Page:The white czar; a story of a polar bear (IA whiteczarstoryof00hawk).pdf/100

 the ice. At last it came taut with a mighty jerk. Both men braced themselves. The rope cut into Tunkine's waist until he thought it would cut him in two, but it held and the seal came racing back, but was soon off in another direction.

Again the rope tightened, and the two hunters strained with all their strength. Again and again this happened, but each time they braced and the rope held. Five, ten, fifteen minutes went by. The fight was nearly over. Poor nik-suk must soon come to his airhole to breathe again. Then they would finish him.

So Eiseeyou gradually drew him in while Tunkine waited with the spear. Finally the beautiful head again appeared. This time Tunkine finished poor nik-suk with his spear and together they hauled him out on to the ice.

They loaded the seal, which was of the little-ringed species, on to one of the komatiks, and they went forward rapidly.

They were reminded that they had wasted valuable time, for this was really a bear hunt, and not a seal hunt.