394 FARTHEST NORTH 



lay and dived just outside. We were well equipped 

 with guns and harpoons, and thought that it was all 

 quite simple. Nor was it difficult to get within range, 

 and we emptied our barrels into the animal's head. It 

 lay stunned for a moment, and we rowed towards it, but 

 suddenly it began to splash and whirl round in the water, 

 completely beside itself. I shouted out that we must 

 back, but it was too late : the walrus got under the 

 kayaks, and we received several blows underneath, in 

 the violence of its contortions, before it finally dived. It 

 soon came up again, and now the sound of its breathing 

 resounded on all sides, while blood streamed from its 

 mouth and nostrils, and dyed the surrounding water. 

 We lost no time in rowing up to it and pouring a fresh 

 volley into its head. Again it dived, and we cautiously 

 drew back, to avoid receiving an attack from below. It 

 soon appeared again, and we once more rowed up to it. 

 These manoeuvres were repeated, and each time it came 

 to the surface it received at least one bullet in the head, 

 and grew more and more exhausted ; but, as it always 

 faced us, it was difficult to give it a mortal wound behind 

 the ear. The blood, however, now fiowed in streams. 

 During one of these manoeuvres I ^vas in the act of 

 placing my gun hurriedly in its case on the deck, in 

 order to row nearer, forgetting that it was cocked, when 

 all at once it went off. I was rather alarmed, thinking 

 the ball had gone through the bottom of the kayak, and 

 I began feeling my legs. They were uninjured, however, 



