AMONG THE WALRUSES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue III, 18 January 1896, Page 79

AMONG THE WALRUSES.

The walrus in the water is the noblest and moat courageous game in the Arctic seas. It is a huge creature, often more than fifteen feet in length, with an average weight of a thousand pounds. Its tusks are from one to three feet long, and when full grown weigh about five pounds. Walrus bunting has its dangers, as in this instance, related by Dr. I. M. Mills in Outing. One or two walruses, it appears, had already been killed. Suddenly we saw the walruses coming for us in all directions, and we had been warned of their desperation. Vorse grasped a gaff. He would hold the boat near the ice, he said, and I must keep the beasts at bay with my Winchester. Shot after shot was fired into their ranks. They could not stand such a fusillade, and finally turned and left ns. Thinking they had departed for good, Tom calmly proceeded with bis work of chopping off the dead monster’s bead. But the wounded walruses had merely gone to gather reinforcements, and soon we found ourselves again in danger. The fierce, ugly beasts were coming from all directions, bellowing discordantly, lashing the water with their strong, heavy flippers, raising their gleaming white tusks, and glaring at us with bloodshot, revengeful eyes. Tom sprang into the boat and Vorse pushed off, and as they came within twenty feet we gave them a volley, trying to make each shot tell, as we found we had only six or eight rounds apiece. We saw a mother carry her two offsprings away, one under each flipper, and then return to the battle. Again the herds retreated, only to return and make another charge still more furious and determined. One fellow attempted to raise his tusk over the side of the boat, but was prevented in time. At last, when we had almost despaired, for our ammunition was falling fast, they could no longer withstand the leaden shower, and turned and fled in terror-stricken disorder. We also turned the other way, and beat a hasty retreat, proud of our success in capturing two gigantic seahorses.'