THE WALRUS 159 



Recamier succeeded in obtaining a snapshot 

 which, I believe, is unique. When she came 

 within range, Swensen plunged a harpoon into 

 her side. The handle of the harpoon flew 

 through the air as she dived down again. A 

 second later we felt her dashing her head or 

 tusks against the bottom of the boat, endeavour- 

 ing to sink us. She came to the surface to 

 breathe right beside the boat. Standing up, I 

 fired, killing her instantly with a bullet in 

 the neck. 



The calf still tried to escape, but two or three 

 bullets quickly finished it ; and now we had the 

 bodies of the two animals floating astern at the 

 end of the lines. We signalled the Belgica to 

 come to our assistance, because we found it 

 impossible to tow these enormous masses of 

 flesh and fat any distance. 



While we waited, we examined the surround- 

 ing ice through the binoculars. On a floe near 

 a glacier on the eastern side of the canal I 

 perceived a very large walrus asleep. Swensen 

 recharged his gun with a new harpoon. We 

 spoke the Belgica and passed the lines aboard. 

 Joe, who had exhausted his supply of films, 

 gave place to Merite, and we set off for the glacier. 

 Our new quarry was extremely large, and we 

 surmisedfthat it was an old male. It lay 



