THE WALRUS 143 



to distinguish more clearly the mass of flesh 

 and fat extended upon it. The animal was 

 indeed very large, and was so flaccid in one part 

 that it bulged and sagged into the sea. Looking 

 at it from behind, it appeared more than ever 

 like a half-inflated balloon. Suddenly I per- 

 ceived a white form above the motionless 

 animal ; at first I took it to be a gull perched 

 upon the body in the same way as birds perch 

 upon cattle in the East. Very quickly, how- 

 ever, I discovered that it was a tusk of the 

 walrus, whose head was turned towards the 

 sky. 



The bow of our boat smashed through the 

 thin ice, but we approached so cautiously that 

 we did not disturb the slumber of our prey. 

 With the bows of our boat almost touching the 

 hinder parts of the animal, I photographed 

 it and seized my rifle, while the Captain 

 balanced himself and made ready to hurl the 

 harpoon. Two swift strokes of the oars brought 

 us right up to the animal, and Swensen planted 

 the harpoon deep into its back. A terrible 

 roar escaped it at this unexpected attack ; 

 it was a cry of fury and astonishment rather 

 than of fear, and suddenly, towering above my 

 head, appeared the white face of the infuriated 

 beast. It possessed only one tusk ; its mouth 



