Маугли
Tiger! Tiger!
Afteralongtimetherecamebackthedrawling,sleepysnarlofafull-fedtigerjustwakened.
"Whocalls?"saidShereKhan,andasplendidpeacockflutteredupoutoftheravinescreeching.
"I,Mowgli.Cattlethief,itistimetocometotheCouncilRock!Down—hurrythemdown,Akela!Down,Rama,down!"
Theherdpausedforaninstantattheedgeoftheslope,butAkelagavetongueinthefullhunting-yell,andtheypitchedoveroneaftertheother,justassteamersshootrapids,thesandandstonesspurtinguproundthem.Oncestarted,therewasnochanceofstopping,andbeforetheywerefairlyinthebedoftheravineRamawindedShereKhanandbellowed.
"Ha!Ha!"saidMowgli,onhisback."Nowthouknowest!"andthetorrentofblackhorns,foamingmuzzles,andstaringeyeswhirleddowntheravinejustasbouldersgodowninfloodtime;theweakerbuffaloesbeingshoulderedouttothesidesoftheravinewheretheytorethroughthecreepers.Theyknewwhatthebusinesswasbeforethem—theterriblechargeofthebuffaloherdagainstwhichnotigercanhopetostand.ShereKhanheardthethunderoftheirhoofs,pickedhimselfup,andlumbereddowntheravine,lookingfromsidetosideforsomewayofescape,butthewallsoftheravinewerestraightandhehadtoholdon,heavywithhisdinnerandhisdrink,willingtodoanythingratherthanfight.Theherdsplashedthroughthepoolhehadjustleft,bellowingtillthenarrowcutrang.
