Маугли
Toomai of the Elephants
"Happen!Theworstthatcanhappen.PetersenSahibisamadman.Elsewhyshouldhegohuntingthesewilddevils?Hemayevenrequiretheetobeanelephantcatcher,tosleepanywhereinthesefever-filledjungles,andatlasttobetrampledtodeathintheKeddah.Itiswellthatthisnonsenseendssafely.Nextweekthecatchingisover,andweoftheplainsaresentbacktoourstations.Thenwewillmarchonsmoothroads,andforgetallthishunting.But,son,IamangrythatthoushouldstmeddleinthebusinessthatbelongstothesedirtyAssamesejunglefolk.KalaNagwillobeynonebutme,soImustgowithhimintotheKeddah,butheisonlyafightingelephant,andhedoesnothelptoropethem.SoIsitatmyease,asbefitsamahout—notamerehunter—amahout,Isay,andamanwhogetsapensionattheendofhisservice.IsthefamilyofToomaioftheElephantstobetroddenunderfootinthedirtofaKeddah?Badone!Wickedone!Worthlessson!GoandwashKalaNagandattendtohisears,andseethattherearenothornsinhisfeet.OrelsePetersenSahibwillsurelycatchtheeandmaketheeawildhunter—afollowerofelephant’sfoottracks,ajunglebear.Bah!Shame!Go!"
LittleToomaiwentoffwithoutsayingaword,buthetoldKalaNagallhisgrievanceswhilehewasexamininghisfeet."Nomatter,"saidLittleToomai,turningupthefringeofKalaNag’shugerightear.
