letters from high latitudes-第45章
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about a mile and a half off；the width of the channel between the island and the main being about five miles。 Some said it was a bird； others a whale； and the cook suggested a mermaid。 When the fact was ascertained that it was a BONA FIDE bear； a gun was fired as a signal for us to return； but it was evident that unless at once intercepted； Bruin would get ashore。 Mr。 Wyse； therefore； very properly determined to make sure of him。 This was a matter of no difficulty： the poor beast showed very little fight。 His first impulse was to swim away from the boat； and even after he had been wounded； he only turned round once or twice upon his pursuers。 The honour of having given him his death wound rests between the steward and Mr。 Wyse； both contend for it。 The evidence is conflicting； as at least half…a…dozen mortal wounds were found in the animal's body； each maybe considered to have had a share in his death。 Mr。 Grant rests his claim principally upon the fact of his having put two bullets in my new rifle which must have greatly improved the bore of that instrument。 On the strength of this precaution； he now wears as an ornament about his person one of the bullets extracted from the gizzard of our prize。
All this time； Wilson was at the tent； busily occupied in taking photographs。 As soon as the bear was observed； a signal was made to him from the ship； to warn him of the visitor he might shortly expect on shore。 Naturally concluding that the bear would in all probability make for the tent as soon as he reached land； it became a subject of consideration with him what course he should pursue。 Weapons he had none； unless the chemicals he was using might be so regarded。 Should he try the influence of chloroform on his enemy； or launch the whole photographic apparatus at his grisly head； and take to his heels？ Thought is rapid； but the bear's progress seemed equally expeditious； it was necessary to arrive at some speedy conclusion。 To flywas to desert his post and leave the camp in possession of the spoiler； life and honour were equally dear to him。 Suddenly a bright idea struck him。
At the time the goat had been disembarked to take her pleasure on TERRA FIRMA； our crow's…nest barrel had been landed with her。 At this moment it was standing unoccupied by the side of the tent。 By creeping into it； and turning its mouth downward on the ground； Wilson perceived that he should convert it into a tower of strength for himself against the enemy； while its legitimate occupant； becoming at once a victim to the bear's voracity； would probably prevent the monster from investigating too curiously its contents。 It was quite a pity that the interposition of the boats prevented his putting this ingenious plan into execution。 He had been regularly done out of a situation； in which the most poignant agony of mind and dreary anticipations would have been absolutely required of him。 He pictured the scene to himself； he lying fermenting in the barrel； like a curious vintage； the bear sniffing querulously round it； perhaps cracking it like a cocoa…nut； or extracting him like a periwinkle！ Of these chances he had been deprived by the interference of the crew。 Friends are often injudiciously meddling。
Although I felt a little vexation that one of us should not have had the honour of slaying the bear in single combat； which would certainly have been for the benefit of his skin； the unexpected luck of having got one at all； made us quite forget our personal disappointment。 As for my people； they were beside themselves with delight。 To have killed a polar bear was a great thing； but to eat him would be a greater。 If artistically dealt with； his carcase would probably cut up into a supply of fresh meat for many days。 One of the hands appened to be a butcher。 Whenever I wanted anything a little out of the way to be done on board； I was sure to find that it happened to be the specialite of some one of the ship's company。 In the course of a few hours； the late bear was converted into a row of the most tempting morsels of beef； hung about the rigging。 Instead of in flags； the ship was dressed in joints。 In the meantime it so happened that the fox； having stolen a piece of offal； was in a few minutes afterwards seized with convulsions。 I had already given orders that the bear's liver should be thrown overboard； as being； if not poisonous； at all events very unwholesome。 The seizure of the fox； coupled with this injunction； brought about a complete revolution in the men's minds； with regard to the delicacies they had been so daintily preparing for themselves。 Silently； one by one； the pieces were untied and thrown into the sea： I do not think a mouthful of bear was eaten on board the 〃Foam。〃 I never heard whether it was in consequence of any prognostics of Wilson's that this act of self…denial was put into practice。 I observed； however； that for some days after the slaughter and dismemberment of the bear； my ship's company presented an unaccountably sleek appearance。 As for the steward； his head and whiskers seemed carved out of black marble： a varnished boot would not have looked half so bright： I could have seen to shave myself in his black hair。 I conclude； therefore； that the ingenious cook must； at all events； have succeeded in manufacturing a supply of genuine bear's grease； of which they had largely availed themselves。
The bagging of the bear had so gloriously crowned our visit to Spitzbergen； that our disappointment about the deer was no longer thought of； it was therefore with light hearts； and most complete satisfaction； that we prepared for departure。
Maid Marian had already carved on a flat stone an inscription； in Roman letters； recording the visit of the 〃Foam〃 to English Bay； and a cairn having been erected to receive it； the tablet was solemnly lifted to its resting…place。 Underneath I placed a tin box； containing a memorandum similar to that left at Jan Mayen； as well as a printed dinner invitation from Lady ； which I happened to have on board。 Having planted a boat's flag beside the rude monument； and brought on board with us a load of driftwood； to serve hereafter as Christmas yule…logs； we bade an eternal adieu to the silent hills around us； and weighing anchor； stood out to sea。 For some hours a lack of wind still left us hanging about the shore； in the midst of a grave society of seals； but soon after； a gentle breeze sprang up in the south； and about three o'clock on Friday； the 11th of August； we again found ourselves spanking along before a six…knot breeze； over the pale green sea。
In considering the course on which I should take the vessel home； it appeared to me that in all probability we should have been much less pestered by the ice on our way to Spitzbergen； if； instead of hugging the easterly ice； we had kept more away to the westward； I determined thereforeas soon as we got clear of the landto stand right over to the Greenland shore； on a due west course； and not to attempt to make any southing； until we should have struck the Greenland ice。 The length of our tether in that direction being ascertained； we could then judge of the width of the channel down which we were to beat； for it was still blowing pretty fresh from the southward。
Up to the evening of the day on which we quitted English Bay； the weather had been most beautiful； calm； sunshiny； dry； and pleasant。 Within a few hours of our getting under weigh； a great change had taken place； and by midnight it had become as foggy and disagreeable as ever。 The sea was pretty clear。 During the few days we had been on shore； the northerly current had brushed away the great angular field of ice which had lain off the shore； in a northwest direction； so that instead of being obliged to run up very nearly to the 80th parallel； in order to round it； we were enabled to sail to the westward at once。 During the course of the night； we came upon one or two wandering patches of drift ice； but so loosely packed that we had no difficulty in pushing through them。 About four o'clock in the morning； a long line of close ice was reported right a…head； stretching south as far as the eye could reach。 We had come about eighty miles since leaving Spitzbergen。 The usual boundary of the Greenla
