Part 6 (2/2)
The Doctor soon joined the old boatswain behind the hu The bear was still there, but er
In a quarter of an hour or so the seal ood way round, so as to come on the bear by surprise, and every movement was so perfect an imitation of a seal, that even the Doctor would have been deceived if he had not known it was Hatteras
”It is capital!” said Johnson, in a low voice The bear had instantly caught sight of the supposed seal, for he gathered hi as the ani to return to his native element, and unaware of the enemy's proxih his eyes glared with greedy desire to clutch the coveted prey, for he had probably been fasting a et within ten paces of hi forith a trehtened, within three steps of Hatteras, who started up that uise, knelt on one knee, and aie monster rolled back on the ice
[Illustration: ]
”Forward! Forward!” shouted the Doctor, hurrying towards Hatteras, for the bear had reared on his hind legs, and was striking the air with one paw and tearing up the snow to stanch his wound with the other
Hatteras never moved, but waited, knife in hand He had aimed well, and fired with a sure and steady aied the knife in the animal's throat, and made an end of him, for he fell down at once to rise no more
”Hurrah! Bravo!” shouted Johnson and the Doctor, but Hatteras was as cool and unexcited as possible, and stood with folded ar at his prostrate foe
”It isthe bear is killed, but if we leave hiet as hard as a stone, and we shall be able to do nothing with hian forthwith to strip the skin off, and a fine business it was, for the enore as an ox It reat tusks in his jaere three inches long
On cutting the carcase open, Johnson found nothing but water in the sto tihed fifteen hundred pounds The hunters were so famished that they had hardly patience to carry home the flesh to be cooked, and it needed all the Doctor's persuasion to prevent the the hut, each man with a load on his back, Clawbonny was struck with the coldness that pervaded the at up to the stove he found the fire black out The exciting business of the lect his accusto the stove
The Doctor tried to blow the eet a red spark, he went out to the sledge to fetch tinder, and get the steel from Johnson
The old sailor put his hand into his pocket, but was surprised to find the steelHe felt in the other pockets, but it was not there Then he went into the hut again, and shook the blanket he had slept in all night, but his search was still unsuccessful
He went back to his companions and said--
”Are you sure, Doctor, you haven't the steel?”
”Quite, Johnson”
”And you haven't it either, captain?”
”Not I!” replied Hatteras
”It has always been in your keeping,” said the Doctor
”Well, I have not got it now!” exclaiot the steel!” repeated the Doctor, shuddering involuntarily at the bare idea of its loss, for it was all the ain, Johnson,” he said
The boatswain hurried to the only re place he could think of, the hu treasure was nowhere to be found, and the old sailor returned in despair
Hatteras looked at him, but no word of reproach escaped his lips He only said--