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Myosu heretofore quite phlegmatic now
seemed to show a little life. His coil
of walrus hide, a well cut line of
[blank] fathoms in length is laid beside
him. One end received an iron barb
fitting into a case of bone, which by
a socket can be fastened or removed to
a shape of unicorn's horn; the other
end has a simple loop or as sailors
would say "is knotted in a bight".

There is little time for meditation
the Harpoon is passed, the water moves
and with a great puff of pent up
respiration five walrus appear within
two fathoms of the hunter. Slowly
rides Myosu the right arm through
back and grasping the harpoon, the
left flat to his side -: for an instant
the walrus gaze, when the left arm
of Myosu is raised from his side, and
the attention of the beast awakens he
rides breast high as if wishing to
take one look before plunging, at
that instant, the right arm does its
fatal duty and the harpoon is
buried under the left flipper.

Although the Awuk is down in
a moment, Myosu is seen running with
desperate speed away from the scene
of his victory. Carrying with him the
slack of his coil, holding it by its
terminating loop, in running he has
seized a small stick pointed with a
rude though sharp iron, and with
a sudden movement this is driven into
the ice and the bight carefully secured
around it, being pressed down close to
the ice surface by both feet of the
savage.