Маугли
Toomai of the Elephants
"Mael,mael,KalaNag!(Goon,goon,BlackSnake!)Dantdo!(Givehimthetusk!)Somalo!Somalo!(Careful,careful!)Maro!Mar!(Hithim,hithim!)Mindthepost!Arre!Arre!Hai!Yai!Kya-a-ah!"hewouldshout,andthebigfightbetweenKalaNagandthewildelephantwouldswaytoandfroacrosstheKeddah,andtheoldelephantcatcherswouldwipethesweatoutoftheireyes,andfindtimetonodtoLittleToomaiwrigglingwithjoyonthetopoftheposts.
Hedidmorethanwriggle.Onenighthesliddownfromthepostandslippedinbetweentheelephantsandthrewupthelooseendofarope,whichhaddropped,toadriverwhowastryingtogetapurchaseonthelegofakickingyoungcalf(calvesalwaysgivemoretroublethanfull-grownanimals).KalaNagsawhim,caughthiminhistrunk,andhandedhimuptoBigToomai,whoslappedhimthenandthere,andputhimbackonthepost.
Nextmorninghegavehimascoldingandsaid,"Arenotgoodbrickelephantlinesandalittletentcarryingenough,thatthoumustneedsgoelephantcatchingonthyownaccount,littleworthless?Nowthosefoolishhunters,whosepayislessthanmypay,havespokentoPetersenSahibofthematter."LittleToomaiwasfrightened.Hedidnotknowmuchofwhitemen,butPetersenSahibwasthegreatestwhitemanintheworldtohim.HewastheheadofalltheKeddahoperations—themanwhocaughtalltheelephantsfortheGovernmentofIndia,andwhoknewmoreaboutthewaysofelephantsthananylivingman.
"What—whatwillhappen?"saidLittleToomai.
