Маугли
Mowgli’s Brothers
"Thouartthemaster,"saidBagheerainanundertone. "SaveAkelafromthedeath. Hewaseverthyfriend."
Akela,thegrimoldwolfwhohadneveraskedformercyinhislife,gaveonepiteouslookatMowgliastheboystoodallnaked,hislongblackhairtossingoverhisshouldersinthelightoftheblazingbranchthatmadetheshadowsjumpandquiver.
"Good!"saidMowgli,staringroundslowly. "Iseethatyearedogs. Igofromyoutomyownpeople—iftheybemyownpeople. Thejungleisshuttome,andImustforgetyourtalkandyourcompanionship. ButIwillbemoremercifulthanyeare. BecauseIwasallbutyourbrotherinblood,IpromisethatwhenIamamanamongmenIwillnotbetrayyetomenasyehavebetrayedme." Hekickedthefirewithhisfoot,andthesparksflewup. "ThereshallbenowarbetweenanyofusinthePack. ButhereisadebttopaybeforeIgo." HestrodeforwardtowhereShereKhansatblinkingstupidlyattheflames,andcaughthimbythetuftonhischin. Bagheerafollowedincaseofaccidents. "Up,dog!"Mowglicried. "Up,whenamanspeaks,orIwillsetthatcoatablaze!"
ShereKhan’searslayflatbackonhishead,andheshuthiseyes,fortheblazingbranchwasverynear.
"Thiscattle-killersaidhewouldkillmeintheCouncilbecausehehadnotkilledmewhenIwasacub. Thusandthus,then,dowebeatdogswhenwearemen.
