Мауглі
The White Seal
TheirwivesnevercametotheislanduntillateinMayorearlyinJune,fortheydidnotcaretobetorntopieces;andtheyoungtwo-,three-,andfour-year-oldsealswhohadnotbegunhousekeepingwentinlandabouthalfamilethroughtheranksofthefightersandplayedaboutonthesanddunesindrovesandlegions,andrubbedoffeverysinglegreenthingthatgrew.Theywerecalledtheholluschickie—thebachelors—andtherewereperhapstwoorthreehundredthousandofthematNovastoshnahalone.
SeaCatchhadjustfinishedhisforty-fifthfightonespringwhenMatkah,hissoft,sleek,gentle-eyedwife,cameupoutofthesea,andhecaughtherbythescruffoftheneckanddumpedherdownonhisreservation,sayinggruffly:"Lateasusual.Wherehaveyoubeen?"
ItwasnotthefashionforSeaCatchtoeatanythingduringthefourmonthshestayedonthebeaches,andsohistemperwasgenerallybad.Matkahknewbetterthantoanswerback.Shelookedroundandcooed:"Howthoughtfulofyou.You’vetakentheoldplaceagain."
"IshouldthinkIhad,"saidSeaCatch."Lookatme!"
Hewasscratchedandbleedingintwentyplaces;oneeyewasalmostout,andhissidesweretorntoribbons.
"Oh,youmen,youmen!"Matkahsaid,fanningherselfwithherhindflipper."Whycan’tyoubesensibleandsettleyourplacesquietly?YoulookasthoughyouhadbeenfightingwiththeKillerWhale."
"Ihaven’tbeendoinganythingbutfightsincethemiddleofMay.Thebeachisdisgracefullycrowdedthisseason.
