Маугли

           "Neveryoumindmyfamilyonmyfather’sside,"saidBillyangrily,foreverymulehatestoberemindedthathisfatherwasadonkey."MyfatherwasaSoutherngentleman,andhecouldpulldownandbiteandkickintoragseveryhorsehecameacross.Rememberthat,youbigbrownBrumby!"

           Brumbymeanswildhorsewithoutanybreeding.ImaginethefeelingsofSunolifacar-horsecalledhera"skate,"andyoucanimaginehowtheAustralianhorsefelt.Isawthewhiteofhiseyeglitterinthedark.

           "Seehere,yousonofanimportedMalagajackass,"hesaidbetweenhisteeth,"I’dhaveyouknowthatI’mrelatedonmymother’ssidetoCarbine,winneroftheMelbourneCup,andwhereIcomefromwearen’taccustomedtobeingriddenoverroughshodbyanyparrot-mouthed,pig-headedmuleinapop-gunpea-shooterbattery.Areyouready?"

           "Onyourhindlegs!"squealedBilly.Theybothrearedupfacingeachother,andIwasexpectingafuriousfight,whenagurgly,rumblyvoice,calledoutofthedarknesstotheright—"Children,whatareyoufightingaboutthere?Bequiet."

           Bothbeastsdroppeddownwithasnortofdisgust,forneitherhorsenormulecanbeartolistentoanelephant’svoice.

           "It’sTwoTails!"saidthetroop-horse."Ican’tstandhim.Atailateachendisn’tfair!"

           "Myfeelingsexactly,"saidBilly,crowdingintothetroop-horseforcompany."We’reveryalikeinsomethings."

           "Isupposewe’veinheritedthemfromourmothers,"saidthetroophorse."It’snotworthquarrelingabout.