110 THE WORLD OF ICE.

were reckless enough to rush at him with any arms
they chanced to have.

“Give him a long shot—quick !” cried Singleton.

Fred fired instantly; and the bear stopped, and
looked round, as much as to say, “Did you speak,
gentlemen?” Then, not receiving a reply, he walked
away with dignified indifference, and disappeared
among the ice-hummocks.

An hour afterwards the two wanderers were seated
at a comfortable breakfast in the cabin of the Dolphin,
relating their adventures to the captain and mates,
and, although unwittingly, to Mivins, who generally
managed so to place himself, while engaged in the
mysterious operations of his little pantry, that most
of the cabin talk reached his ear, and travelled thence
through his mouth to the forecastle. The captain was
fully aware of this fact, but he winked at it, for there
was nothing but friendly feeling on board the ship,
and no secrets. When, however, matters of serious
import had to be discussed, the cabin door was closed,
and Miving turned to expend himself on Davie Sum-
mers, who, in the capacity of a listener, was absolutely
necessary to the comfortable existence of the worthy
steward.

Having exhausted their appetites and their infor-
mation, Fred and Tom were told that, during their
absence, a bear and two seals had been shot by
Meetuck, the Esquimau interpreter, whom they had
taken on board at Upernavik; and they were fur-
ther informed that the ice was in motion to the