Маугли
The White Seal
Itwasalong,longswim,andKotickbadlywantedfreshairbeforehewasoutofthedarktunneltheyledhimthrough.
"Mywig!"hesaid,whenherose,gaspingandpuffing,intoopenwateratthefartherend."Itwasalongdive,butitwasworthit."
TheseacowshadseparatedandwerebrowsinglazilyalongtheedgesofthefinestbeachesthatKotickhadeverseen.Therewerelongstretchesofsmooth-wornrockrunningformiles,exactlyfittedtomakeseal-nurseries,andtherewereplay-groundsofhardsandslopinginlandbehindthem,andtherewererollersforsealstodancein,andlonggrasstorollin,andsanddunestoclimbupanddown,and,bestofall,Kotickknewbythefeelofthewater,whichneverdeceivesatrueseacatch,thatnomenhadevercomethere.
Thefirstthinghedidwastoassurehimselfthatthefishingwasgood,andthenheswamalongthebeachesandcountedupthedelightfullowsandyislandshalfhiddeninthebeautifulrollingfog.Awaytothenorthward,outtosea,ranalineofbarsandshoalsandrocksthatwouldneverletashipcomewithinsixmilesofthebeach,andbetweentheislandsandthemainlandwasastretchofdeepwaterthatranuptotheperpendicularcliffs,andsomewherebelowthecliffswasthemouthofthetunnel.
"It’sNovastoshnahoveragain,buttentimesbetter,"saidKotick."SeaCowmustbewiserthanIthought.Mencan’tcomedownthecliffs,eveniftherewereanymen;andtheshoalstoseawardwouldknockashiptosplinters.Ifanyplaceintheseaissafe,thisisit."
