Page:The white czar; a story of a polar bear (IA whiteczarstoryof00hawk).pdf/188

 gone. Oumauk was almost as quick to perceive what had happened as he.

At the sight, a cry of pain escaped Oumauk. He put his hand to his glasses and rubbed them to make sure. Then he turned eagerly to his father.

"Oh, oh," he cried, "is Whitie really gone?"

"Yes," returned Eiseeyou. "He seems to be. Perhaps they have put him in another den."

"No," said the superintendent of the park, who happened to be standing near. He had made the acquaintance of Eiseeyou and his son one day by the cage and learned from them much of the bear's history, so was interested in them.

"No, we have not put him in another den. He is gone, and I guess for good. We found the door open this morning just as you see it now, and the White Czar had disappeared.

"We have searched all day for him in the city, but he has disappeared as though the earth had opened and swallowed him. There has been foul play. He was let out,