Маугли
Mowgli’s Brothers
Andhegrewandgrewstrongasaboymustgrowwhodoesnotknowthatheislearninganylessons,andwhohasnothingintheworldtothinkofexceptthingstoeat.
MotherWolftoldhimonceortwicethatShereKhanwasnotacreaturetobetrusted,andthatsomedayhemustkillShereKhan. Butthoughayoungwolfwouldhaverememberedthatadviceeveryhour,Mowgliforgotitbecausehewasonlyaboy—thoughhewouldhavecalledhimselfawolfifhehadbeenabletospeakinanyhumantongue.
ShereKhanwasalwayscrossinghispathinthejungle,forasAkelagrewolderandfeeblerthelametigerhadcometobegreatfriendswiththeyoungerwolvesofthePack,whofollowedhimforscraps,athingAkelawouldneverhaveallowedifhehaddaredtopushhisauthoritytotheproperbounds. ThenShereKhanwouldflatterthemandwonderthatsuchfineyounghunterswerecontenttobeledbyadyingwolfandaman’scub. "Theytellme,"ShereKhanwouldsay,"thatatCouncilyedarenotlookhimbetweentheeyes." Andtheyoungwolveswouldgrowlandbristle.
Bagheera,whohadeyesandearseverywhere,knewsomethingofthis,andonceortwicehetoldMowgliinsomanywordsthatShereKhanwouldkillhimsomeday. Mowgliwouldlaughandanswer: "IhavethePackandIhavethee;andBaloo,thoughheissolazy,mightstrikeablowortwoformysake. WhyshouldIbeafraid?"
ItwasoneverywarmdaythatanewnotioncametoBagheera—bornofsomethingthathehadheard.