DRIFTING TO THE SOUTH. 121 



started for the cliase as soon as the boat could be got into 

 the water, which was done with much trouble, they being 

 obliged to carry it for some distance over the young ice. 

 Here, too, the needle-gun proved its value, the ball passing 

 througfh the monster's inch-thick hide. A few shots 

 killed him, after being badly wounded, and in a fury trying 

 to smash the young ice on which the hunters stood, and 

 seize them when once in the water. The further moving 

 of the colossal carcass for our own purposes was, besides, 

 no small matter. With the united strength of ten men 

 and the help of a powerful pulley, it was several hours 

 before we got the walrus out of the water on to the ice. 



Skinning the specimen, too, was dreadfully difficult, for 

 it soon froze in a cold of —20° Fahr. to a hard, stony 

 mass, over which we had no power. Under the skin 

 lay a coating three inches thick of fat, which afforded 

 us very acceptable fuel. The tongue was excellent; 

 indeed, amongst the whale-fishers of the Behring's 

 Straits, salted walrus tongues are a favourite dish. Late 

 that same evening a white bear, the first of our winter 

 campaign, was attracted to the house by the smell 

 of our walrus' fat. Three shots greeted him, the 

 effect of which could not be seen until the following 

 morning. About 100 yards distant lay the bear, hit in 

 the side by the bullet, as if asleep, though quite dead, 

 upon the snow. It was a fine, handsome beast ; its well- 

 developed head lay upon its front paws ; the red drops of 

 blood stood sharply out against the clean white snow : a 

 gift from heaven in our present position, as an addition 

 of fresh meat was greatly to be desired. The four hams, 

 weighing 200 lbs., would form a delicate roast for a suc- 

 cession of Sundays ; at the same time that the skin was a 



