CHAPTER XIX. 



WALRUS-CATCHING. NEW WATERS. 



ON the morning of August 22, we cast off, and with heavy hearts 

 steered southward. We had hoped it would be by another way 

 that we should leave Smith Sound for ever. 



In beautiful, quiet, rather cloudy weather, we set a course for 

 the walrus shoals off Northumberland, and later in the day were 

 making the most of our abundant opportunities. We often saw as 

 many as twenty animals lying on the same floe ; while from the 

 crow's-nest herd upon herd could be seen not far off between the 

 streams of ice. We found them unexpectedly shy, however, and 

 this unwelcome fact we ascribed to Peary having had two ships 

 walrus-catching here for some time. They had gained some 

 experience of the world, these walrus, and were fully aware of the 

 danger of a large boat ; but it was the ship, in particular, which 

 filled them with anxiety, and we were obliged to keep a long way 

 off, for directly they saw it they took to the water at once. 



Even with the greatest caution it was very difficult to get 

 within proper range that day. As soon as the watchman caught 

 sight of the boat he would begin to glare uneasily at us, raising 

 himself higher and higher on his flippers, till he was the height of 

 a man, and swaying the upper part of his body backwards and 

 forwards meanwhile. No sooner has the watchman raised the alarm 

 on such occasions, than all the others, the young animals in parti- 

 cular, begin to bellow and grow excited, ready to take to the water 

 at any moment. The older animals, however, especially the bulls, 

 take matters a little more quietly. As a rule, they are the last to 

 leave the floe ; and it often happens that they remain lying in their 

 places after the younger ones have plunged into the sea. But 



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