502 FARTHESl^ NORTH 



the southeast, there was a small rocky knoll, where num- 

 bers of fulmar {Proccllaria glacialis) seemed to be breed- 

 ing. Our supply of food was now getting very low, and 

 we had been hoping for a visit from some bear or other; 

 but now that we needed them they of course kept away. 

 We then determined to shoot birds, but the auks liew' too 

 high, and all we got was a couple of fulmars. As we just 

 then passed a herd of walruses we determined to take 

 some of this despised food, and we shot one of them, kill- 

 ing it on the spot. At the report the others raised their 

 heads a little, but only to let them fall again, and went on 

 sleeping. To get our prize skinned with these brutes 

 lying around us was not to be thought of, and we must 

 drive them into the water in some way or other. This 

 was no easy matter, liowever. \\"e went up to them, 

 shouted and halloed, but they onl)^ looked at us lazily, and 

 did not move. Then we hit them with snow-shoe staves; 

 they became angry, and struck their tusks into the ice 

 until the chips flew, but still would not move. At last, 

 however, by continuing to poke and beat, we drove the 

 whole herd into the water, but it was not quick work. In 

 stately, dignified procession they drew back and shambled 

 slowly off, one after the other, to the water's edge. Here 

 they again looked round at us, grunting discontentedly, 

 and then plunged into the water one by one. But while 

 we were cutting up their comrade they kept coming up 

 again in the crack beside us, grunting and creeping half up 

 on the ice, as if to demand an explanation of our conduct. 



