MODERN VIKINGS IN THE ARCTIC SEAS 407 



selves into a square. Each animal took up its position as though 

 by word of command, until they stood, shoulder to shoulder, with 

 their heads outward and so close together that their horns often 

 linked, while within the square were sheltered any young calves 

 there might be with the herd. 



As the enemy approached one of the oxen, usually the oldest 

 bull in the herd, dashed out from his place in the square and bounded 

 towards the foe, with head down, horns brandished with sidelong 

 tosses of the head, snorting and bellowing defiance. As he left the 

 square the ranks closed up and remained so until he returned, when 

 the ranks opened enough for him to back into his place, while 

 another charged out to carry on the combat in front of the square. 

 These movements were executed with lightning rapidity, every 

 animal dashing out in turn to seek single combat, the one to advance 

 being always the one to the right of the returned champion. Usually 

 the advance was for a distance of a dozen yards, but there were 

 occasions when the explorers saw the challenging ox advance over 

 a hundred yards from the main body. 



When there were sufficient bulls in the herd to form the outer 

 lines, the cows were placed, with the calves, inside the square; but 

 if the bulls were not numerous enough to complete the outer ranks, 

 then the cows took their places beside the bulls. In one instance, 

 where the herd consisted of cows and calves only, the cows formed 

 the square and caried on the fight while the calves were sheltered 

 within. 



When the square was once formed it never broke. Every beast 

 in it might be killed, one by one, but there was never a sign of a 

 break-away or a stampede. If only a few were killed, the square 

 stood its ground until the attackers retreated, when, with an open 

 field, the square slowly retired, still in formation, and still ready, at 

 the first signal, to halt and renew the fight. In one instance, where 

 every beast had been shot save one, that one made a sortie, pranced 

 round in defiance, and retired to the heap of slain, all that remained 



