170 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



justified, since the animals remained swimming and 

 diving close inshore and near the spot they had left. 



Throwing myself flat on the sand, and beckoning 

 Ralph to advance, I began to excavate a form of im- 

 provised shelter pit, using my hands to throw up a 

 small mound of the loose sand in front of me. 



Ralph had the forethought to bring with him my 

 rifle, and after a long crawl he reached the spot where 

 I lay, without the walruses apparently having ob- 

 served him from where they swam in the water. Soon 

 we had both well screened ourselves by piling up sand 

 in front of us, and there we lay, determined if need be 

 to remain till nightfall, on the chance of the herd 

 coming ashore once more. 



It was fully two hours before the bulls did finally 

 show signs of coming to land again. From where we 

 lay, a distance of eighty yards separated us from the 

 spot where the walruses had been lying. And it 

 seemed that this was their favourite haunt, because 

 countlessJioles were made in the loose sand, showing 

 where for ages past their huge bodies had reclined. 

 At last, one by one, they came swimming in to shore, 

 and when in shallow water again began floundering 

 clumsily to land. It was very tempting to try a shot 

 at them as their huge chests and foreheads were ex- 

 posed to us, but profiting by former experience we 

 decided to wait until we could get a side shot at their 

 heads. 



Gradually they hauled out on the sand, some rolling 

 over on their sides at once and dropping asleep 

 instanter. 



