Part 33 (1/2)

It was decided that the party should be made up of Mr. Dawson, the boys, Olalola, and several others. The Esquimau was to take along some provisions on the sledge, for it was thought the party might be out several days.

”This is something like it!” cried Chet, as they trudged along over the snow and ice. ”I hope we bag about a hundred polar bears!”

”Why not make it two hundred while you are at it?” answered his chum, dryly.

The first day was a disappointment, as no game of any sort appeared in sight. But on the following morning Olalola said there were bears ahead, and they soon came upon unmistakable traces of the game.

They were going toward an icy hill, and rounding this they saw at least a dozen bears. Telling the Esquimau and the others to remain to the rear, Barwell Dawson crept up on the bears, taking Andy and Chet with him.

”Don't fire until I give the command,” said the hunter, and both boys nodded to signify that they understood.

It was a thrilling moment for Andy and Chet, but they were used to hunting big game, so they did not get nervous. Coming up within gunshot, Mr. Dawson gave the signal, and all three fired their weapons. One bear fell dead, and another was badly wounded.

”Hurrah! that's the way to do it!” cried Andy. ”Come on, let us bag some more!”

He ran forward, and Chet and Mr. Dawson followed. The polar bears were evidently dumfounded, and did not know for the moment what to do. Some turned to run away, but others arose on their hind legs to do battle.

”Some of 'em are coming for us!” cried Chet, in alarm, and then Mr.

Dawson's rifle spoke up, and another of the big fellows was laid low.

But the other bears leaped for the boys, as if to hug them to death or eat them up.

CHAPTER XXI

A FIGHT WITH POLAR BEARS

”Look out, he's coming for you!” shouted Barwell Dawson.

Both Chet and Andy heard the words, but paid no attention. Their guns were raised, and each was aiming at the bear nearest to him. Crack! went Andy's firearm, and the polar bear was halted by a wound in the forepaw.

Chet was not so fortunate, as his gun failed to go off. The next instant the polar bear leaped on him and bore him to the ice. As boy and beast went down, Barwell Dawson opened fire, and the bear was. .h.i.t in the side, a wound that made him more savage than ever.

Although Chet was sent sprawling, he did not lose his presence of mind.

As quick as a flash he rolled over, from under the very forepaws of the polar bear, and continued to roll, down a slight hill to one side.

By this time Andy and Mr. Dawson were firing again, and Olalola, coming up, used several spears with telling effect. At the increase in noise,--the Esquimau adding his yells to the cracks of the weapons,--one after another of the bears turned and commenced to run away.

”Don't go after them!” sang out Barwell Dawson. ”They may turn again, if you do. Shoot them from a distance.”

Once more he discharged his gun, and Andy did likewise. Then Chet scrambled up and used his firearm, the piece this time responding to the touch on the trigger.

Another of the bears was now killed outright, while the largest of the group was badly wounded in the hind quarters. This bear dropped behind the others and, drawing closer, Chet let him have a shot in the ear that finished him. The other beasts disappeared behind a hummock of ice, and that was the last seen of them.

”Are you hurt?” asked Andy of his chum, as soon as the excitement was over, and while all were reloading their weapons and the Esquimau was securing his spears.

”Got a scratch on the back of the neck,” answered Chet. ”It's bleeding a little, but that's all. Say, this is a dandy haul, isn't it?” he continued, enthusiastically.

”We must be more careful in the future,” said Barwell Dawson. ”Usually polar bears are timid and run away, but these chaps must have been very hungry, and that made them aggressive.”

The largest of the polar bears was all of eight feet long, and correspondingly heavy. To lift him on the sledge was no easy task, and with the others, the hunters found they had all the game the dogs could drag over the ice and snow.