Маугли
Tiger! Tiger!
Theotherherdchildren,watchingwiththecattlehalfamileaway,hurriedtothevillageasfastastheirlegscouldcarrythem,cryingthatthebuffaloeshadgonemadandrunaway.
ButMowgli’splanwassimpleenough.Allhewantedtodowastomakeabigcircleuphillandgetattheheadoftheravine,andthentakethebullsdownitandcatchShereKhanbetweenthebullsandthecows;forheknewthatafteramealandafulldrinkShereKhanwouldnotbeinanyconditiontofightortoclamberupthesidesoftheravine.Hewassoothingthebuffaloesnowbyvoice,andAkelahaddroppedfartotherear,onlywhimperingonceortwicetohurrytherear-guard.Itwasalong,longcircle,fortheydidnotwishtogettooneartheravineandgiveShereKhanwarning.AtlastMowgliroundedupthebewilderedherdattheheadoftheravineonagrassypatchthatslopedsteeplydowntotheravineitself.Fromthatheightyoucouldseeacrossthetopsofthetreesdowntotheplainbelow;butwhatMowglilookedatwasthesidesoftheravine,andhesawwithagreatdealofsatisfactionthattheyrannearlystraightupanddown,whilethevinesandcreepersthathungoverthemwouldgivenofootholdtoatigerwhowantedtogetout.
"Letthembreathe,Akela,"hesaid,holdinguphishand."Theyhavenotwindedhimyet.Letthembreathe.ImusttellShereKhanwhocomes.Wehavehiminthetrap."
Heputhishandstohismouthandshouteddowntheravine—itwasalmostlikeshoutingdownatunnel—andtheechoesjumpedfromrocktorock.
