THE WORLD OF ICE. 175

For the first time since the chase began a feeling
of intense pity touched Fred’s heart, and he would
have rejoiced at that moment had the mother risen
up and made her escape with her cub. He steeled
his heart, however, by reflecting that fresh provisions
were much wanted on board the Dolphin ; still, neither
he nor his shipmates could bring themselves to shoot
the gallant little animal, and it is possible that they
might have made up their minds to allow it to escape
after all, had not Meetuck quietly ended their difficulty
by putting a ball through its heart.

“Ah! then, Meetuck,” said O’Riley, shaking his
head as they examined their prize, “yere a hard-
hearted spalpeen, ye are, to kill a poor little baby like
that in cowld blood. Well, well, it’s yer natur’, an’
yer trade, so I spose it’s all right.”

The weight of this bear, which was not of the
largest size, was afterwards found to be above five
hundred pounds, and her length was eight feet nine
inches. The cub weighed upwards of a hundred
pounds, and was larger than a Newfoundland dog.

The operation of cutting out the entrails, prepara-
tory to packing on the sledge, was now commenced hy
Meetuck, whose practised hand applied the knife with
the skill, though not with the delicacy, of a surgeon.

“She has been a hungry bear, it seems,” remarked
Fred, as he watched the progress of the work, “if we

1 : 9?
may judge from the emptiness of her stomach.

“Och! but she’s had a choice morsel, if it was a
small wan,” exclaimed O’Riley in surprise, as he picked