The Esquimaux boy had now reached the pack of loose ice against which the ice floe had rested. This was firm, and he paused an instant, before springing on to the floe. The sailors thought his courage had failed at the last moment. But no! Polargno knew there was no time to lose, and he required only this instant to see where he could best strike the bear. There was no vital part at which he could get a good stroke. All he could do at first was to divert the bear’s attention from the sailor to himself. He threw his hatchet straight at the side of the bear that was exposed to him. It sank through the tough skin into the flesh, but the wound was not a very severe one. The astonished animal turned, and, seeing the boy who had now sprung upon the ice floe, not a dozen yards from him, he made towards this new comer in a great rage. But Polargno was ready for him. He sprang aside, and quickly struck his knife into the side of the bear. The animal fell, but was not killed, and it tried to stagger up again; but, by this time, the sailor had recovered his senses, for he had stood apparently stupefied when the bear left him. He now came to the boy’s assistance, and, together, they soon put an end to their formidable foe. Polargno pulled off his hood, and waved it in the air, and shouted “Hurrah!” This word and action he had learned from the sailors. By this time the whole crew had come down from the ship, and they also joyfully waved their hats, and shouted “Hurrah!” But the two must be taken off the ice-floe before it went sailing out into the sea. The pack of ice was, even now, moving faster, and gave signs of breaking up. So a boat was got down from the ship as speedily as possible, and some of the sailors, steering in and out of the floating ice, went to their relief, and took them safely to the shore. They intended to leave the carcass of the bear, but it went to Polargno’s heart to see so much good meat wasted, and he begged so hard for it, that the sailors waited long enough to tow it to shore, though they were in a hurry to get back before the upper ice field broke up.