72 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



were covered all over with stiff whiskers, looking much 

 like porcupine quills, and extending up to the edge of a 

 pair of gaping nostrils. The use of these whiskers is as 

 obscure as that of the tusks ; though it is probable that 

 the latter may be as well weapons of offence and defence 

 as for the more useful purpose of grubbing up from the 

 bottom of the sea the mollusks which constitute their 

 principal food. There were two old bulls in the herd who 

 appeared to be dividing their time between sleeping and 

 jamming their tusks into each other's faces, although they 

 appeared to treat the matter with perfect indifference, 

 as they did not seem to make any impression on each 

 other's thick hides. As we approached, these old fellows 

 — neither of which could have been less than 16 feet long, 

 nor smaller in girth than a hogshead — raised up their 

 heads, and, after taking a leisurely survey of us, seemed 

 to think us unworthy of further notice ; and then, punch- 

 ing each other again in the face, fell once more asleep. 

 This was exhibiting a degree of coolness rather alarm- 

 ing. If they had showed the least timidity we should 

 have found some excitement in extra caution ; but they 

 seemed to make so light of our approach that it was 



*& 



appn 



not easy to keep up the bold front with which we had 

 commenced the adventure. But we had come quite too 

 far to think of backing out ; so we pulled in and made 

 ready for the fray. 



"Beside the old bulls, the group contained several 

 cows and a few calves of various sizes, — some evidently 

 yearlings, others but recently born, and others half or 

 three-quarters grown. Some were without tusks, while 

 on others they were j ust sprouting ; and above this they 

 were of all sizes up to those of the big bulls, which had 

 great curved cones of ivory, nearly 3 feet long. At 

 length we were within a few boats 1 lengths of the ice-raft, 

 and the game had not taken alarm. They had probably 



