Маугли

           "Goodhunting!"criedBaloo,sittinguponhishaunches. LikeallsnakesofhisbreedKaawasratherdeaf,anddidnothearthecallatfirst. Thenhecurledupreadyforanyaccident,hisheadlowered. 

           "Goodhuntingforusall,"heanswered. "Oho,Baloo,whatdostthoudohere? Goodhunting,Bagheera. Oneofusatleastneedsfood. Isthereanynewsofgameafoot? Adoenow,orevenayoungbuck? Iamasemptyasadriedwell." 

           "Wearehunting,"saidBaloocarelessly.HeknewthatyoumustnothurryKaa.Heistoobig. 

           "Givemepermissiontocomewithyou,"saidKaa. "Ablowmoreorlessisnothingtothee,BagheeraorBaloo,butI—Ihavetowaitandwaitfordaysinawood-pathandclimbhalfanightonthemerechanceofayoungape. Psshaw! ThebranchesarenotwhattheywerewhenIwasyoung. Rottentwigsanddryboughsaretheyall." 

           "Maybethygreatweighthassomethingtodowiththematter,"saidBaloo. 

           "Iamafairlength—afairlength,"saidKaawithalittlepride. "Butforallthat,itisthefaultofthisnew-growntimber. Icameveryneartofallingonmylasthunt—verynearindeed—andthenoiseofmyslipping,formytailwasnottightwrappedaroundthetree,wakedtheBandar-log,andtheycalledmemostevilnames." 

           "Footless,yellowearth-worm,"saidBagheeraunderhiswhiskers,asthoughheweretryingtoremembersomething. 

           "Sssss!Havetheyevercalledmethat?"saidKaa.