Part 4 (1/2)
In a jiffy Captain Bluntt had men at the ropes.
”Come, Paul, we're going after him,” said Remington.
”Take the tiller, Dan! Take the tiller of that boat!” commanded the Captain.
In less time than it requires to relate, the boat was off and in pursuit, Dan steering with skill, Remington, Ainsworth, and Paul ready with their rifles.
CHAPTER III
A HUSKY CAMP
The boat gained upon the bear rapidly, and had nearly overtaken it when suddenly it turned to the left, interposing a small pan of ice between it and its pursuers, effectually hiding it from their view.
Dan made a short cut around the opposite side of the pan, and as the boat shot out behind the ice its bow nearly struck the bear. The pursuers were no less surprised than the pursued, and as the boat darted past, the bear made a vicious lunge with its powerful paw, caught it amids.h.i.+ps and nearly capsized it.
Dan made a graceful swing, and brought the hunters almost too close to the animal to permit the use of guns. It charged them again, but Dan, on the lookout for this maneuver, neatly avoided it.
”Now, Paul,” advised Remington, ”shoot!”
The bear was less than twenty feet from the boat, but Paul was still in so high a state of excitement that he missed two shots, and it was only at the third attempt that he struck the animal in the head, and it collapsed.
”It's a stunning big fellow!” Remington declared, while he slipped a rope over the animal's neck to tow it to the s.h.i.+p.
”That was a splendid shot from the s.h.i.+p--I doubt if I could have made it,” said Ainsworth. ”And you've got the first game of the trip, Paul.”
”'Twere a rare fine shot,” put in Dan. ”I were standin' by, an' I've missed many a better.”
When the bear was at length hoisted on deck it proved indeed to be a monster polar bear, and Captain Bluntt declared it one of the largest he had ever seen.
Paul's pleasure was beyond bounds. His face, which was already losing its sallow, yellow appearance, glowed with delight. He was in a fair way to have his head turned by the unstinted praise of his companions.
The fine smoking roast which came on the supper table that evening certainly had an appetizing appearance, but when Paul received a helping he fancied he detected a fishy odor, and when he tasted the meat he made a wry face and exclaimed:
”Ugh! Why, it's strong with fis.h.!.+”
”A bit fishy in flavor, lad. A bit fishy,” agreed Captain Bluntt. ”But a man o' the sea _and_ a sportsman shouldn't mind that.”
”Well I don't like it,” a.s.serted Paul, ”but I killed it and I'm going to eat some of it anyway.”
”That's the right spirit,” said Remington, ”but I think I'll pa.s.s it by. I never could bring myself to eat polar bear or seal. Perhaps because I never had to.”
”I can't say that I care for it,” admitted Ainsworth.
”'Tis fine meat, I thinks,” declared Captain Bluntt, helping himself liberally. ”I finds it fine. Bear's meat is rare strong meat.”
”I don't think I can go it,” said Paul, who had tried another mouthful. ”It's strong, all right--too strong of fish for me.”
”I weren't meanin' that kind o' strong. No, no! 'Tis good, wholesome, strengthenin' meat. 'Tis not so high flavored of fish, either, as old swile, an' swile is good.”