STORM-BOUND ON THE WALRUS 



cessible because of the deck cargo. Meester Jen- 

 sen in charge of the halibut fleet was on one of 

 the sloops, and after advising with him I decided 

 to risk an attempt to proceed down the coast. This 

 was on the 26th when the wind appeared to fall 

 away slightly. Our own skipper Andreasson and 

 our veteran hunter Abraham both argued against 

 the attempt, saying vigorously "Ne apok'\ which 

 means "no good", but as Jensen was a veteran 

 sailor with eighteen years experience on this coast 

 I decided we would follow his advice and go out. 

 Our anchor was raised at ten in the evening 

 and as we emerged from the little harbor the sea 

 seemed quiet enough. Church was remaining up 

 to take water temperatures and the rest of us 

 turned in, Herz and I under the old riding sail 

 triced up over the sides and roof of the storehouse. 

 Shortly after midnight I was awakened by the 

 whistling and roaring of the wind aloft and by 

 the billowing and flapping of our shelter which 

 threatened to blow away. This alone indicated 

 that we had turned about and that the wind was in 

 consequence blowing in through the opening of 

 our shelter which was toward the stern. As I 

 hurried to pull on my boots, I aroused Herz and 

 Kallquist. Church appeared almost at once to say 

 that we had buffeted the billows without making 



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