The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-03-14
The Walrus.

IN the clear water, we sight a small Nor
wegian fishing smack making easy way,
and from the sounds that come booming
over the hollow sea from time to time, we
conclude that their sport is excellent The
masthead looks out now sights the walrus
M the distant waves while boat is being
prepared, We satisfy ourselves with hur-
rled view Of the gambuls of these strange
beasts There they are, tumbling over
and over III the water, enjoying the calm,
Or basking in the warm rays Of the sun,
lying listlessly on the ice. The water is
dotted with their great black grlszly-
bearded heads, with trenchant tusks Is
inches long, as they rise aud sink on the
little waves. To reach them. it will be
necessary to haul our boat, and all the
needful appliances for the chase, a good
mile and more over the intervening ice
and as we settle down to our work. we
think of the journey the Swedish Arctic
men propose to themselves, and wonder
will they ever accomplish what they are
about to attempt At last we are at the
waters 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 toward two great fell
lows floating on the water to all appear
ance 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 con-
verse together. The herd, observing our
tf IN IS IN.
their companions Of the danger but we
hold steadily on, and when quite within
range, by some unaccOuntable failure, we
bliss our aimsN Do the whole pack vanish
ont Of sight like seals in a similar adven-
t1re Not akit 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 believing out their defiance, and all
rearing half out Of the water, splashing
the surface with their fippers as they
come. Their heads are truly horrid- look
ing the muzzle, projecting somewhat, is
furnished with thick masses Of coarse,
beardlike bristles, their eyes start wildly
from their heads, and the two slightly
curved fangs, sharp pointed, are seen pro-
truding from their dIstended Jaws, as if
the beasts were determined TO rend the
boats side asdnder whenever they get the
dreaded opportunity. The harpooners dis
suade us from firing at the crew Of sea
devils, not sea-horses," as they are
called. II struck IN a vital part, they sink
like lead, tail foremost to the bottom. In
such place, il is hopeless to recover the
carci IS, and wanton destruction of a wal
rus il not 70 bs thought q. We wait,
with feelings strained to the utmost ten
sion, as we cannot divest ourselves Of the
seeming necessity to guard ourselves
against the threatened attack Of 50 for
midable an enemy and while we wait i'm
patiently for the adjustment Of the clum-
siest gun in use at the present day, or ever
used in the chase Of any animal 1--WE mean
the harpoon gum, the whole herd. having
found, perhaps, that our first attempt to
injure them was a failure, on a sudden
changed about and fed with the speed of
phantoms. A chase is always an exciting
affair, bnt chase like this is hopeless. In
spite Of all our efforts, we find it impossi-
bic to come up with the fleeing Walrus, al
though they tantalize us by showing them
selves between the ice, just out Of range,
every now and again. We never come
within range even for long shot, and no
harpooner that valued his reputation,
would risk shot he is not sure Of
From the " Gateway to the POiynid."