THE WINTER MONTHS. 2/1 alternations of hope and fear. The situation of Victoria Island had not changed in the least, and it was still wrapped in the gloom of the apparently interminable Polar night. Snow fell abundantly for some days, and was piled up on the ground to the height of two feet. On the 27th a somewhat alarming visit was received at the fort. The soldiers Belcher and Pond, when on guard in front of the enceinte in the morning, saw a huge bear quietly advancing towards the fort. They hurried into the large room, and told Mrs Barnett of the approach of the formidable carnivorous beast.
- ' Perhaps it is only our bear again," observed Mrs Barnett to
Hobson, and accompanied by him, and followed by the Sergeant, Sabine, and some soldiers provided with guns, she fearlessly walked to the postern. The bear was now about two hundred paces off, and was walking along without hesitation, as if he had some settled plan in view. " I know him ! " cried Mrs Barnett, " it is your bear, Kalumah, your preserver ! " " Oh, don't kill my bear ! " exclaimed the young Esquimaux. " He shall not be killed," said the Lieutenant ; " don't injure him, my good fellows," he added to the men, ** he will probably return as he came." " But suppose he intends coming into the enceinte 1 " said Long, who had his doubts as to the friendly propensities of Polar bears. " Let him come, Sergeant," said Mrs Barnett, *' he is a prisoner like ourselves, and you know prisoners " "Don't eat each other," added Hobson. " True, but only when they belong to the same species. For your sake, however, we wilj spare this fellow-sufferer, and only defend ourselves if he attack us. I think, however, it will be as prudent to go back to the house. We must not put too strong a temptation in the way of our carni- vorous friend ! " This was certainly good advice, and all returned to the large room, the windows were closed, but not the shutters. Through the panes the movements of the visitor were watched. The bear, finding the postern unfastened, quietly pushed open the door, looked in, carefully examined the premises, and finally entered the enceinte. Having reached the centre, he examined the buildings around him, went towards the reindeer stable and dog-house, listened for a moment to the bowlings of the dogs and the uneasy
