Маугли

           Wegoacrossthelevelplain,twentyyokeofus,tillweareunyokedagain,andwegrazewhilethebiggunstalkacrosstheplaintosometownwithmudwalls,andpiecesofthewallfallout,andthedustgoesupasthoughmanycattlewerecominghome."

           "Oh!Andyouchoosethattimeforgrazing?"saidtheyoungmule.

           "Thattimeoranyother.Eatingisalwaysgood.WeeattillweareyokedupagainandtugthegunbacktowhereTwoTailsiswaitingforit.Sometimestherearebiggunsinthecitythatspeakback,andsomeofusarekilled,andthenthereisallthemoregrazingforthosethatareleft.ThisisFate.Nonetheless,TwoTailsisagreatcoward.Thatistheproperwaytofight.WearebrothersfromHapur.OurfatherwasasacredbullofShiva.Wehavespoken."

           "Well,I’vecertainlylearnedsomethingtonight,"saidthetroop-horse."Doyougentlemenofthescrew-gunbatteryfeelinclinedtoeatwhenyouarebeingfiredatwithbigguns,andTwoTailsisbehindyou?"

           "Aboutasmuchaswefeelinclinedtositdownandletmensprawlalloverus,orrunintopeoplewithknives.Ineverheardsuchstuff.Amountainledge,awell-balancedload,adriveryoucantrusttoletyoupickyourownway,andI’myourmule.But—theotherthings—no!"saidBilly,withastampofhisfoot.

           "Ofcourse,"saidthetroophorse,"everyoneisnotmadeinthesameway,andIcanquiteseethatyourfamily,onyourfather’sside,wouldfailtounderstandagreatmanythings.