HAYES' EXPEDITION (1861) 75 



We had raised a hornet's nest about our ears in a most 

 astonishingly short space of time, and we must do the 

 best we could. Even the wounded animal to which we 

 were fast turned upon us, and we became the focus of at 

 least a thousand gaping, bellowing mouths. 



" It seemed to be the purpose of the walrus to get 

 their tusks over the gunwale of the boat, and it was 

 evident that, in the event of one such monster hooking 

 on to us, the boat would be torn in pieces, and we would 

 be left floating in the sea helpless. We had good motive, 

 therefore, to be active. Miller plied his lance from the 

 bows, and gave many a serious wound. The men pushed 

 back the onset with their oars, while Knorr, Jensen, and 

 myself loaded and fired our rifles as rapidly as we could. 

 Several times we were in great jeopardy, but the timely 

 thrust of an oar, or the lance, or a bullet saved us. 

 Once I thought we were surely gone. I had fired, and 

 was hastening to load ; a wicked-looking brute was 

 making at us, and it seemed probable that he would be 

 upon us. I stopped loading, and was preparing to cram 

 my rifle down his throat, when Knorr, who had got 

 ready his weapon, sent a fatal shot into his head. 

 Again, an immense animal, the largest that I had ever 

 seen, and with tusks apparently 3 feet long, was 

 observed to be making his way through the herd with 

 mouth wide open, bellowing dreadfully. I was now as 

 before busy loading ; Knorr and Jensen had just dis- 

 charged their pieces, and the men were well engaged 

 with their oars. It was a critical moment, but happily 

 I was in time. The monster, his head high above the 

 boat, was within C Z feet of the gunwale, when I raised 

 my piece and fired into his mouth. The discharge killed 

 him instantly, and he went down like a stone. 



"This ended the fray. I know not why, but the 

 whole herd seemed suddenly to take alarm, and all dove 



