520 



FARTHEST NORTH 



suddenly the walrus shot up beside me, threw itself on to 

 the edge of the kayak, took hold farther over the deck 

 with one fore-flipper, and, as it tried to upset me, aimed a 

 blow at the kayak with its tusks. I held on as tightly as 

 possible, so as not to be upset into the water, and struck 



IT TRIED TO UPSET ME 



at the animal's head with the paddle as hard as I could. 

 It took hold of the kayak once more and tilted me up, 

 so that the deck was almost under water, then let go, 

 and raised itself right up. I seized my gun, but at 

 the same moment it turned round and disappeared as 

 Cjuickly as it had come. The whole thing had happened 

 in a moment, and I was just going to remark to Johansen 

 that we were fortunate in escaping so easily from that 

 adventure, when I noticed that my legs were wet. I 



