There cannot be a doubt that they looked up to see what had happened to Ponting and the dogs.
The latter were horribly frightened and strained to their chains, whining; the head of one killer must certainly have been within 5 feet of one of the dogs.
After this, whether they thought the game insignificant, or whether they missed Ponting is uncertain, but the terrifying creatures passed on to other hunting grounds, and we were able to rescue the dogs, and what was even more important, our petrol--5 or 6 tons of which was waiting on a piece of ice which was not split away from the main mass.
Of course, we have known well that killer whales continually skirt the edge of the floes and that they would undoubtedly snap up anyone who was unfortunate enough to fall into the water; but the facts that they could display such deliberate cunning, that they were able to break ice of such thickness (at least 2 1/2 feet), and that they could act in unison, were a revelation to us.

It is clear that they are endowed with singular intelligence, and in future we shall treat that intelligence with every respect.
Notes on the Killer or Grampus (_Orca gladiator_) One killed at Greenwich, 31 feet.
Teeth about 2 1/2 inches above jaw; about 3 1/2 inches total length.
_'British Quadrupeds'-- Bell:_ 'The fierceness and voracity of the killer, in which it surpasses all other known cetaceans.' In stomach of a 21 ft.

specimen were found remains of 13 porpoises and 14 seals.
A herd of white whales has been seen driven into a bay and literally torn to pieces.
Teeth, large, conical, and slightly recurred, 11 or 12 on each side of either jaw.
_'Mammals'-- Flower and Lydekker:_ 'Distinguished from all their allies by great strength and ferocity.' 'Combine in packs to hunt down and destroy.

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