144 HUNTERS AND HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



yawned wide open ; its moustaches bristled. 

 Widely dilated nostrils formed two black gaps 

 in the whiteness of its face. Its eyes, although 

 in reality very small, now appeared very large, 

 distended as they were with rage. It had 

 elevated itself on its two front fins, and conse- 

 quently dominated our boat. I sighted for the 

 neck and fired. A jet of blood spurted into 

 the air. The shock of the bullet stunned the 

 beast. It flung itself backwards, supporting 

 itself with its left fin, madly beating the air 

 with its right. Very quickly it recovered 

 itself, and struggled to turn about and dash at 

 us. This movement displayed its hindquarters ; 

 Swensen instantly hurled his harpoon, the 

 handle of which struck me in the face. Mani- 

 festly we were too close to our quarry. Swensen, 

 fearing that the animal would slip off the ice 

 and wreck our boat, backed water a little. 

 Losing no time, I emptied the contents of my 

 rifle into its head, and again it fell backwards. 

 The heat of the animal's body had so hollowed 

 the little floe that it seemed like a cradle. 

 As it was covered with excrement, it was 

 evident the animal had occupied it for some 

 time. 



The walrus was now extended to its full 

 length, and to me seemed to be quite motionless ; 



