TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 171 



Already we had each singled out a beast apiece, 

 and the two chosen ones seemed to carry the largest 

 tusks. Just as the best heads are always the hardest 

 to acquire, these very bulls were the last of all the 

 herd to leave the water. 



Lying side by side Ralph and I were able to con- 

 verse in whispers, and how very often during that 

 momentous waiting each of us in turn restrained the 

 other from shooting too hurriedly it would be hard to 

 say. At last the two great brutes came rolling ashore, 

 and for a moment they were both broadside on to us. 

 On the word from Ralph, " Are you ready?" as pre- 

 arranged, I replied, " Yes, fire," and simultaneously 

 the two shots rang out. Both beasts dropped like 

 pole-axed bullocks, and on examination of them we 

 found that the solid bullets from our powerful '450 

 cordite rifles had completely smashed to atoms the 

 back part of the animals' skulls, thus killing them 

 instantly. 



We might easily have got in a second barrel at 

 others of the herd before they took to the water, but 

 as there is no great sport or danger attached to slaying 

 them Ralph and I had previously decided that one 

 good head apiece would satisfy our wants, and these 

 undoubtedly we had in those two before us. 



Ralph went and hailed the men to come up with the 

 boat, and through the glasses I observed a bidarka 

 put off from the Lily's side, shortly followed by our 

 small dory, which contained the ladies, who obviously 

 intended making an inspection of our trophies. 



The advent of Ned and Steve in their bidarka was 



