The fight with the polar bear

At daylight, Rowland steps out onto the ice. He sees a polar bear approaching, attracted by the scent of food. He has only a jackknife for a weapon. The bear attacks little Myra, knocking her unconscious with a blow. Rowland engages the bear in a desperate fight, suffering a crushed arm and broken ribs. He manages to stab the bear in the eye, killing it. He then tends to the child's wounds, using bear fat as a bandage, and constructs a shelter from the wreckage. This fight demonstrates Rowland's courage and his transformation from a broken man to a protector.