Маугли
The White Seal
But,asyouknow,hehasanextrajointinhisforeflipper,andbywavingitupanddownandabouthemakeswhatanswerstoasortofclumsytelegraphiccode.
BydaylightKotick’smanewasstandingonendandhistemperwasgonewherethedeadcrabsgo.ThentheSeaCowbegantotravelnorthwardveryslowly,stoppingtoholdabsurdbowingcouncilsfromtimetotime,andKotickfollowedthem,sayingtohimself,"Peoplewhoaresuchidiotsasthesearewouldhavebeenkilledlongagoiftheyhadn’tfoundoutsomesafeisland.AndwhatisgoodenoughfortheSeaCowisgoodenoughfortheSeaCatch.Allthesame,Iwishthey’dhurry."
ItwaswearyworkforKotick.Theherdneverwentmorethanfortyorfiftymilesaday,andstoppedtofeedatnight,andkeptclosetotheshoreallthetime;whileKotickswamroundthem,andoverthem,andunderthem,buthecouldnothurrythemupone-halfmile.Astheywentfarthernorththeyheldabowingcouncileveryfewhours,andKoticknearlybitoffhismustachewithimpatiencetillhesawthattheywerefollowingupawarmcurrentofwater,andthenherespectedthemmore.
Onenighttheysankthroughtheshinywater—sanklikestones—andforthefirsttimesincehehadknownthembegantoswimquickly.Kotickfollowed,andthepaceastonishedhim,forheneverdreamedthatSeaCowwasanythingofaswimmer.Theyheadedforacliffbytheshore—acliffthatrandownintodeepwater,andplungedintoadarkholeatthefootofit,twentyfathomsunderthesea.
