Arctic Adventures
Page 6
deerscampering off up the valley, but one soon fell behind the other. Ithad been hit in the shoulder. Slower and slower it went; we made chase,but it still kept a long way ahead of us. We both reloaded as we ran,hoping to overtake it and get another shot, should it not in themeantime come to the ground. Greatly to my delight, I saw the deerwhich I had shot suddenly stop, when presently over it fell. The otherheld on for some time longer, when that too rolled over. We had a longchase, though we scarcely knew how far we had gone. On looking round wecould nowhere see our companions. I fired off my rifle to attract theirattention, as we wanted them to assist us in cutting up the deer and tocarry back the venison. Scarcely had I fired than I saw, coming out ofa hollow in the side of the hill, a huge white monster, followed by twosmaller creatures, which I at once knew must be a bear and her cubs.Her intention was evidently to appropriate our venison, an object whichwe were anxious to defeat. Andrew had seen her, and stood with hisrifle ready for an encounter. I reloaded as rapidly as I could. We hadneither of us shown ourselves first-rate shots, and I was afraid that mybrother might miss the bear, and that she might seize him before I couldgo to his rescue. The animal sat upon her haunches sniffing the air;then, once more dropping down, she approached, resolved to carry off thedeer or attack us should we attempt to prevent her. Andrew allowed herto get within twelve paces or so, when he fired at her head. The bear,instead of dropping as I expected, to my horror rushed towards mybrother.
"Leap out of the way," I shouted, for I dared not fire as he then stood,lest I might hit him.
He followed my advice, when I levelled my rifle, knowing that his life,and probably my own, might depend upon the accuracy of my aim. Thebear, growling terrifically, came on, and when about three yards from merose on her hind legs, stretching out her formidable paws, about tospring and grasp me in her deadly embrace. I pulled the trigger, and asI did so jumped back with all the agility I possessed, knowing thatshould my shot fail to take effect, I might--even though she weremortally wounded--be torn to pieces by her teeth and claws beforeanother minute was over. Great was my thankfulness when I saw her hugebody sink slowly to the ground, where she lay without moving a limb;still, as I thought it possible that she might not be dead, I joinedAndrew, who was reloading a few paces off.
The bear cubs, who had followed her a short distance behind, now cameup, and began pulling away at her body, not understanding why she didnot move. We were soon convinced that she was perfectly dead. What wasnow to be done with the little animals? When they found that she wouldnot move, they began biting at her savagely. However, they soon scentedout the deer, and, while we were employed in cutting them up, came to usand eagerly devoured the pieces we threw to them, they not showing theslightest fear of us, nor anger at the way we treated their mother.
We had now more meat than we could carry away, even with the assistanceof the rest of the party; and, as they did not appear, we each took aheavy load and prepared to set off.
Andrew, who was anxious to take the little creatures on board, suggestedfastening some lines we had in our pockets round their necks to leadthem with us, but no force would compel them to budge. I tried,however, to get them to move by putting a small piece of meat a shortdistance from their noses, when they both darted forward to catch it. Ithen gradually increased the distance between the pieces of meat, andgot them out of sight of their mother.
Following the traces left by the wounded deer, we were enabled to makeour way with more certainty than we should otherwise have done. At lastwe caught sight of our shipmates, who were not a little astonished atseeing our two small shaggy companions, and highly delighted at findingthat we had brought so fine a supply of meat.
On hearing of the abundance we had left behind, they wanted us to returnwith them; but we, having done our duty, preferred resting in asheltered spot on the side of the hill, while they followed our tracksto bring away some more venison and bear's flesh. In the meantime thelittle cubs gambolled together at our feet, occasionally coming up toget a suck at a piece of venison.
