ooting gun, and
quite equal to Skipper Cy's recommendation. Charley found, indeed, that
he could make a better target with it than with Toby's rifle. And it was
well that he had taken this early opportunity to become accustomed to
its mechanism, as events proved.

Shortly after sunrise they said good-bye to Skipper and Mrs. Blink, and
were on their way to Pinch-In Tickle, where it was their purpose to
spend the night.

When they passed out and beyond the point and the shelter of land they
met a stiff southeast wind, and looking at the sky, Toby stopped the
dogs.

"'Twill be blowin' hard before noon, and 'tis like to move the ice,"
said Toby. "'Twill take two hours whatever to make land the other side."

"What can we do?" asked Charley. "Can we go around?"

"We'd not make un to-day," said Toby. "I'm thinkin' by hurryin' the dogs
a bit we can make un. The ice'll not go abroad unless the wind blows a
good bit stronger than 'tis blowin' now."

"Hadn't we better go back and wait until we're sure?" asked Charley
anxiously.

"If we goes back and waits we'll not be gettin' home to-morrow," Toby
objected. "We promises Mother we'd be home by to-morrow night whatever."

"Let's take a chance at it," said Charley. "This wind can't move the
ice, and we can get across before it gets blowing much harder."

"Ooisht!"[9] called Toby, breaking the komatik loose, and away went the
dogs.

"Oksuit! Oksuit!"[10] Toby kept calling to the dogs, snapping the whip
over them and urging them ahead.

"What's that?" It was an hour later, and Charley pointed to a great
moving object a half mile seaward.

"A white bear!" exclaimed Toby, after a moment's scrutiny.

"Can't we get it?" Charley excitedly clutched his new rifle.

"We'll try un! Rahder! Rahder! Rahder!"[11] Toby shouted in rapid
command, as rapidly as he could speak the word.

Slowly the dogs turned to the left and toward the bear. Suddenly a sniff
of the animal came down the wind. Immediately the dogs sprang forward in
their traces, and with short, sharp yelps were in wild, unrestrained
pursuit. The komatik swayed from side to side, now on one runner, now on
the other with every ice hummock it struck.

The bear did not run. Either its dignity, its confidence in its own
strength and prowess, or resentment that any should dare invade its
silent domain led it to face about upon its enemies.

FOOTNOTES:
[7] Ice barriers skirting open water.
[8] Hardtack and salt codfish c