Маугли
The White Seal
Thatnearlybrokehisheart,andheheadedroundtheHornbacktohisownbeaches;andonhiswaynorthhehauledoutonanislandfullofgreentrees,wherehefoundanold,oldsealwhowasdying,andKotickcaughtfishforhimandtoldhimallhissorrows."Now,"saidKotick,"IamgoingbacktoNovastoshnah,andifIamdriventothekilling-penswiththeholluschickieIshallnotcare."
Theoldsealsaid,"Tryoncemore.IamthelastoftheLostRookeryofMasafuera,andinthedayswhenmenkilledusbythehundredthousandtherewasastoryonthebeachesthatsomedayawhitesealwouldcomeoutoftheNorthandleadthesealpeopletoaquietplace.Iamold,andIshallneverlivetoseethatday,butotherswill.Tryoncemore."
AndKotickcurleduphismustache(itwasabeauty)andsaid,"Iamtheonlywhitesealthathaseverbeenbornonthebeaches,andIamtheonlyseal,blackorwhite,whoeverthoughtoflookingfornewislands."
Thischeeredhimimmensely;andwhenhecamebacktoNovastoshnahthatsummer,Matkah,hismother,beggedhimtomarryandsettledown,forhewasnolongeraholluschickbutafull-grownsea-catch,withacurlywhitemaneonhisshoulders,asheavy,asbig,andasfierceashisfather."Givemeanotherseason,"hesaid."Remember,Mother,itisalwaystheseventhwavethatgoesfarthestupthebeach."
