Page:The white czar; a story of a polar bear (IA whiteczarstoryof00hawk).pdf/94

 had driven the sharp pointed spear to which the rope was fastened, deep into the ice.

Eiseeyou sprang to his assistance and together they held the upper end of the spear. The rawhide tightened until one would have thought it would snap. But it is very tough, much stronger than rope of an equal size. For a few seconds the bull strained at it with all his might, while the two Eskimos held their breath with suspense, but the rope and the spear held. Then the infuriated bull came splashing and bellowing back to the edge of the ice. The water was dyed crimson with his blood.

He lashed it into white foam. Back and forth he raced, first trying to get at his captors and then trying vainly to break away.

But the rope was like a deadly thing, slowly but surely reeling him in. The two Eskimos wound the rope up gradually about the spear, until they had the bull held fast close to the ice.

By this time he was too tired out and exhausted from loss of blood to struggle. So while Tunkine held the rope, Eiseeyou