The party at length arrived, each man staggering under as much meat ashe could carry. They all sat down that we might consult in what,direction we should proceed. Mr. Patterson wished, as we had gone thusfar, to continue on to the lee side, where he believed that a harbourwould be found into which the ship might possibly have put, for he wascertain she would not, if she could help it, approach the other side ofthe island. Should such be the case, we hoped to be able to get theboats round, either by the shore or by the ice. We had still three menwho had accompanied us, and the boats' crews would by this time be inwant of food. Mr. Patterson accordingly sent back Sandy and two ofthem, each carrying a load of venison and bear's flesh. He directed theboatswain, after provisioning the men, to search along the shore, andascertain if there was any possibility of getting the boat over it.
"We had better take the little bears with us," said Sandy; "they'llamuse the men, and, if the worst comes to the worst, we can eat them."Saying this, and adopting our plan, he threw a small piece of meatbefore the noses of the little animals, who at once rushed forward toseize it, not aware that it was part of the flesh of their parent.
"You'll be gorging yourselves, ye little gluttons," observed Sandy, and,fastening a piece of meat to the line, he dragged it after him, whiskingit away the moment the creatures got up to it. Thus enticed, theyparted from us, their first friends, without the slightest sign ofregret, eagerly following Sandy and the men. As it was important not toexpend more powder and shot than we could help, we carried a largersupply of meat than we should otherwise have done, so that we might havefood enough to last us for several days if necessary. Our progress wastherefore somewhat slow, and it was not until the sun had set that wecaught sight of the ocean, or rather of the fields of ice and bergswhich covered it, with here and there a line of open water, showing thatit was breaking up and being driven away from the coast. Descendingfrom some high ground which we had been traversing, we found ourselveson the shores of a deep bay, on the northern side bordered by cliffs androcks, but with a sandy beach at the inner end. It was alreadypartially open, and although small floes floated about, some remainedattached to the shore.
"This is just the place I hoped to find," observed Mr. Patterson. "Ifwe are compelled to remain here we shall be able to obtain a supply offish, while it is the sort of spot walruses and seals are likely tofrequent."
We had now to look out for a sheltered nook in which we could pass thenight.
"We shall be able to have a fire too," I remarked, as I pointed to aquantity of drift-wood, which lay above high water-mark.
"You and Ewen and Croil collect it then," he answered, "while the doctorand I search for a sheltered spot."
While picking up the wood I was separated from my companions, and foundmyself going in the direction Mr. Patterson and my brother had taken.
Passing round some rocks, I saw several dark heads in the water, which Iat once recognised as walruses. As I felt sure they would not land toattack me, I went on without hesitation. Presently I heard a shout.Looking round the rock I saw Mr. Patterson, with his rifle clubbed,engaged in what seemed to me a desperate conflict with a huge walrus.Though he was retreating, the creature, working its way on with itsflappers, pressed him so hard that it was impossible for him to turn andfly. I immediately unslung my rifle, which I had hitherto carried at myback, but dared not fire for fear of wounding him. I hurried on,endeavouring to get to one side of the walrus so that I might take sureaim, when, to my horror, the mate's foot slipped, and down he came withgreat force. The next instant the huge monster was upon him, and wasabout to dig its formidable tusks into his body. In another moment hemight be killed. I was still nearly twenty paces off, but there was nota moment to be lost. Praying that my bullet might take effect, I liftedmy rifle and fired. Then, without stopping to see the result of myshot, I dashed forward in the hopes of still being in time to drag themate out of the way of the monster's terrific tusks. Thankfu
l I was tosee that the walrus was not moving, but still it might with one blow ofits tusks have killed the mate.
Shouting to Andrew, who was, I supposed, not far off, I sprang forward.The walrus was dead, and so I feared was the mate. Not a sound did heutter, and his eyes were closed. It was with the greatest difficultythat I could drag him from under the body of the walrus. Again andagain I shouted, and at last Andrew appeared, his countenance expressingno little dismay at what he beheld.
"He is still alive," he said, after he had examined the mate. "Thewalrus has not wounded him with its tusks, but has well-nigh pressed thebreath out of his body, and may possibly have broken some of his ribs.We'll carry him to a dry cave I have just found, in which we can light afire, and I hope he'll soon come round. Get Ewen and Croil to assistus." I hurried along the shore and summoned them. We all four