THE WORLD OF ICE. 247

throwing their spears and missing their mark, although
it was a big one, frequently.

“Give him a lance-thrust, Amos,” cried Saunders,
reloading his piece.

But Amos could not manage it, for the creature
lashed about so furiously that, although he made re-
peated attempts, he failed to do more than prick its
tough sides and render it still more savage. Buzzby,
too, made several daring efforts to lance it, but failed,
and nearly slipped into the hole in his recklessness.
It was a wild scene of confusion—the spray was
dashed over the ice round the hole, and the men, as
they ran about in extreme excitement, slipped and
occasionally tumbled in their haste; while the mad-
dened brute glared at them like a fiend, and bellowed
in its anger and pain.

Suddenly it dived, leaving the men staring at each
other. The sudden cessation of noise and turmoil had
a very strange eftect.

“Ts't away?” inquired Saunders, with a look of
chagrin.

He was answered almost instantly by the walrus
reappearing, and making furious efforts by means of
its flippers and tusks to draw itself out upon the ice,
while it roared with redoubled energy. The shot
that was instantly fired seemed to have no effect, and
the well-directed harpoon of Awatok was utterly dis-
regarded by it. Amos Parr, however, gave it a lance-
thrust that caused it to howl vehemently, and dyed
the foam with its blood.