Маугли
Toomai of the Elephants
When,afterweeksandweeksofcautiousdrivingofscatteredelephantsacrossthehills,thefortyorfiftywildmonstersweredrivenintothelaststockade,andthebigdropgate,madeoftreetrunkslashedtogether,jarreddownbehindthem,KalaNag,atthewordofcommand,wouldgointothatflaring,trumpetingpandemonium(generallyatnight,whentheflickerofthetorchesmadeitdifficulttojudgedistances),and,pickingoutthebiggestandwildesttuskerofthemob,wouldhammerhimandhustlehimintoquietwhilethemenonthebacksoftheotherelephantsropedandtiedthesmallerones.
TherewasnothinginthewayoffightingthatKalaNag,theoldwiseBlackSnake,didnotknow,forhehadstoodupmorethanonceinhistimetothechargeofthewoundedtiger,and,curlinguphissofttrunktobeoutofharm’sway,hadknockedthespringingbrutesidewaysinmid-airwithaquicksicklecutofhishead,thathehadinventedallbyhimself;hadknockedhimover,andkneeleduponhimwithhishugekneestillthelifewentoutwithagaspandahowl,andtherewasonlyafluffystripedthingonthegroundforKalaNagtopullbythetail.
"Yes,"saidBigToomai,hisdriver,thesonofBlackToomaiwhohadtakenhimtoAbyssinia,andgrandsonofToomaioftheElephantswhohadseenhimcaught,"thereisnothingthattheBlackSnakefearsexceptme.Hehasseenthreegenerationsofusfeedhimandgroomhim,andhewilllivetoseefour."
