160 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



slowly the two Dianas advanced, taking advantage of 

 every knoll and mound of sand, behind which they 

 rested at intervals to regain their breath. 



Even from our distant coin d'avantage it was clearly 

 visible that one large bull was ever on the alert. At 

 intervals he raised his head and gazed in sleepy 

 fashion all around, and then appeared as if, like his 

 companions, he had sunk to sleep. But such was not 

 the case, for in a few seconds up bobbed the vast head 

 once more, and the nose was raised, sniffing the air 

 to see if it could detect any invisible enemy. This 

 constant alertness on the part of the sentinel caused 

 our friends considerable trouble, since, as they drew 

 nearer to the sleeping herd, danger of being seen by 

 this old bull grew greater. In consequence the play 

 grew into a comedy for us, because the raising of the 

 watchman's head was a signal for the two stalkers to 

 fall flat on their faces in the sand and remain there 

 till the head sank once more in momentary repose. 

 During the latter interval the stalkers would scramble 

 and crawl a few yards nearer, ere they fell prone once 

 more. As the final stages of the stalk were reached, it 

 is questionable as to whether the stalkers or Ralph and 

 I were the most excited pair. 



Whilst we judged them to be about one hundred 

 yards or more away a great commotion began amongst 

 the herd. A loud bellowing note of warning from the 

 watchman roused his sleeping companions, and they 

 with one accord started with strange lumbering 

 motions to make for the water a few yards distant 

 from them. Agnes and Cecily, realizing that all 



