CHAPTER XVIII

The hunting-party—Reckless drwing—A. desperate encounter with a
walrus, ele.

ATE in the day, by the bright light of the stars,

the sailors and the Esquimaux left the snow-

huts of the village, and travelling out to seaward on

the floes, with dogs and sledges, lances and spears,
advanced to do battle with the walrus.

The northern lights were more vivid than usual,
making the sky quite luminous; and there was a sharp
freshness in the air, which, while it induced the
hunters to pull their hoods more tightly round their
faces, also sent their blood careering more briskly
through their veins, as they drove swiftly over the
ice in the Esquimau sledges.

“Did ye ever sce walruses afore, Davie?” in-
quired Buzzby, who sat beside Summers on the lead-
ing sledge.

“None but what I’ve seed on this voyage.”

“They're vemarkable creeturs,” rejoined Buzzby,
slapping his hand on his thigh. “I’ve seed many a
one in my time, an’ I can tell ye, lad, they're ugly
enstomers. They fight like good uns, and give the