“The cry was repeated.
“‘A dog!’ exclaimed the Dean.
“‘A dog!’ said I, in answer, for I heard it distinctly.
“‘Hark!’ said the Dean again, for there was another sound.
“‘A man,’ said I.
“‘A man!’ repeated the Dean, excitedly.
“And a man it was.
“Dogs and men! what could they be doing there? was the question that ran through both our minds at once.
“But dogs and a man (not men) there were, and whatever they might be doing there, or whence they might have come, it was certain that dogs and a man made the dark spot which we saw upon the white sea; and it was, moreover, clear that they were pursuing the bear which had passed us and was now pretty far away.
“Nearer and nearer came the dogs and man, and the sounds became more and more distinct; the dogs were upon the bear’s tracks, the man was upon a sledge to which the dogs were fastened. At length they came so near that the dogs could be easily counted. They were seven, and all of different colors, and were fastened with long lines to the sledge, so that they were a great way in front of it, and they were running all abreast. They were straining and pressing into their collars, all the while crying impatiently, as they bounded over the snow at a rapid gallop. The man was encouraging them along all he could with a long whip, which he threw out with a lively snap, exclaiming, ‘Ka-ka! ka-ka!’ over and over again; and then, ‘Nen-ook, nen-ook, nen-ook!’—many times repeated; for he was now so near that we could distinguish every word he said.