Page:Journal of a Voyage to Greenland, in the Year 1821.djvu/177

Rh the solitary and dreary aspect of this icy continent produced upon our minds, from its situation beyond the limits of the habitable globe, from the profound silence that prevailed upon this domain of desolation, and, more particularly, from its opposing defiance to our proceeding.

While we were indulging in these gloomy reflections, an immense bear, (Ursus Albus,) made its appearance at about half a mile distant from us, from behind one of the large hummocks that were resting upon the margin of the ice.



I instantly seized my gun, jumped into a boat with its crew, was lowered down, and went after it; but in vain, as it took the hint, and moved off across the ice, which was so thickly covered with the most rugged hummocks that it was impossible to overtake it. I could not help feeling astonished at the rapidity with which this animal travelled, as well as the extraordinary size of the tracks which