Call of the Sea Read Online Free PDF Page A

stuffed his face into the bucket and grabbed a mouthful of fresh fish. While he chewed the succulent feast, he studied Ellie. She didn’t look like she usually did when she visited. Gone was the simple frock, the bare feet. Instead, she appeared dressed for a party. Her flaming red locks were tucked neatly beneath a wide straw hat while the lilac dress and matching slippers she wore looked well-made and expensive.
    Curiosity niggled at him. Where could she be going? What if something happened to her and she didn’t return to the beach? The captain would never forgive him for failing to watch over her.
    Ellie got to her feet and brushed the sand from her clothes. “I’m afraid I can’t stay today. Mama’s taking me into town.” She grinned wide.
    Unsure of a better way to keep her there, Daniel let out a small whimper and shuffled closer to her. He nudged her leg with his nose.
    “Don’t be silly. Mama will be mad if I stay and play. Besides, I’ll get my dress all dirty. I promise I’ll come back later and check on you.”
    Before Daniel could mount a protest, Ellie spun about and ran across the sand. When she reached the bottom of the winding path, she turned back and waved at him. “I’ll see you later.” She disappeared behind the dunes.
    Daniel let out a long sigh. He’d never met anyone that moved as fast as Ellie, or as much. She never sat still. No wonder her father thought she needed a watchful eye. It was either that or strap an anchor to her bottom to hold her in place. He snorted as he imagined her dragging the giant iron behind her as she climbed the hill to her cottage and disappeared over the ledge.
    Once he was sure Ellie wouldn’t come barreling back down the hill, Daniel wiggled himself behind the rocks. He gulped the air, closed his eyes and concentrated on his human form. He focused on what it felt like to walk on two legs, to speak.
    After a few moments, the familiar warm tingle started at the tip of his tail. The heat worked its way higher, until his entire body hummed with energy. A hard cramp seized his side, drawing a grunt of pain.
    Daniel pressed his front flippers into the cramp and squeezed his eyes tight, willing the change to progress faster. His whiskers retracted and the familiar sounds of cracking bones and popping joints filled his ears. His skin prickled as it loosened to make way for the growth of bone and muscle. Daniel fought the urge to scream when his body elongated and contorted.
    He lay panting on the sand while the tingling heat in his body subsided. Daniel cracked open one eye. Soft pink flesh replaced thick brown sealskin. He pushed shaking hands into the sand and struggled to his knees. Not until his limbs stopped quivering did he dare try to stand. His gaze shifted to where Ellie had disappeared. He needed to dress quickly if he planned to follow them into town.
    Daniel grabbed his discarded sealskin from the sand and, with a quick glance to ensure no one was about, darted around the rock outcropping. He stumbled on still weak legs.
    Dropping to his knees on the other side of the rocks, Daniel pulled his clothing from a little cavern formed from the space between two boulders and got dressed. He stuffed his sealskin in the dark nook and pushed to his feet.
    Taking a deep breath, Daniel squared his shoulders and headed after his charge.
    ***
    A wide smile split Ellie’s face as she followed her mother down the sandy road leading to Newquay. She sipped at the salt-kissed air and raised her face to the warm sun, exhilarated. Aside from the appearance of her new pet, nothing exciting ever happened on the barren dunes where their house sat. But a trip to town held infinite possibilities.
    “Are we going to the mercantile, Mama?” Ellie’s voice lit with hope. Mr. Jameson was always nice to her, giving her candy from his bottomless right front pocket every time he saw her. She often wondered if the storeowner kept them just for her, or if other children also