imal raised itself
breast-high out of the water, and directed a stare of intense
astonishment at the man. That moment was fatal. Annatock buried the
harpoon deep under its left flipper. With a fierce bellow the brute
dashed itself against the ice, endeavouring in its fury to reach its
assailant; but the ice gave way under its enormous weight, while
Annatock ran back as far as the line attached to the harpoon would
permit him.

The walrus, seeing that it could not reach its enemy in this way, seemed
now to be actually endued with reason. It took a long gaze at Annatock,
and then dived. But the Esquimau was prepared for this. He changed his
position hastily, and played his line the meanwhile, fixing the point of
his lance into the ice, in order to give him a more effective hold.
Scarcely had he done so than the spot he had just left was smashed up,
and the head of the walrus appeared, grinning and bellowing as if in
disappointment. At this moment Peetoot handed his uncle a harpoon, and,
ere the animal dived, the weapon was fixed in his side. Once more
Annatock changed his position; and once again the spot on which he had
been standing was burst upwards. It was a terrible sight to see that
unearthly-looking monster smashing the ice around it, and lashing the
blood-stained sea into foam, while it waged such mortal war with the
self-possessed and wary man. How mighty and strong the one! how
comparatively weak and seemingly helpless the other! It was the triumph
of mind over matter--of reason over blind brute force. But Annatock
fought a hard battle that day ere he came off conqueror. Harpoon after
harpoon was driven into the walrus; again and again the lance pierced
deep into its side and drank its life-blood; but three hours had passed
away before the dead carcass was dragged from the deep by the united
force of dogs and man. During this terrible combat Edith had looked on
with such intense interest that she could scarcely believe her eyes when
she found, from the position of the sun, that the day was far advanced.
It was too late now to think of cutting up the carcasses without
assistance, so Annatock determined to return home and tell his
countrymen of his good fortune.

It is a custom among the Esquimaux to consider every animal that is
killed as the common property of all--the successful hunter being
entitled to all the titbits, besides his portion of the equal dividend;
so that Annatock knew he had only