By ELIZABETH PUTFORD, Illustrator ANNABEL CRAIGHEAD
From above came the sound of Victoria crying.
Using all her strength and concentration Emeline pulled herself back up the steep slope to the track, her pinafore and blouse stained with grass and sheep droppings. Mama would surely have a fit when she saw her.
"We're not
even supposed to be here," shouted Victoria, tears rolling down her cheeks. "And you nearly got killed."
"I'm all right." Emeline took the younger girl's hand to reassure her. "Where are the eggs?" she asked, trying to take her mind off the near accident.
"I left the basket up the top." Victoria gulped and fresh tears started to spill. "I didn't want them to break."
"That was a good idea," Emeline replied, thinking it was going to be more of a bother, as it meant returning home along the cliffs and not the beach. That was going to make them mighty late.
"Can we go back now?" asked Victoria. "Mama will be wondering where we are."
Emeline hesitated, knowing she was right. What would it matter if she left the seal? It would probably end up getting clubbed on the head some day anyway. But if she could save one? She glanced downwards. The creature was still there, unmoving, lying on the black jagged rock, the tide sweeping in fast. For all she knew it could be dead.
Publisher: Scholastic, $13.95
Age group: 9-13 years
