74 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



fearful pace ; but having several coils in the boat, the end 

 was not reached before the animals began to rise, and we 

 took in the slack and got ready for what was to follow. 

 The strain of the line whipped the boat around among 

 some loose fragments of ice, and the line having fouled 

 among it, we should have been in great jeopardy had not 

 one of the sailors promptly sprung out, cleared the line, 

 and defended the boat. 



" In a few minutes the whole herd appeared at the 

 surface, about 50 yards away from us, the harpooned 

 animal being among them. Miller held fast to his line, and 

 the boat was started with a rush. The coming up of the 

 herd was the signal for a scene which baffles description. 

 They uttered one wild concerted shriek, as if an agonised 

 call for help ; and then the air was filled with answering 

 shrieks. The ' huk ! huk ! huk 1 of the wounded bulls 

 seemed to find an echo evervwhere, as the cry was taken 

 up and passed along from floe to floe, like the bugle-blast 

 passed from squadron to squadron along a line of battle ; 

 and down from every piece of ice plunged the startled 

 beasts, as quickly as the sailor drops from his hammock 

 when the long-roll beats to quarters. With their ugly 

 heads just above the water, and with mouths wide open, 

 belching forth the dismal ' huk ! huk ! link ! ' thev came 

 tearing toward the boat. 



" In a few moments we were completely surrounded, 

 and the numbers kept multiplying with astonishing 

 rapidity. The water soon became alive and black with 

 them. 



"They seemed at first to be frightened and irresolute, 

 and for a time it did not seem that they meditated 

 mischief; but this pleasing prospect was soon dissipated, 

 and we were forced to look well to our safety. 



"That they meditated an attack there could no longer 

 lie a doubt. To escape the onslaught was impossible. 



