"Let's watch him, and follow him if he hauls out." He swam directly to the beach and clambered out into a small opening between two harems, the masters of which made warning noises but did not attack him.

We watched him travel slowly inward, threading about among the harems along what must have been the path.
"Here goes," I said, stepping out; but I confess my heart was in my mouth as I thought of going through the heart of that monstrous herd.
"It would be wise to make the boat fast," Maud said.
She had stepped out beside me, and I regarded her with wonderment.
She nodded her head determinedly.

"Yes, I'm going with you, so you may as well secure the boat and arm me with a club." "Let's go back," I said dejectedly.

"I think tundra grass, will do, after all." "You know it won't," was her reply.

"Shall I lead ?" With a shrug of the shoulders, but with the warmest admiration and pride at heart for this woman, I equipped her with the broken oar and took another for myself.