Маугли
Toomai of the Elephants
Whenadriverboastsofhisskillandbraverytheotherdriverssay,"Andwhendidstthouseetheelephantsdance?"
KalaNagputLittleToomaidown,andhebowedtotheearthagainandwentawaywithhisfather,andgavethesilverfour-annapiecetohismother,whowasnursinghisbabybrother,andtheyallwereputuponKalaNag’sback,andthelineofgrunting,squealingelephantsrolleddownthehillpathtotheplains.Itwasaverylivelymarchonaccountofthenewelephants,whogavetroubleateveryford,andneededcoaxingorbeatingeveryotherminute.
BigToomaiproddedKalaNagspitefully,forhewasveryangry,butLittleToomaiwastoohappytospeak.PetersenSahibhadnoticedhim,andgivenhimmoney,sohefeltasaprivatesoldierwouldfeelifhehadbeencalledoutoftheranksandpraisedbyhiscommander-inchief.
"WhatdidPetersenSahibmeanbytheelephantdance?"hesaid,atlast,softlytohismother.
BigToomaiheardhimandgrunted."Thatthoushouldstneverbeoneofthesehillbuffaloesoftrackers.Thatwaswhathemeant.Oh,youinfront,whatisblockingtheway?"
AnAssamesedriver,twoorthreeelephantsahead,turnedroundangrily,crying:"BringupKalaNag,andknockthisyoungsterofmineintogoodbehavior.WhyshouldPetersenSahibhavechosenmetogodownwithyoudonkeysofthericefields?Layyourbeastalongside,Toomai,andlethimprodwithhistusks.ByalltheGodsoftheHills,thesenewelephantsarepossessed,orelsetheycansmelltheircompanionsinthejungle."
