168 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



hopes of using it successfully before we left the place, 

 which we had christened Walrus Bay. 



Next morning it was by course of due rotation the 

 turn of Ralph and myself to try our hand at bagging 

 a walrus. Our hearts rejoiced when early dawn re- 

 vealed to us the whole herd once more hauled out on 

 the sandbank, and the wind still in a favourable 

 quarter for a successful stalk. 



We did not forget to take the camera on this occa- 

 sion, and we set out and rowed across to the same 

 spot where Agnes and Cecily had previously landed. 

 As the result of tossing for it the first shot fell to my 

 lot, but being equally keen on shooting with the 

 camera as with a rifle I elected to stalk with the former 

 only. 



Ralph was sufficiently sportsmanlike to say he 

 would remain behind, and allow me to stalk alone, 

 and declared that he believed the beasts would not 

 go far away even if disturbed by my stalking them 

 without firing a shot. 



I shall long remember that arduous crawling along 

 the barren sandy beach. Not a stick nor stone to 

 afford any cover, and constantly having to lie flat on 

 my face, in cramped position minutes at a time, in 

 order to avoid the vigilance of the look-out sentinel 

 bull. Three times during the time I took to crawl 

 that distance did the sentinel get tired of his duty, 

 and roused up another one to undertake this appar- 

 ently irksome task. As each fresh sentinel took up 

 his duty the former one promptly dropped his head 

 and went off to sleep. 



