Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-03-12

TnE waLRus. In the clear water Y.
sight small Norwegian 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 look.
ont now sights the walrus in the distant
waves; while boat is being prepared xe
satisfy ourselves With hurried view Of
the gambols Of these strange beasts -
There they are. tvmblins over and over
10 the water. enjoying tho calm. or bask-
isg IN the warm rsys Of the sun, lying
lisslessly on the ice. The water is dotted
with their great black grizsly- bearded
heads, with trcnchant tusks Is inches
long. as they rise and sink on The little
waves. To reach them it VII! be ncces.a.
~ to haul our boat. and all the ncedful
applisnces for the chase. good mile aud
more over the intervening ice; and % ve
setlls down to our work. We think Of the
journey the Swedish Arctic men propose
to themselves. and wonder will they eveI
accomplish what they are about to attempt
At last We are ut the waters edge end 70
launch our boat. Everything is careful.
" adjusted, aud our seats are taken
We pull Gown tho lakes OF water, oul
thoughts full Of the coming sport. Pre-.
sen,ly we come upon the herd. and We
row gently toward two great fellows feat.
ing on the water; to all appearance they
are asleep-they are almost touching each
other-but rs these animals are Lighl,
endowed with intelligence. il il just pos.
sible they are holding sweet converse to.
gcsher. The herd. observing our motions
draw near to - % If to warn their com.
Dssions of The danger; bat re hold ssead.
ily on. and when quite within rasge. b.
some unsccountabls failure, ws miss oul
aim. Do the whole pack vanish out ol
sight like seals in similar adscnture
Not bit oft. The wairus shows No
fear. but. on the contrary. the herd come.
charging down upon rs With awful looks
and threatening growls. the older ones
believing out their defiance. and all rear.
ing half out of the water. splasLing the
surface with their fippers as they come
Their heads are truly horrid- looking; the
muzrle. projecting somewhat, is isfurnished
With thick masses Of coarse, beard-like
bristlcs. their eyes start wildly from thei,
heads. and the two slightly curved fsngs
sharp pointed. sre seen protruding from
their distended jaws, as il the beasts wers
determined to rend the boats side asun.
der whenever they get the dreadful oppor.
tur;'y. The harpocners dissuaie Us from
firing At the crew Of sea devils. not "ses
horses" as they are called. II struck
in = vital part they siuk Ike lead. tai
foremost TO tue bottom. In such a plac,
il is hopeless to recover the carcass. and
wansou destruction Of walrus is not tr
be thought of. We wait. with frelir
strained 70 the utmost tension. as we can.
not divesa ourselves Of the seeming ncces.
si,y to guard ourselves against the threat.
ened attack Of SO formidable an enemy
and while We wait impasien.ly for the ad
jsstmeot Il the clumsisst gau IN uss a
the present day. or ever used in the ckass
Of any animal I've mean the harpoon gun. J
the whole herd. having found. perhsp.
that oue 6rss attempt to injure them xas ,
failnfe, on sudden changed about and
4sd nth the speed n phasisus. A ehss.
. alvays an exeitise affair. bat . ehas,
Ets this i hopeless. In spiis ef sll o.,
e&osts, - 1aa il impossible b come uy