Маугли
Kaa’s Hunting
Heturnedtwiceorthriceinabigcircle,weavinghisheadfromrighttoleft. Thenhebeganmakingloopsandfiguresofeightwithhisbody,andsoft,oozytrianglesthatmeltedintosquaresandfive-sidedfigures,andcoiledmounds,neverresting,neverhurrying,andneverstoppinghislowhummingsong. Itgrewdarkeranddarker,tillatlastthedragging,shiftingcoilsdisappeared,buttheycouldheartherustleofthescales.
BalooandBagheerastoodstillasstone,growlingintheirthroats,theirneckhairbristling,andMowgliwatchedandwondered.
"Bandar-log,"saidthevoiceofKaaatlast,"canyestirfootorhandwithoutmyorder?Speak!"
"Withoutthyorderwecannotstirfootorhand,OKaa!"
"Good!Comeallonepacenearertome."
Thelinesofthemonkeysswayedforwardhelplessly,andBalooandBagheeratookonestiffstepforwardwiththem.
"Nearer!"hissedKaa, andtheyallmovedagain.
MowglilaidhishandsonBalooandBagheeratogetthemaway,andthetwogreatbeastsstartedasthoughtheyhadbeenwakedfromadream.
"Keepthyhandonmyshoulder,"Bagheerawhispered. "Keepitthere,orImustgoback—mustgobacktoKaa.Aah!"
"ItisonlyoldKaamakingcirclesonthedust,"saidMowgli. "Letusgo." Andthethreeslippedoffthroughagapinthewallstothejungle.
"Whoof!"saidBaloo,whenhestoodunderthestilltreesagain. "NevermorewillImakeanallyofKaa,"andheshookhimselfallover.
"Heknowsmorethanwe,"saidBagheera,trembling. "Inalittletime,hadIstayed,Ishouldhavewalkeddownhisthroat."