128 HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



we were seated or crouching, and the low hulls of the 

 kayaks were difficult to distinguish from the shadow 

 which lurked under the overhanging edge of nearly every 

 piece of ice. As we were to pass any of these brutes in 

 the water we bent over and paddled hard with a low 

 sweep of the lower arm to make as little movement as 

 we could. In this fashion the two kayaks poked their 

 noses into a Uttle cove in the ice block we were aiming 

 for, and we crawled out and tied to a rough corner. 

 Carrying our rifles carefully to keep snow out of the muz- 

 zles, we made our v/ay to the side facing the walrus herd 

 on the larger pan. 



In the water just at our left front five monsters sank 

 and rose, blowing spray from their nostrils, as they 

 stood upright, with a noise like an engine exhausting 

 steam. They were not more than fifteen yards away. 

 A lone bull rose almost under our peering faces and 

 ducked instantly in surprise. He came up again a little 

 farther off and then, curiosity conquering fear, drew close 

 again in a series of dives and breaks, till he had inspected 

 us several times within a few yards, from three sides. It 

 almost looked as if he were about to hitch up on the ice 

 and He down beside us. This lucky whim did not decide 

 him, however, and soon he went off. About thirty-five 

 were counted in the water. 



Two presented a comical sight as they lay on their 

 sides on a very small piece of ice between us and the 

 larger troop. They snuggled close together, face to 

 face, their tusks occasionally getting in each other's way, 

 and patting each other now and then with their fore 

 flippers. If one shifted a trifle farther off, the other, 

 wriggled close up to him again. Both were bulls, keep- 

 ing together for warmth or comfort. All of the walrus 



