trated the inflated
sides. In either case, destruction would have been inevitable, and it
was only by the active use of oar, axe, and spear that this was
prevented.

Twice did one of the bulls charge the Captain's boat, and on both
occasions he was met by the tremendous might of Chingatok, who planted
the end of an oar on his blunt nose, and thrust him off. On each
occasion, also, he received a shot from the double barrel of Benjy, who
fired the first time into his open mouth, and the second time into his
eye, but an angry cough from the one, and a wink from the other showed
that he did not mind it much. Meantime the Captain, with the Winchester
repeater, was endeavouring--but vainly, owing to the motions of the
giant, and the swaying of the boat--to get a shot at the beast, while
Toolooha, with an axe, was coquetting with a somewhat timid cow near the
stern.

At last an opportunity offered. Captain Vane poured half a dozen balls
as quick as he could fire into the head of the bull, which immediately
sank.

Not less vigorously did the occupants of the other boats receive the
charge. Leo, being more active than the Captain, as well as more expert
with his repeater, slew his male opponent in shorter time, and with less
expenditure of ammunition. Butterface, too, gained much credit by the
prompt manner in which he split the skull of one animal with an axe.
Even Oblooria, the timid, rose to the occasion, and displayed
unlooked-for heroism. With a barbed seal-spear she stood up and invited
a baby walrus to come on--by looks, not by words. The baby accepted the
invitation--perhaps, being a pugnacious baby, it was coming on at any
rate--and Oblooria gave it a vigorous dab on the nose. It resented the
insult by shaking its head fiercely, and endeavouring to back off, but
the barb had sunk into the wound and held on. Oblooria also held on.
Oolichuk, having just driven off a cow walrus, happened to observe the
situation, and held on to Oblooria. The baby walrus was secured, and,
almost as soon as the old bull was slain, had a line attached to it, and
was made fast to the stern.

"Well done, little girl!" exclaimed Oolichuk in admiration, "you're
almost as good as a man."

Among civilised people this might have been deemed a doubtful
compliment, but it was not so in Eskimo-land. The little maid was
evidently much pleased, and the title of the Timid One, which Oolichuk
was wont to give her when in a specially ende