
us leave it here in the air before we take it, and go and see whether
the bear is still following us."

At that moment Hatteras came out of the hut; the doctor showed him the
bullet, and told him what he thought of doing; the captain pressed his
hand, and the three went off to inspect. The air was very clear.
Hatteras, who was ahead of his companions, discovered the bear about a
half-mile off. The animal, seated on his hind quarters, was busily
moving his head about, sniffing towards these new arrivals.

"There he is!" shouted the captain.

"Silence!" said the doctor.

But the huge beast did not stir when he saw the hunters. He gazed at
them without fear or anger. Still, it would be found hard to approach
him.

[Illustration]

"My friends," said Hatteras, "we have not come out for sport, but to
save our lives. Let us act cautiously."

"Yes," answered the doctor; "we can only have one shot, and we must
not miss; if he were to run away, he would be lost, for he can run
faster than a hare."

"Well, we must go straight for him," said Johnson; "it is dangerous,
but what does it matter? I am willing to risk my life."

"No, let me go!" cried the doctor.

"No, I shall go," answered Hatteras, quietly.

"But," said Johnson, "are not you of more use to the others than I
should be?"

"No, Johnson," answered the captain, "let me go; I shall run no
needless risk; perhaps, too, I shall call on you to help me."

"Hatteras," asked the doctor, "are you going to walk straight towards
the bear?"

"If I were sure of hitting him, I would do so, even at the risk of
having my head torn open, but he would flee at my approach. He is very
crafty; we must try to be even craftier."

"What do you intend to do?"

"To get within ten feet of him without his suspecting it."

"How are you going to do it?"

"By a simple but dangerous method. You kept, did you not, the skin of
the seal you shot?"

"Yes, it is on the sledge."

"Well, let us go back to the snow-house, while Johnson stays here on
watch."

The boatswain crept behind a hummock which hid him entirely from the
sight of the bear, who stayed in the s