78 THE WORLD OF ICK.

scarcely had this been accomplished when another storm,
which had been gradually gathering, burst upon them,
and compelled them once more to seek the shelter of
the land.

Numerous walruses rolled about in the bays here, and
they approached much nearer to the vessel than they
had yet done, affording those on board a good view of
their huge, uncouth visages, as they shook their shaggy
fronts and ploughed up the waves with their tusks.
These enormous creatures are the elephants of the
Arctic Ocean. Their aspect is particularly grim and
fierce, and being nearly equal to elephants in bulk
they are not less terrible than they appear. In form
they somewhat resemble seals, having barrel-shaped
bodies, with round, or rather square, blunt heads and
shagey bristling moustaches, and two long ivory tusks
which curve downwards instead of upwards, serving
the purpose frequently of hooks, by means of which
and their fore-flippers they can pull themselves up on
the rocks and icebergs. Indeed, they are sometimes
found ata considerable height up the sides of steep
cliffs, basking in the sun.

Fred was anxious to procure the skull of one of
these monstrous animals, but the threatening appear-
ance of the weather rendered any attempt to secure
one at that time impossible. A dark sinister scowl
overhung the blink wnder the cloud-bank to the south-
ward, and the dovkies which had enlivened their pro-
eress hitherto forsook the channel, as if they distrusted
the weather. Captain Guy made every possible pre-