Маугли

           Twohourslater,asPetersenSahibwaseatingearlybreakfast,hiselephants,whohadbeendoublechainedthatnight,begantotrumpet,andPudmini,miredtotheshoulders,withKalaNag,veryfootsore,shambledintothecamp.LittleToomai’sfacewasgrayandpinched,andhishairwasfullofleavesanddrenchedwithdew,buthetriedtosalutePetersenSahib,andcriedfaintly:"Thedance—theelephantdance!Ihaveseenit,and—Idie!"AsKalaNagsatdown,heslidoffhisneckinadeadfaint.

           But,sincenativechildrenhavenonervesworthspeakingof,intwohourshewaslyingverycontentedlyinPetersenSahib’shammockwithPetersenSahib’sshooting-coatunderhishead,andaglassofwarmmilk,alittlebrandy,withadashofquinine,insideofhim,andwhiletheoldhairy,scarredhuntersofthejunglessatthreedeepbeforehim,lookingathimasthoughhewereaspirit,hetoldhistaleinshortwords,asachildwill,andwoundupwith:

           "Now,ifIlieinoneword,sendmentosee,andtheywillfindthattheelephantfolkhavetrampleddownmoreroomintheirdance-room,andtheywillfindtenandten,andmanytimesten,tracksleadingtothatdance-room.Theymademoreroomwiththeirfeet.Ihaveseenit.KalaNagtookme,andIsaw.AlsoKalaNagisveryleg-weary!"

           LittleToomailaybackandsleptallthroughthelongafternoonandintothetwilight,andwhilehesleptPetersenSahibandMachuaAppafollowedthetrackofthetwoelephantsforfifteenmilesacrossthehills.