White Seal

White Seal – A story of seals on the beach, and about striving for a better life. Contains some graphic content. One of the stories from the Jungle Book. A subtle message about conservation, environmental issues, and seal culling.

By: Rudyard Kipling

Text from White Seal

The White Seal
Rudyard Kippling

Seal Lullaby
Oh! hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so green.
The moon, o’er the combers, looks downward to fnd us
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.
Where billow meets billow, then soft be thy pillow,
Ah, weary wee fipperling, curl at thy ease!
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow-swinging seas!

Chapter 1 Sea Catch
All these things happened several years ago at a place called Novastoshnah, or North East Point, on the Island of St. Paul, far and away in the Bering Sea. Limmershin, the Winter Wren, told me the tale when he was blown on to the rigging of my steamer enroute to Japan, where I took him down into my cabin and warmed and fed him for a couple of days till he was ft to fy back to St. Paul’s again.

Limmershin is a very quaint little bird, but he knows how to tell the truth. Nobody comes to Novastoshnah except on business, and the only people who have regular business there are the seals. They come in the summer months by hundreds and hundreds of thousands out of the cold gray sea. For Novastoshnah Beach has the fnest accommodation for seals of any place in all the world.

Sea Catch knew that, and every spring would swim from whatever place he happened to be in—would swim like a torpedo-boat straight for Novastoshnah and spend a month fghting with his companions for a good place on the rocks, as close to the sea as possible. Sea Catch was ffteen years old, a huge gray fur seal with almost a mane on his shoulders, and long, wicked dog teeth. When he heaved himself up on his front fippers he stood more than four feet clear of the ground, and his weight, if anyone had been bold enough to weigh him, was nearly seven hundred pounds. He was scarred all over with the marks of savage fghts, but he was always ready for just one fght more. He would put his head on one side, as though he were afraid to look his enemy in the face; then he would shoot it out like lightning, and when the big teeth were frmly fxed on the other seal’s neck, the other seal might get away if he could, but Sea Catch would not help him.

<end of sample>

The audio version of this book is available here: https://www.free-ebooks.net/audiobook/White-Seal

See more books about Animals below

Baby Aviva Orangutan Diva - Baby Aviva the Orangutan Diva is looking for Bananas to feed her family. But there are lots of treacherous obstacles in her path. Find out how Baby Aviva uses all her resources to save the day and get the Bananas back to her family. Download or read online the full colouring book of Baby Aviva ...

Polar Bears in the Arctic – Learn to Read with WordScientists - This short book about polar bears from Wordscientists, edited by FKB, introduces easy to read CVC words and builds confidence for early readers. The book is available in pdf, read online, and an editable download. Text from Polar Bears in the Arctic Introduction (teacher or parent reads): Peg and Datiz go to the Arctic Circle ...

Lion Queen – An iPop! adaption of three bears - Lion Queen is a super adaption of the classic tale of three bears. IPop! Labs include whimsical phrases and cute characters with a twist at the end to make this a fun rendition of the favourite tale. Sample Page from Lion Queen Read the full book by selecting one of the buttons below the post. ...

When Siggy Met Phyllis - Phyllis is excited to go with her parents to choose a dachshund puppy. When she gets there, she’s transfixed by the cute, cavorting pups as they play, but she can’t decide. Then, all of a sudden, one of them speaks to her… A story of love at first sight between a puppy and his new ...

Henry – The Goose Who Got To Love - In a sentence, it’s Ugly Duckling meets Puff the Magic Dragon and Toy Story, all hitching a ride on Old Man and the Sea’s boat, captained by Dr. Phil and a fortune cookie, sailing an emotional sea healing a badly broken heart, while in the process instilling a smidge of closure to anyone who’s ever ...

The End of Longtails - This is the FIRST story in a set of space stories from Orb Central Library. In the far reaches of the Canis Major Dwarf, on planet Orb, a young longtail named Denver works at Orb Central Library as a librarian, where he fights fake news alongside his fellow longtail species and collects moments (otherwise known ...

Meera and Ameera – Imaginary Friends - Meera and Ameera are best of friends. Strangely Meera is the only one who can see Ameera. That’s probably because she is an imaginary porcupine. Join the two friends in their many adventures real and made up. Sample Text From Meera and Ameera Meera and I are a team. She’s my most favourite person in ...

Sani and Suri - Sani loves her cat Suri. One day Suri is missing. Sani searches high and low, far and wide, will she find Suri? This is a level 1 book for children just beginning on their reading journey. Sample Text from Sani and Suri Sani had a small cat. Its name was Suri. Sani loved Suri very ...

The Three Little Kittens - A chase with a dog ends up in a humorous adventure. The three little kittens are running from a dog, so fast they don’t stop for anything, until they are trapped, will the dog catch them? Or will there be a happy ending? Sample Text from Three Little Kittens One day three little kittens meet ...

The Bee and the Elephant - A little bee has lost his home and asks an elephant to help him find it. Sample Text from The Bee and the Elephant “I am lost,” said Little Bee. “I cannot find my home!” “Can you please help me, Mr. Elephant?” “Is this nest your home, Little Bee?” the elephant asked. “Oh no!” cried ...