Маугли
The White Seal
AtSeaLion’sNeck,wherethegreatsealionssitontheedgeofthesurf,heflunghimselfflipper-overheadintothecoolwaterandrockedthere,gaspingmiserably."What’shere?"saidasealiongruffly,forasarulethesealionskeepthemselvestothemselves.
"Scoochnie!Ochenscoochnie!"("I’mlonesome,verylonesome!")saidKotick."They’rekillingalltheholluschickieonallthebeaches!"
TheSeaLionturnedhisheadinshore."Nonsense!"hesaid."Yourfriendsaremakingasmuchnoiseasever.YoumusthaveseenoldKerickpolishingoffadrove.He’sdonethatforthirtyyears."
"It’shorrible,"saidKotick,backingwaterasawavewentoverhim,andsteadyinghimselfwithascrewstrokeofhisflippersthatbroughthimallstandingwithinthreeinchesofajaggededgeofrock.
"Welldoneforayearling!"saidtheSeaLion,whocouldappreciategoodswimming."Isupposeitisratherawfulfromyourwayoflookingatit,butifyousealswillcomehereyearafteryear,ofcoursethemengettoknowofit,andunlessyoucanfindanislandwherenomenevercomeyouwillalwaysbedriven."
"Isn’tthereanysuchisland?"beganKotick.
"I’vefollowedthepoltoosfortwentyyears,andIcan’tsayI’vefoundityet.Butlookhere—youseemtohaveafondnessfortalkingtoyourbetters—supposeyougotoWalrusIsletandtalktoSeaVitch.Hemayknowsomething.Don’tflounceofflikethat.It’sasix-mileswim,andifIwereyouIshouldhauloutandtakeanapfirst,littleone.
