Маугли
Tiger! Tiger!
Hebeatthebuffaloeswithalong,polishedbamboo,andtoldKamya,oneoftheboys,tograzethecattlebythemselves,whilehewentonwiththebuffaloes,andtobeverycarefulnottostrayawayfromtheherd.
AnIndiangrazinggroundisallrocksandscrubandtussocksandlittleravines,amongwhichtheherdsscatteranddisappear.Thebuffaloesgenerallykeeptothepoolsandmuddyplaces,wheretheyliewallowingorbaskinginthewarmmudforhours.MowglidrovethemontotheedgeoftheplainwheretheWaingungacameoutofthejungle;thenhedroppedfromRama’sneck,trottedofftoabambooclump,andfoundGrayBrother."Ah,"saidGrayBrother,"Ihavewaitedhereverymanydays.Whatisthemeaningofthiscattle-herdingwork?"
"Itisanorder,"saidMowgli."Iamavillageherdforawhile.WhatnewsofShereKhan?"
"Hehascomebacktothiscountry,andhaswaitedherealongtimeforthee.Nowhehasgoneoffagain,forthegameisscarce.Buthemeanstokillthee."
"Verygood,"saidMowgli."Solongasheisawaydothouoroneofthefourbrotherssitonthatrock,sothatIcanseetheeasIcomeoutofthevillage.Whenhecomesbackwaitformeintheravinebythedhaktreeinthecenteroftheplain.WeneednotwalkintoShereKhan’smouth."
ThenMowglipickedoutashadyplace,andlaydownandsleptwhilethebuffaloesgrazedroundhim.HerdinginIndiaisoneofthelaziestthingsintheworld.Thecattlemoveandcrunch,andliedown,andmoveonagain,andtheydonotevenlow.
