Маугли

           Hehadhardlyspokenwhenashowerofnutsandtwigsspattereddownthroughthebranches;andtheycouldhearcoughingsandhowlingsandangryjumpingshighupintheairamongthethinbranches. 

           "TheMonkey-Peopleareforbidden,"saidBaloo,"forbiddentotheJungle-People. Remember." 

           "Forbidden,"saidBagheera,"butIstillthinkBalooshouldhavewarnedtheeagainstthem." 

           "I—I? HowwasItoguesshewouldplaywithsuchdirt. TheMonkeyPeople!Faugh!" 

           Afreshshowercamedownontheirheadsandthetwotrottedaway,takingMowgliwiththem. WhatBaloohadsaidaboutthemonkeyswasperfectlytrue. Theybelongedtothetree-tops,andasbeastsveryseldomlookup,therewasnooccasionforthemonkeysandtheJungle-Peopletocrosseachother’spath. Butwhenevertheyfoundasickwolf,orawoundedtiger,orbear,themonkeyswouldtormenthim,andwouldthrowsticksandnutsatanybeastforfunandinthehopeofbeingnoticed. Thentheywouldhowlandshrieksenselesssongs,andinvitetheJungle-Peopletoclimbuptheirtreesandfightthem,orwouldstartfuriousbattlesovernothingamongthemselves,andleavethedeadmonkeyswheretheJungle-Peoplecouldseethem. Theywerealwaysjustgoingtohavealeader,andlawsandcustomsoftheirown,buttheyneverdid,becausetheirmemorieswouldnotholdoverfromdaytoday,andsotheycompromisedthingsbymakingupasaying, "WhattheBandar-logthinknowthejunglewillthinklater,"andthatcomfortedthemagreatdeal.