Call of the Cruins: Part 5

By ELIZABETH PUTFORD, Illustrator ANNABEL CRAIGHEAD

Emeline shivered. It was getting dark. Her feet and legs were turning blue with the cold and the rain was thickening. Mama would be frantic with worry. She turned and headed back towards the shore. There was nothing she could do for the seal now.

She returned to the beach by a different route: a safer way, alongside the cliffs, where the rocks were flatter and less sharp. Once back on the sand, she began to run towards the cave.

But wait! What was that?

Emeline halted and squinted through the misty rain and coming darkness. Had that rock moved or was it her imagination? Cautiously she went over to investigate. Another five minutes wasn't going to matter. Already she would be well and truly in Mama's black books.

Three steps away from the rock she stopped in her tracks. It was a seal pup! Excitement flickered in her chest. Was this the reason the other seal had tried to survive? Because she had a baby to look after?

Emeline dropped onto her knees. "Oh! Aren't you lovely."

Publisher: Scholastic, $13.95

Age group: 9-13 years