CHAPTER X 



A MOVE IN SEARCH OF OTHER QUARRY 



(By the Leader of the Expedition) 



There ! I hit it right 



Romeo and Juliet 

 How ill it follows after you have labour'd so hard 



King Henry IV 



AFTER several dreary days of sailing up the coast we 

 could faintly distinguish a small chain of islands lying 

 near the mainland, which Macdonald, our pilot, told 

 us was our long-sought goal, and the haunt of mighty 

 walrus bulls. As we approached them we saw that 

 these islands were merely desolate barren sandbanks, 

 between which and the mainland lay a large sheltered 

 lagoon, where Macdonald said we should find a safe 

 anchorage. Whilst still a mile or more from shore 

 the look-out man reported some large animals swim- 

 ming in the sea, and these, with the aid of glasses, 

 we soon made out to be a herd of bull walruses 

 besporting themselves in the water, their hoarse 

 bellowing roar being audible to us whilst still a great 

 distance from them. 



As the Lily glided slowly in towards the lagoon the 

 walruses evinced decided curiosity at the unwonted 

 sight, and commenced swimming towards us, roar- 



