112 THE POLAR BEAR AND HER CUBS.

other pieces on the ice nearer to the ship. The bear came
nearer and nearer, carrying off the pieces, which she gave to
her cubs, and, though evidently starving, taking but a small
portion herself. The thoughtless sailors shot the two cubs,
and again firing, wounded the mother. Though she herself
was barely able to crawl to the spot where they lay, she

 

 

carried to them the last lump of blubber, trying to make
them eat it. Discovering that they were unable to do so,
she tried to raise first one, and then the other; but in vain.
She now began to retreat; but her motherly feelings over-
coming her, though aware of the danger she was running,
she returned to where they lay, moaning sadly. Several
times did she thus behave, when, seemingly convinced that