VOVAGE TO GREENLAND. 
133 
just quitted the ice and was in the sea. On hearing 
this, I instantly requested a boat, and went after 
him. Seeing that he was going leisurely to a large 
floe of ice at some distance, we got within a hundred 
yards of him before we were noticed; when he 
instantly turned to endeavour to regain the ice, and 
we rowed with all our might to cut him off : finding 
that he failed in his object, he changed his route 
to face the boat, and approached it, keeping up a 
continued growling with other indications of rage, 
such as shewing his frightful teeth, and elevating 
his head and much of his body out of the water. 
Being desirous to preserve the head of an animal 
represented to be of an unusual size, I let him come 
within twelve yards, when I fired a ball through 
his shoulder, which deprived him of the use of a 
fore leg, when he roared hideously, pressed to- 
wards us in the most ferocious manner, and endea- 
voured to board or upset the boat, but failed from 
the loss of his leg : he was then attacked by the 
crew with lances, the thrusts of some of which he 
avoided with astonishing dexterity, and, in the most 
resolute manner, again made several attempts to 
reach the boat, but being repulsed by an over- 
powering thrust of a lance from the harpooner on 
his flank, he was unable longer to hold the contest. 
During its continuance he had bitten a lance with 
such exasperated rage, as to break one of his long 
tusks : finding battle fruitless in the water, he re- 
treated towards the ice, swimming most astonish- 
ingly fast, considering the great propelling power 
