202 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEi V. 
pose to themselves, and wonder will they ever accom¬ 
plish what they are about to attempt. 
At last we are at the water’s edge and we launch 
our boat. Everything is carefully adjusted and our 
seats are taken. We pull down the lakes of water, our 
thoughts full of the coming sport. Presently we come 
upon the herd, and we row gently towards two great 
fellows floating on the water ; to all appearance they 
are asleep—they are almost touching each other—but 
as these animals are highly endowed with intelligence, 
it is just possible they are holding sweet converse to¬ 
gether. The herd, observing our .motions, draw near 
to us as if to warn their companions of the danger; 
but we hold steadily on, and when quite within range, 
by some unaccountable failure we miss our aim. Do 
the whole pack vanish out of sight like seals in a 
similar adventure ? Not a bit of it. The walrus shows 
no fear, but, on the contrary, the herd comes charging 
down upon us with awful looks and threatening growls, 
the older ones bellowing out their defiance, and all 
rearing half out of the water, splashing the surface 
with their flippers as they come. Their heads are truly 
horrid-looking; the muzzle, projecting somewhat, is 
furnished with thick masses of coarse, beard-like 
bristles, their eyes start wildly from their heads, and 
the two slightly-curved fangs, sharp pointed, are seen 
