The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-05-03
a wALnus HUNT IN ARCTIC SEAS.


uliaiion was brief, for, rs we were
towing thi, immense burden. wcigh-
ing, rs we found nftcrward. nearly
400 pounds, one of the purity shouted
cxcitcdly, "Lpok ahead, boys! We
qrc in for it,
Advancing upon us in stern battle
array with regular, unGrckcn column.
camu hcrd of between thirty ani
forty walrus. 1t was II grand sight.
On they came with swift aud vigorous
strokes, their great, ,lark-brOwn forms
in strong contrast with tho icc-covcred
sea-, Their huge, h,rd-visagcd heads
erect, their long, sharp ivory. tusks
gliscning fcrociousIy in tho sunlight.
Their bioodshot eyes were fixed upon
us with vengctul intent.
We, however. were rs eager "a they
for the fray. Aglow with cxcitcmcns
and eXhilaration, we ct their fierce
onslaught with vollcy from our rifles
that even those determined beasts
could not withstand. But they with
drew only for mcmenl; then, be-
lowing loudly with rage, they made a
second desperate effort to reach our
boat. One huge monster who led the
ranks divcd, aud it appeared as il he
would come just below the stern. Up
he came alongside, and reared his un-
gainly head in order to hook his iusks
over the gunwale of the boat. That
We had to prevent; for had lie sue.
ceeded in getting them over the side,
his immense weight, even unaidcd by
any effort on his part, would have
capsized our boat "a il it were but
racing-shc Our artist fired into the
tough hide only II few feet away.
grasped the nearest wcapon,-an ice-
ax,-but the blow from il made no
more impression than il it had been u
light wand, except that it cnragcd him
still more.
Again hc raised his tnsks, and rr.
ncwcd his attempt; but then our
brave commander planted Il good-sizei
rihc-ball in the napc of tho ncck-a
vital point. We had had a narrow
cscape for, once upset, even had we
avoided the jaws ofthose angry brutcs,
swimming in that icy water to one of
the distant icebergs wouIL have been
extremely perilous. In the mean time
the herd of walrul, bcwildcred AMI
frightened, many having been killed
or wounded, turned and retrcatcl in
hasty disorder.
Then, towing our two walrus. a
weight of over tlrec thousand pounds.
we rowcd for our ship, the "Kite."
!, was very slow and arduous work.
But we felt secure, thinking we were
done with our impciuous arctic cne-
mies. Thoy were of different mind;
certainly they were not done with US.
For rs we pulled with aching arms
and weary backs, a loud shout from
/ one of the men warnel IL, that our
fancied security was to be disturbed.
Right ahead appeared a pack of some
so w,lru'; anl scarce had we time to
collect ourselves aud prepare for bat
tic, when another group was seen of
tho slarboarl bow-then still another
OFF the port bow! We were complete
Iy surrounded, and in tho distance
many more dark bodies were made
ont, evidently swimming toward us.
The sca was alive with them. Tho
wounded had reireatcd only to sum-
mon aid to collect their scattered
forces. More enraycd than ever, they
had returned to wreak dire vengeance
on the presumptuous foreign intrud-
ers. This time it seemed as If our
hunt was 10 have disastrous ending.
Undaun;ed by our fire, on they
came, some to within fifteen or twenty
feet. We tried to make every shot
tell Some graspe'l the oars to row for
the ship, and one brandished the heavy
ships ny, to prevent them from thrust
ing their. tusks over the side of the
boat. Now the fight had reached the
height OF excitement. Herds of mall
dened walrus were on all sides, and
, the sharp. rapid reports of the rifles
a were followed by the peculiar, dis
J cordant bowling and believing of the
! infuriated beasts. We still clung TO
J our unwicldy spoils, which made it
impossible to attain any headway. At
4 first We lurriedly lohn.eI Mhathar wa