Page:The white czar; a story of a polar bear (IA whiteczarstoryof00hawk).pdf/167

 the event. Secretly he felt certain that this wreck had been caused by his treachery to The White Czar.

Perhaps even the bear himself had brought it about, but more probably the god that controlled the wild creatures had brought it upon them. So marked is the Eskimo's superstition that when he kills the first narwal of the season, he makes an offering to the god of hunting and especially that of the narwal, in order that he may have good luck for the rest of the season.

The motor boat had barely gotten out of sight when the ship listed sharply on the port side and to the front. This caused the White Czar's cage, which had been propped up on some timbers, to start sliding down the deck. Just as the ship ended up and the bow started to sink, the cage struck the rail and, due partly to the frantic effort of the bear turned a complete somersault and landed right side up on the water. Then a great wave swept it fifty feet away from the ship. This was very fortunate for the Czar, for otherwise the cage might have been drawn down by the suction of the