II
After a while the dogs stopped running and began to trot, and Ahmow looked about over the vast fields of ice.
Not a tree, not a house, not a person was in sight. As far as he could see there was nothing but ice and snow. Everything was still and white in the dim light.
When they had nearly reached the island, what did they see but a huge polar bear! He was prowling around the oil casks, looking for something to eat.
Nannook unharnessed the dogs at once. “Go,” he cried, and they raced across the ice after the bear.
The bear was so big and clumsy that he could not run fast. The dogs soon surrounded him, and held him until Nannook came running up to shoot him.
Ahmow helped his father skin the bear and cut up the meat. Then they loaded the sledge with a cask of oil, some walrus meat, the bearskin, and part of the bear meat.
After eating their luncheon, Ahmow was again rolled up in the bear rug, and they started for home. Nannook walked beside the sledge. The dogs walked too, because the load was so heavy.
When they were nearly halfway home, Nannook saw some reindeer.
“Watch the dogs, Ahmow,” he said, “and I will try to shoot one of those reindeer. Then we can have a fine dinner.”