Their fur was almost black, not brown, and their heads were larger. They were walruses. From their mouths two long, thick ivory teeth protruded. They looked very fierce, and soon they showed their fierceness.
Seeing that the beach was occupied, and wanting it for themselves, they started to fight for it. The seals fought very bravely, but what could they do against those terrible teeth? The poor wounded beasts struggled and kept up cries of “pa—pa—pa—pa.”
“Listen to that. They are calling ‘papa.’ I never thought fish could talk,” said Pinocchio.
“First of all, seals are not fish, but mammals. And then there are some fish which do produce sounds. Tunnies, when out of the water, cry like children. Some poulpes, when caught, groan. Others make a sound like a whistle.”
“I am ready to believe anything,” Pinocchio said very weakly. “But what is a poulpe?”
“Oh, that is another name for the octopus or devilfish,” was the reply.
The fight continued, but the seals were soon conquered. The victorious walruses were not to enjoy their victory, however.
While the fight was still waging, some fishermen had quietly come up to the field of battle. Before long many of the combatants lay dead, and were carried away into boats. The few that were left forgot the fight, and were happy enough to escape into the water.
