Once a mama-bear was out on the ice with her cubs for a walk. When they reached the open sea, mama bear would go into the water to catch some fish. She told her cubs to stay in the ice and not to get into the water, because it was very cold. Then she jumped into the water and dived.

The cubs stayed on the ice, but suddenly a crack in the ice appeared - right between their legs - and they stood with a front leg and hind leg on the firm ice and the 2 other legs in a drifting  floe. The floe drifted slowly outward and the cubs had to spread the legs widely in order not to fall into the water. They have heard that the water was very cold and did not want to have it confirmed.

Mama bear saw what was happening and came up and pushed the floe back. By this the cubs could gather their legs again. Then mama bear dived again.

But the floe start drifting again and soon the cubs were in the same situation again with their legs wide spread. Again mama bear came to the rescue.

This situation took place 4-5 times and each time mama bear saved the day. But then it happened again and this time mama bear did not show up. The cubs were standing with the "arms and legs" widely spread and tried desperately to avoid falling into the water. But at last they had no more strength and they fell into the icy waters.