Маугли
The White Seal
Thenshewouldtakethestraightestofstraightlinesinhisdirection,strikingoutwithherforeflippersandknockingtheyoungstersheadoverheelsrightandleft.Therewerealwaysafewhundredmothershuntingfortheirchildrenthroughtheplaygrounds,andthebabieswerekeptlively.But,asMatkahtoldKotick,"Solongasyoudon’tlieinmuddywaterandgetmange,orrubthehardsandintoacutorscratch,andsolongasyounevergoswimmingwhenthereisaheavysea,nothingwillhurtyouhere."
Littlesealscannomoreswimthanlittlechildren,buttheyareunhappytilltheylearn.ThefirsttimethatKotickwentdowntotheseaawavecarriedhimoutbeyondhisdepth,andhisbigheadsankandhislittlehindflippersflewupexactlyashismotherhadtoldhiminthesong,andifthenextwavehadnotthrownhimbackagainhewouldhavedrowned.
Afterthat,helearnedtolieinabeachpoolandletthewashofthewavesjustcoverhimandlifthimupwhilehepaddled,buthealwayskepthiseyeopenforbigwavesthatmighthurt.Hewastwoweekslearningtousehisflippers;andallthatwhileheflounderedinandoutofthewater,andcoughedandgruntedandcrawledupthebeachandtookcatnapsonthesand,andwentbackagain,untilatlasthefoundthathetrulybelongedtothewater.
