364 FARTHEST NORTH 



" As we were paddling along through some small bits 

 of ice my kayak suddenly received a violent shock from 

 underneath. I looked round in amazement, as I had 

 not noticed any large piece of ice hereabouts. There 

 was nothing of the kind to be seen either, but worse 

 enemies were about. No sooner had I glanced down 

 than I saw a huge walrus cleaving through the water 

 astern, and it suddenly came up, raised itself and stood on 

 end just before Johansen, who was following in my wake. 

 Afraid lest the animal should have its tusks tlirough the 

 deck of his craft the next minute, he backed as hard 

 as he could and felt for his gun, which he had down 

 in the kayak. I was not long either in pulling my gun 

 out of its cover. The animal crashed snorting into the 

 water again, however, dived under Johansen's kayak, and 

 came up just behind him. Johansen, thinking he had 

 had enough of such a neighbor, scrambled incontinently 

 on to the floe nearest him. After having waited awhile, 

 witli m}- gun ready for the w^alrus to come up close by 

 me, I followed his example. I very nearly came in for 

 the cold bath which the walrus had omitted to give me, 

 for the edge of the ice gave way just as I set my foot on 

 it, and the kayak drifted off with me standing upright in 

 it, and trying to balance it as best I could, in order not 

 to capsize. If the walrus had reappeared at that mo- 

 niL-nt I should certainly have received it in its own ele- 

 ment. Finally, I succeeded in getting up on to the ice, and 

 for a lono- time afterwards the walrus swam round and 



