It was while prospecting about on the islands one day that they came across The White Czar, who had preceded the inhabitants of Eskimo Town to their summer quarters at Eskimo Village.
At the sight of the great white bear tears filled the eyes of Eiseeyou for it brought to his remembrance the sad picture of poor little Oumauk groping helplessly about in the igloo and declaring that the light in the stone lamp had gone out.
The white men saw the great white bear almost as soon as Eiseeyou did, and were much excited. For in the orders that they had brought north with them was a special recommendation that they capture a polar bear, alive, for the zoo at Quebec.
They at once communicated their hopes of securing a polar bear to Eiseeyou, and asked his assistance.
Then it was that the famous Eskimo hunter sat down upon a rock with the two white men and told them the strange story of Whitie and little Oumauk. He told it with tears streaming down his cheeks and with such earnestness and feeling that the white men were amazed.
"You see," he concluded, "little Oumauk loves the bear more than anything else in the world; and if he knew I had helped to capture him, it would kill him. His heart is almost broken now. I cannot make him sad any more, but I must have the money so he can see the great doctor. I must."
"Yes, that is so," agreed the white men. "You must."
"It is a sort of providence," they argued, "that you know about this white bear, which you say is partly tame. He would be easier to capture than a wild bear. And you must have the money. Think of what it means to little Oumauk.