Four-footed Americans and their kin . the Polar Bears,following the ice downward as it creeps to open sea inwinter, and going north again in summer, seldom com-ing twoscore miles inland, like the coast-loving Eskimohimself. What is he made of, this great, clumsy, half-ton massof flesh, clothed in thick, yellow-white fur from nose tipto point of claws? Clothed ? — no; padded is the betterword, for his long neck and small head grow from arolling bale of fur on legs. This White Bear sleeps onice and soaks in ice water, never dreaming of the he be warm-blooded flesh? But yes, he is. Thesh
Four-footed Americans and their kin . the Polar Bears,following the ice downward as it creeps to open sea inwinter, and going north again in summer, seldom com-ing twoscore miles inland, like the coast-loving Eskimohimself. What is he made of, this great, clumsy, half-ton massof flesh, clothed in thick, yellow-white fur from nose tipto point of claws? Clothed ? — no; padded is the betterword, for his long neck and small head grow from arolling bale of fur on legs. This White Bear sleeps onice and soaks in ice water, never dreaming of the he be warm-blooded flesh? But yes, he is. Theshe Bears bring forth their young in icy caves andharden their cubs to swim with them in icy seas, and tofollow their parents while they track and hunt downtheir Seal and Walrus meat, or shuffle along the shoresto feed upon dead Whales. A great hunter is this Bear, quick of tooth andclaw; he stalks the Seals as men do, stealing behindthem when they come upon land, seizing them whenthey turn to hide in their water-holes. Over all the. Polar Bear and Seal. UNDER THE POLAR STAR 281 lands and seas of ice this Bear is king of man, too, he ivas king, when man meant only theEskimo armed with a knife and spear. Then Bearhunting was dangerous indeed,— blow for blow, toothagainst knife-blade, arm of muscle tipped with longclaws against brittle harpoon. Now a long-range rifle,keen eyes, and a steady hand, have turned the perilfrom man to Bear, and soon the great hungry beastswill have left the Arctic twilight as the Bison leftthe prairie. Snow may be her bed, but the she Bearsheart beats warm and lovingly for her cubs, — or rathercub, for she usually has but one, — and she Avill let her-self be killed before man or beast may touch it. Tramp, tramp, tramp, go the Bears feet throughthe snow, leaving the even-planted print of heel andtoe, as a mans foot does. Now follow them roundHudsons Bay, across the north coast, turning south-ward down Alaska. Then crossing Behring Str
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecta, booksubjectmammals
