246 THE WORLD OF ICH.

Awatok led the party stealthily towards a hum-
mock, behind which he caused them to crouch until
the walrus should dive. This it did in a few minutes,
and then they all rushed from their place of conceal-
ment towards another hummock that lay about fifty
yards from the hole. Just as they reached it and
crouched, the walrus rose, snorting the brine from its
shacey muzzle, and lashing the water into foam with
its flippers.

“Dosh, what a big un!” exclaimed Saunders in
amazement; and well he might, for this was an un-
usually large animal, more like an elephant in size
than anything else.

It had two enormous ivory tusks, with which it tore
and pounded large fragments from the ice-tables, while
it barked like a gicantic dog, and rolled its heavy
form about in sport.

Awatok now whispered to his comrades, and at-
tempted to get them to understand that they must
follow him as fast as possible at the next run. Sud-
denly the walrus dived. Awatok rushed forward,
and in another instant stood at the edge of the hole
with his spear in readiness in his right hand and the
coil of line in his left. The others joined him in-
stantly, and they had seareely come up when the
huge monster again rose to the surface.

Saunders and Buzzby fired at his head the moment
it appeared above water, and Awatok at the same
time planted a spear in his breast, and ran back with
the coil. The others danced about in an excited state,