he boats, we erected a tent on it, and determined to
pass the night there; but that we might sleep in safety, we set a
watch, and it was a happy thing for us that we did so, for at midnight
we received a visit from three immense bears, who, had we not been on
our guard, would most assuredly have made a comfortable meal off of
some of us. At the cry of 'Bears! bears!' we seized our muskets, and
although they were loaded with shot merely, fired them at the animals,
who were so stupefied at the inhospitable reception their friendly
visit met with, that they allowed us time to load with ball. One of
them had fallen at the first fire, and the two others made off in all
haste. Pretty soon, however, they changed their minds, and coming
back, dragged their dead comrade away with them for a short distance,
and then set to work to devour him. As soon as we remarked this, we
let them have another shot, and this time they ran off in earnest.
Four of us now went to look at the carcass of the dead bear, and found
to our no little astonishment that they had devoured half of it. The
wind, on this and the two following days, blowing from the same
quarter, we were obliged to remain where we were.

"The night of the 1st of July, was one of the most fearful and
dangerous that we had as yet experienced. The storm gradually
increased in violence, and at last by hurling the floating masses of
ice against the firm bank on which we were encamped, broke off that
portion of it which held our boats, so that they got loose and were
driven away. Many bundles and casks fell into the sea, and it was with
great difficulty, that by springing from place to place, we succeeded
in securing our boats, in which were the sick. After the storm was
somewhat abated, we endeavored to collect our provisions and tools
together, but alas, missed a great many which were very necessary for
the completion of our voyage. Whilst one half of the men were thus
employed, the others went over the ice to the land, in order to get a
tree that they might mend the broken mast of the shallop. They found
not only what they sought, but also, wedges for splitting wood, and
wood already split, from which we judged that men had been in this
place before.

"About this time we lost two of our men, who had been sick for some
time, having been obliged to be carried from our hut to the boat, when
we started on our voyage. When Barents, who had also been ailing,
heard this, he assured us