Маугли
Tiger! Tiger!
Hedidnotknowhisownstrengthintheleast.Inthejungleheknewhewasweakcomparedwiththebeasts,butinthevillagepeoplesaidthathewasasstrongasabull.
AndMowglihadnotthefaintestideaofthedifferencethatcastemakesbetweenmanandman.Whenthepotter’sdonkeyslippedintheclaypit,Mowglihauleditoutbythetail,andhelpedtostackthepotsfortheirjourneytothemarketatKhanhiwara.Thatwasveryshocking,too,forthepotterisalow-casteman,andhisdonkeyisworse.Whenthepriestscoldedhim,Mowglithreatenedtoputhimonthedonkeytoo,andthepriesttoldMessua’shusbandthatMowglihadbetterbesettoworkassoonaspossible;andthevillagehead-mantoldMowglithathewouldhavetogooutwiththebuffaloesnextday,andherdthemwhiletheygrazed.NoonewasmorepleasedthanMowgli;andthatnight,becausehehadbeenappointedaservantofthevillage,asitwere,hewentofftoacirclethatmeteveryeveningonamasonryplatformunderagreatfig-tree.Itwasthevillageclub,andthehead-manandthewatchmanandthebarber,whoknewallthegossipofthevillage,andoldBuldeo,thevillagehunter,whohadaTowermusket,metandsmoked.Themonkeyssatandtalkedintheupperbranches,andtherewasaholeundertheplatformwhereacobralived,andhehadhislittleplatterofmilkeverynightbecausehewassacred;andtheoldmensataroundthetreeandtalked,andpulledatthebighuqas(thewater-pipes)tillfarintothenight.
