76 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



down with a tremendous splash almost at the same 

 instant. When they came up again, still shrieking as 

 before, they were some distance from us, their heads all 

 now pointed seaward, making from us as fast as they 

 could go, their cries growing more and more faint as they 

 retreated in the distance. We must have killed at least 

 a dozen, and mortally wounded as many more. The 

 water was in places red with blood, and several half- 

 dead and dying animals lay floating about us. The bull 

 to which we were made fast pulled away with all his 

 might after the retreating herd, but his strength soon 

 became exhausted ; and, as his speed slackened, we 

 managed to haul in the line, and finally approached him 

 so nearly that our rifle-balls took effect, and Miller at 

 length gave him the coup tie grftce with his lance. We 

 then drew him to the nearest piece of ice, and I had 

 soon a fine specimen to add to my Natural History 

 collections. Of the others we secured only one ; the 

 rest had died and sunk before we reached them. 



" I have never before regarded the walrus as a reallv 

 formidable animal ; but this contest convinces me that 

 I have done their courage great injustice. They are full 

 of fight ; and had we not been very active and self- 

 possessed, our boat would have been torn to pieces, and we 

 either drowned or killed. A more fierce attack than that 

 which they made upon us could hardly be imagined, and 

 a more formidable-looking enemy than one of these huge 

 monsters, with his immense tusks and bellowing throat, 

 would be difficult to find. Next time I try them I will 

 arm my boa^s crew with lances. The rifle is a poor 

 reliance, and but for the oars, the herd would have 

 been on top of us at any time." 



Upon the top of the hill on the north side of the 

 harbour a cairn was constructed, and under it Hayes 

 deposited a brief record of the voyage. On the 11th July 



