Once more we all dropped off into a state of stupor rather than sleep. I don't know how long we had thus remained, when I was aroused by a noise which came down the funnel.  It seemed as if some animal were scratching away at the entrance.  The idea seized me that it was a bear, and I thought how unable we were to defend ourselves.  I felt about for my gun, forgetting that it had refused to go off.  Just as I grasped it I remembered this, and desperately plunged my hand into my pouch, when at the bottom I discovered my pricker, which my numbed fingers had before failed to feel.  Clearing out the nipple as well as I could in the dark, I put on a fresh cap.  While doing so, I awoke my companions. Hugh answered faintly.  Red Squirrel immediately got up, and together we managed to crawl to the opening through which I thrust my rifle, ready to fire should the bear show himself.