Crazy with excitement, the native began hissing and spitting in the
beast's face.

"Lift his head!" cried Ootah, paddling near. "Lift--_tugaq_!--lift his
tusk!"

"Lift his head!" echoed the others.

"_Aureti_! _Aureti_! Behave! Behave!" the panic stricken man
ludicrously shrieked at the animal.

Ootah paddled his kayak to the side of his companion's and, leaning
forward, with a quick movement, threw a lasso over the animal's nose
and under one tusk. With a terrific jerk of the body, he gave a
backward pull--the walrus rose on the water, the kayak was freed of the
tusk and slipped away. With a roar the animal sank into the sea. A
number now rose angrily about Ootah's kayak. They were bent upon a
combined assault.

Ootah warded off the attacking bulls on all sides with his harpoon.
The air trembled with infuriated calls, the animals were insane with
brute rage. The other natives, alarmed, paddled to a safe distance and
watched the unequal conflict. While Ootah manipulated his harpoons,
Maisanguaq, in the shelter of the floe, watched him with eager eyes.

He saw Ootah, with almost superhuman dexterity, striking constantly.
Repeatedly he had to renew the metal points on his weapon-handle. One
by one the animals gave up the attack and dispersed, until only an
obdurate bull remained. The battle between man and beast continued,
finally Ootah let the harpoon fly with full strength. It struck the