26 CAPTAIN ERICSON. 



justice, I must acknowledge that lie seemed to 

 regret tlie loss of his poor young mate even 

 more than that of the telescope, which he had 

 accompanied in its descent, although the latter 

 was quite invaluable and indispensable here, 

 and not to be replaced nearer than Hammer- 

 fest for ten times its weight in gold. We had 

 only three telescopes between us ; but after a 

 slight inward struggle I prevailed upon my- 

 self to present one of them to Ericson, and I 

 was happy to be able to render such an im- 

 portant service to so good and obliging a 

 fellow. 



Before parting company we went on board 

 the "Nordbye," to see a young live walrus ("a 

 leetle boy- walrus," as Ericson in his broken 

 English called it), which they had on board 

 as a pet. This interesting little animal was 

 about the size of a sheep, and was the most 

 comical fac-simile imaginable of an old walrus ; 

 he had been taken alive after the harpooning 

 of his mother, a few weeks ago, and now 

 seemed perfectly healthy, and tame and play- 

 ful as a kitten. It was of course a great pet 

 with all on board, and seemed much more in- 

 telligent than I could have believed ; the only 

 thing which seemed to destroy its equani- 



