Маугли
Mowgli’s Brothers
"Andturnallthepeopleofthevillagesagainstus?"clamoredShereKhan. "No,givehimtome. Heisaman,andnoneofuscanlookhimbetweentheeyes."
Akelaliftedhisheadagainandsaid, "Hehaseatenourfood. Hehassleptwithus. Hehasdrivengameforus. HehasbrokennowordoftheLawoftheJungle."
"Also,Ipaidforhimwithabullwhenhewasaccepted. Theworthofabullislittle,butBagheera’shonorissomethingthathewillperhapsfightfor,"saidBagheerainhisgentlestvoice.
"Abullpaidtenyearsago!"thePacksnarled. "Whatdowecareforbonestenyearsold?"
"Orforapledge?"saidBagheera,hiswhiteteethbaredunderhislip. "WellareyecalledtheFreePeople!"
"Noman’scubcanrunwiththepeopleofthejungle,"howledShereKhan. "Givehimtome!"
"Heisourbrotherinallbutblood,"Akelawenton,"andyewouldkillhimhere! Intruth,Ihavelivedtoolong. Someofyeareeatersofcattle,andofothersIhaveheardthat,underShereKhan’steaching,yegobydarknightandsnatchchildrenfromthevillager’sdoorstep. ThereforeIknowyetobecowards,anditistocowardsIspeak. ItiscertainthatImustdie,andmylifeisofnoworth,orIwouldofferthatintheman-cub’splace. ButforthesakeoftheHonorofthePack—alittlematterthatbybeingwithoutaleaderyehaveforgotten—Ipromisethatifyelettheman-cubgotohisownplace,Iwillnot,whenmytimecomestodie,bareonetoothagainstye. Iwilldiewithoutfighting.
