PHIPPS. 



77 



explore a passage into the open water. It was the 

 means of saving another boat from imminent danger. 

 One of the officers had wounded a walrus. As no othei* 

 animal has so human-like an expression of countenance, 

 so also is there no one that seems to possess more of 

 the passions of humanity. The wounded animal dived 

 immediately, and brought up a number of its compan- 

 ions ; and they all joined in an attack on the boat 

 They wrested an oar from one of the men, and it was 

 with the utmost difficulty that the crew could prevent 

 them from staving or upsetting her, till Nelson came 

 up : and the walruses, finding their enemies thus rein- 

 forced, dispersed. Young Nelson exposed himself in a 

 most daring manner. 



For a time Captain Phipps was so surrounded by ice, 



that he made preparations to abandon his ships. On the 

 7th of August the men began to haul the boat* orcr 



