THE WALRUS 137 



I seized the doctor's rifle, reopened fire, and 

 completed the business. Everything grew calm 

 again ; the sea became tranquil and smooth 

 as a mirror. We waited anxiously to see the 

 walruses reappear, but they had sunk. My 

 intense disappointment may easily be imagined. 

 The thought that those two superb animals were 

 at the bottom of the sea, and that I might never 

 encounter another walrus, was maddening. 



A few bubbles of air came to the surface and 

 burst. Two strokes of the oars and we were over 

 the spot. Peering into the water we discovered 

 that we were able to see the bottom of the sea, 

 and, what was more, a grey mass and two white 

 tusks. It was one of the walruses lying in 

 about eighteen feet of water. Quickly I took 

 the land bearings, because a strong current was 

 causing us to drift, and, regaining the spot, I 

 constructed a grapnel of the harpoon. Ottersen 

 then fastened two harpoons together, weighted 

 them with a piece of iron, and flung them at 

 the body with all his strength. The harpoon 

 struck, the line held, and, hauling little by little, 

 we finally brought the walrus to the surface, 

 where it floated astern of the boat. Having 

 hauled the animal to the shallow water near the 

 shore, we fastened a rope about its head and 

 fins, and then, the six of us landing, hauled on this 



