A HUNTIXG TRIP TO NORTHERN GREENLAND 119 



boat, and in another second would be tearing along through the water 

 in the wake of an angr}'' walrus. As the huge beast came to the sur- 

 face the man whose turn it was to shoot would try to put an end to 

 the animal's struggles by a well-placed bullet in the back of the neck. 



It often happened that walrus would be seen on an ice-floe, some- 

 times from six to a dozen being on a single pan. In such cases one 

 or even two of the natives would come into our boat and stand up in 

 the bow while we headed directly for the walrus. Silentl}'- we would 

 creep up until the floe was reached or even struck by us before the 

 walrus would take to the water. Then the harpoon would flash, the 

 sea would be alive with angry tusks, and it would look as though the 

 destruction of the boat was inevitable ; but after firing a few shots 

 here and there at the more furious of the animals peace would again 

 reign, witli only the absurd-looking floats to tell of the tumult. 



Early one morning, while we were still on the sea after a night of 

 it, we came upon so many walrus that the natives hesitated to attack 

 them. Ever3'where could be seen herds of a dozen or more, now 

 rising high above the water, now disa[)pearing below its surface, and 

 as we drew near their furious grunts and bellowings rent the air. The 

 shore was miles away. At this point there was nothing but glacier 

 front and steep gra}'- cliff's, while but a single ice-pan floated between 

 us and the land. Nearer and nearer drew the lines of battle, our wiiite 

 boat a consi)icuous object against the green of the water, and still the 

 walrus kept closing in about us. Suddenly a herd of six or eight 

 rose out of the water but a few yards away and bore down upon us 

 as we lay with our broadside turned toward them. Each man 

 grasped his rifle, while one stood up and, imitating the grunts of the 

 animals, called them on. Then, when but a few feet of water sepa- 

 rated them from us, he raised his rifle and fired at the leading Ijull 

 in the herd. The shot struck the animal fairly in the face, and quick 

 as a flash the whole herd disappeared. They must have gone right 

 under the boat, so great had been their impetus. As the early morn- 

 ing mists faded away the walrus became quieter, and in a short time 

 only a few dozen of tiiem were seen sporting among the ice-cakes in 

 the mouth of Inglefield Gulf, Needless to say, there were several 

 walrus heads in our boat when, after a long, hard row, we landed l)e- 

 fore the camp. 



The next day the Diana ap[)eared. Those on tlie ship had had 

 walrus hunting as well as we, having received a message from Lieu- 

 tenant Peary to the effect that he needed fresh fi)od for his dogs. 



