Маугли
The White Seal
OldSeaCatch,hisfather,sawhimtearingpast,haulingthegrizzledoldsealsaboutasthoughtheyhadbeenhalibut,andupsettingtheyoungbachelorsinalldirections;andSeaCatchgavearoarandshouted:"Hemaybeafool,butheisthebestfighteronthebeaches!Don’ttackleyourfather,myson!He’swithyou!"
Kotickroaredinanswer,andoldSeaCatchwaddledinwithhismustacheonend,blowinglikealocomotive,whileMatkahandthesealthatwasgoingtomarryKotickcowereddownandadmiredtheirmen-folk.Itwasagorgeousfight,forthetwofoughtaslongastherewasasealthatdaredliftuphishead,andwhentherewerenonetheyparadedgrandlyupanddownthebeachsidebyside,bellowing.
Atnight,justastheNorthernLightswerewinkingandflashingthroughthefog,Kotickclimbedabarerockandlookeddownonthescatterednurseriesandthetornandbleedingseals."Now,"hesaid,"I’vetaughtyouyourlesson."
"Mywig!"saidoldSeaCatch,boostinghimselfupstiffly,forhewasfearfullymauled."TheKillerWhalehimselfcouldnothavecutthemupworse.Son,I’mproudofyou,andwhat’smore,I’llcomewithyoutoyourisland—ifthereissuchaplace."
"Hearyou,fatpigsofthesea.WhocomeswithmetotheSeaCow’stunnel?Answer,orIshallteachyouagain,"roaredKotick.
Therewasamurmurliketherippleofthetideallupanddownthebeaches."Wewillcome,"saidthousandsoftiredvoices."WewillfollowKotick,theWhiteSeal."
