Маугли

           Hebegantothinkofthesealhehadleftbehindhim,butthoughhewasinahurrytogobacktoNovastoshnah,hethoroughlyexploredthenewcountry,sothathewouldbeabletoanswerallquestions.

           Thenhedivedandmadesureofthemouthofthetunnel,andracedthroughtothesouthward.Noonebutaseacoworasealwouldhavedreamedoftherebeingsuchaplace,andwhenhelookedbackatthecliffsevenKotickcouldhardlybelievethathehadbeenunderthem.

           Hewassixdaysgoinghome,thoughhewasnotswimmingslowly;andwhenhehauledoutjustaboveSeaLion’sNeckthefirstpersonhemetwasthesealwhohadbeenwaitingforhim,andshesawbythelookinhiseyesthathehadfoundhisislandatlast.

           ButtheholluschickieandSeaCatch,hisfather,andalltheothersealslaughedathimwhenhetoldthemwhathehaddiscovered,andayoungsealabouthisownagesaid,"Thisisallverywell,Kotick,butyoucan’tcomefromnooneknowswhereandorderusofflikethis.Rememberwe’vebeenfightingforournurseries,andthat’sathingyouneverdid.Youpreferredprowlingaboutinthesea."

           Theothersealslaughedatthis,andtheyoungsealbegantwistinghisheadfromsidetoside.Hehadjustmarriedthatyear,andwasmakingagreatfussaboutit.

           "I’venonurserytofightfor,"saidKotick."Ionlywanttoshowyouallaplacewhereyouwillbesafe.What’stheuseoffighting?"

           "Oh,ifyou’retryingtobackout,ofcourseI’venomoretosay,"saidtheyoungsealwithanuglychuckle.