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TO THE NORTH OF EUROPE, 117
meet with open water, which they did not for more thana hundred paces, Afterwards
they again fet fail, but this did not continue long, and they were conftrained to proceed
more gently in order to pafs to a {niall {pace lying between two other fields of ice, which
however were only two prodigious floating flakes, between which eo paffed before they
were completely joined.
When they were without this ftrait, the wind began to blow Pais from the weft, and
took them by the prow; fo that they failed with all their efforts to regain the Bar ice
which with great difficulty they approached. They there again dragged their veflels,
and remained half dead with fatigue, and almoft in defpair at beholding the prodigious
aflemblage of difficulties.
On the eleventh a large and very fat bear advanced towards them from the water.
He was received with three muikets which were aimed at him together, and being fired
when he was no farther off than about thirty paces, killed him at once. The fat quite
warm which iflued from his wounds, refembled oil on the water where it flowed.
Some of the crew placed themfelves on an ice bank which they directed towards the
body, and having fixed a cord about his neck, dragged him on the ice, where they drew
his teeth ; and having meafured the body, found it to be eight feet thick.
After this, three of the crew went to an ifland lying before them, from which they
difeovered the Ifle of Crofles to the weft. They advanced by that fide, and entered
this latter ifland, in order to fee if there were no figns of the Rufhians being arrived
there; but they faw nothing that could in the leaft induce them to imagine that any
one had landed there fince their departure. They took nearly feventy eggs of moun-
tain mallards, and returned to join their companions, after an abfence ‘of twelve hours
which had appeared to:the remainder of the crew who waited for them, a great time,
and had occafioned them great uneafinefs.
They related, that in order to pafs to the Ifle of Crofles, they had fometimes been up
to their knees in the water on the ice between the two iflands, and that they had walked
nearly fix leagues going and coming. The others were aftonifhed at their boldnefs,
and efpecially being fo weak as they all were that they had undertaken fo fatiguing a
journey. The eggs they brought were a very neceflary and agreeable mefs for them
all: and though amidit fo many difficulties they did not fail to make a very delicious
repaft. ‘They alfo then diftributed the remainder of the wine, of which each had three
mingles, or fix French pints.
On the fixteenth a bear came towards them from the land. At firft they could not
difcern if it was a bear, fo much did his white fkin glitter, and refemble the fnow,”
When he had approached they fired at him, and the fhot taking effect, he fled. On
the following day fome of them withing to go to the neighbouring Minas to obferve if
there were any opening in the water, met about half way with the wonnded bear, lying
ona bank of ice. As foon as he heard them he fled, but one of, them having given
him a violent blow witha boat hook, the hook of eich entered his fkin, he fell back
on his two hinder paws. ‘The man would have. followed up the blow, but the bear
broke the hook to pieces, fo that he who had given the blow fell backwards in his turn.
The others immediately fired on the -bear, which occafioning him to flee, the failor
who had fallen down rofe up, ran after him with the ftump. of his boat-hook, and. dif
charged feveral heavy blows on, his body. The bear turned back each, time, and leaped
three times again{ft the man who {truck him. Inthe mean time his two companions
having approached, they fired, again at the bear and pierced him through the body, fo
that he fell back again and could no longer;walk but with difficulty. In fine, they
fired once more, and having killed him, they,drew his teeth.
On.
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