WALRUS-CATCHING. NEW WATERS. 



207 



Suddenly, a heavy swell came on from the south-east, and we 

 could see from the atmosphere that we should soon have a sea from 

 that quarter. It was not long before it was so rough that we could 

 hardly keep our legs. Unskinned walrus and lumps of flesh slid 

 about in all directions, crushing everything that came in their way. 

 The deck was as slippery as a ' ski '-hill at home, and horrible to 

 view with blood, blubber, and other filth ; but it is an ill wind that 

 blows nobody any good, and the dogs gorged themselves to their 



RUINS OF A WINTER HOUSE IN THE ESKIMO VILLAGE. 



hearts' content. More than once they were in danger of being 

 crushed flat by the mountains of flesh, which had been hoisted 

 up on deck one by one ; while we had our work cut out for us in 

 skinning the animals, and rigging up bins for the meat, so that it 

 should not roll overboard. 



In the midst of our work, Stolz came running up on deck, 

 crying : ' Fire in the engine-room ! ' and as may be imagined our 

 butcher's business came to an abrupt end, and the carcases began 

 once more to roll backwards and forwards with every movement 

 of the ship. 



