Маугли
Tiger! Tiger!
"Whatisthegoodofaman,"hesaidtohimselfatlast,"ifhedoesnotunderstandman’stalk?NowIamassillyanddumbasamanwouldbewithusinthejungle.Imustspeaktheirtalk."
Itwasnotforfunthathehadlearnedwhilehewaswiththewolvestoimitatethechallengeofbucksinthejungleandthegruntofthelittlewildpig.So,assoonasMessuapronouncedawordMowgliwouldimitateitalmostperfectly,andbeforedarkhehadlearnedthenamesofmanythingsinthehut.
Therewasadifficultyatbedtime,becauseMowgliwouldnotsleepunderanythingthatlookedsolikeapanthertrapasthathut,andwhentheyshutthedoorhewentthroughthewindow."Givehimhiswill,"saidMessua’shusband."Rememberhecannevertillnowhavesleptonabed.Ifheisindeedsentintheplaceofoursonhewillnotrunaway."
SoMowglistretchedhimselfinsomelong,cleangrassattheedgeofthefield,butbeforehehadclosedhiseyesasoftgraynosepokedhimunderthechin.
"Phew!"saidGrayBrother(hewastheeldestofMotherWolf’scubs)."Thisisapoorrewardforfollowingtheetwentymiles.Thousmellestofwoodsmokeandcattle—altogetherlikeamanalready.Wake,LittleBrother;Ibringnews."
"Areallwellinthejungle?"saidMowgli,hugginghim.
"AllexceptthewolvesthatwereburnedwiththeRedFlower.Now,listen.ShereKhanhasgoneawaytohuntfarofftillhiscoatgrowsagain,forheisbadlysinged.WhenhereturnsheswearsthathewilllaythybonesintheWaingunga."
