ix. AWUK THE WALRUS. 127 



of line made fast to the boat. The captain and mate had 

 two guns apiece. After we'd pulled a matter of three 

 mile we were told to row slow and quiet so as not to 

 disturb the sea-horses. There were a couple of score of 

 them or more. I guess they hadn't seen the likes of us 

 before. Leastways they took mighty little count of us. 

 They just sot on the ice and wagged their old heads at us 

 solemn as an ugly old judge. 



" When we got a bit nigher Dick Rowney, he sung out 

 ' give way, boys ' when he'd got harpoon in hand Dick 

 always bossed us ' give way, boys/ said Dick ; and we shot 

 in under the ice. How the lubberly brutes rolled off into 

 the water ! Dick got his harpoon well into an old bull and 

 the captain and mate they each gave him a charge. He 

 didn't require no more attention. The whole lot was now in 

 the water about a furlong ahead of us. We were soon in the 

 thick of 'em, and Dick he got fast another harpoon. Down 

 went the old bull and took with him pretty nigh all the line. 

 Then he rose and was making off when the line brought him 

 up. Captainhe gave him a charge; but it onlymade him mad, 

 and he towed us half a furlong with the sea horses all 

 round us and the dead un towing alongside. One or two 

 of the beasts drove at us with their tusks. I don't think 

 they went for to attack us, but just let drive at us when 

 we were nearly on them. I remember one great bull 

 raised hisself out of the water and was almost down on us. 

 I drove at un with my oar and kept un off. Another was 

 nigh doing us damage but mate gave un a charge as made 

 his head ache, and he went down like a stone. 



" Did we bag the one as was towing of us ? I guess we 

 did ; Captain he plugged he, which made two alongside. 

 We got one more, a little un, and then hauled up on the 

 ice. We took the ivories of two; the other was only a 

 yunker and his tusks were just sprouting : and we skinned 



