"But it is so absurd. The idea of shooting at a dead beast!" "I'm glad I didn't, Mr Handscombe!" cried Steve merrily. "Now, look here, don't you begin to joke me, sir," said the doctor, "because I will not have it." He spoke laughingly, but he was evidently greatly chagrined. "So utterly ridiculous," he said. "I say, Johannes, you ought not to have let me waste ammunition over a dead beast." "I'm very sorry, sir, but I did not know till you fired the first shot, the animal lay so naturally. Then I began to think it was our bear wounded. Of course, sir, I would not have let you fire if I had known." "Never mind," said the captain, laughing. "But I say, Steve, my lad, your scruples saved you from a--from a--" "There, say it; don't hesitate," said the doctor. "Saved him from a very ridiculous action. I don't mind." "Well, we have got a magnificent bear anyhow," cried the captain. "His skin is finer than that of the other, and he is tremendously fat." "There'll pe plenty more pear's grease for Watty's hair," whispered Hamish; and Andrew uttered a dry laugh, which sounded like the rattling together of pieces of wood. "I don't think there can be any tide to rise here and sweep the animal away," said the captain, "so we'll leave it till we return." He led the way to the boat, leaving the bear untouched, and the next minute they were rowing north, with the whole party keeping a sharp look-out for the walrus, which seemed to have forsaken the coast. CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. THEIR FIRST WALRUS. But they were not kept waiting long. A quarter of a mile farther on the coast trended round to the east, and there the open sheet of water became encumbered with masses of ice, upon several of which Jakobsen, whose eyes were wonderfully good and admirably trained, pointed out walrus asleep or on the watch with head thrown back. That was enough. Andrew uttered no more gibes, but tugged at his oar with the rest, and as silently; for all knew how much depended upon their surprising the wary beasts. "Have you ever shot walrus, sir?" asked Johannes suddenly. "Never," replied the captain; "but I think I shall be able to hit one." "Of course, sir. What I meant was, that as soon as you have hit one it will make for the water and sink. So do not be surprised after you have shot if I harpoon the beast to save it from being lost." "They do sink, then?" "Yes, sir; fat as they are they go right down. I have seen many a one lost after being shot." "But they are so fat," said the captain. "An animal laden like that with blubber ought surely to float." "You would think so, sir," replied the Norseman, who had now replaced the spear along the thwarts and taken up a harpoon; "but they do not float."