Маугли

           Theyallknewwherethatplacewas,butfewoftheJunglePeopleeverwentthere,becausewhattheycalledtheColdLairswasanolddesertedcity,lostandburiedinthejungle,andbeastsseldomuseaplacethatmenhaveonceused. Thewildboarwill,butthehuntingtribesdonot. Besides,themonkeyslivedthereasmuchastheycouldbesaidtoliveanywhere,andnoself-respectinganimalwouldcomewithineyeshotofitexceptintimesofdrought,whenthehalf-ruinedtanksandreservoirsheldalittlewater. 

           "Itishalfanight’sjourney—atfullspeed,"saidBagheera,andBaloolookedveryserious. "IwillgoasfastasIcan,"hesaidanxiously. 

           "Wedarenotwaitforthee. Follow,Baloo. Wemustgoonthequick-foot—KaaandI." 

           "Feetornofeet,Icankeepabreastofallthyfour,"saidKaashortly. Baloomadeoneefforttohurry,buthadtositdownpanting,andsotheylefthimtocomeonlater,whileBagheerahurriedforward,atthequickpanther-canter. Kaasaidnothing,but,striveasBagheeramight,thehugeRock-pythonheldlevelwithhim. Whentheycametoahillstream,Bagheeragained,becauseheboundedacrosswhileKaaswam,hisheadandtwofeetofhisneckclearingthewater,butonlevelgroundKaamadeupthedistance. 

           "BytheBrokenLockthatfreedme,"saidBagheera,whentwilighthadfallen,"thouartnoslowgoer!" 

           "Iamhungry,"saidKaa. "Besides,theycalledmespeckledfrog." 

           "Worm—earth-worm,andyellowtoboot."