SEA DEVILS. 
203 
protruding from tlieir distended jaws, as if the beasts 
were determined to rend the boat’s side asunder when¬ 
ever they can get the dreaded opportunity. The har- 
pooners dissuade us from firing at the crew of sea- 
devils, not “ sea-horses,” as they are called. If struck 
in a vital part they sink like lead, tail foremost to the 
bottom. In such a place it is hopeless to recover the 
carcass, and wanton destruction of a walrus is not to 
be thought of. We wait, with feelings strained to the 
utmost tension, as we cannot divest ourselves of the 
seeming necessity to guard ourselves against the 
threatened attack of so formidable an enemy; and 
while we wait impatiently for the adjustment of the 
clumsiest gun in use at the present day, or ever used in 
the chase of any animal (we mean the harpoon gun) 
the whole herd, having found, perhaps, that our first 
attempt to injure them was a failure, on a sudden 
changed about and fled with the speed of phantoms. 
A chase is always an exciting affair; but a chase 
like this is hopeless. In spite of all our efforts we 
find it impossible to come up with the fleeing walrus, 
although they tantalize us by showing themselves 
between the ice, just out of range, every now and 
again. We never come within range even for a long 
shot, and no harpooner that valued his reputation 
would risk a shot he is not sure of. For the sake 
