Маугли
Mowgli’s Brothers
OthouMowgli—forMowglitheFrogIwillcallthee—thetimewillcomewhenthouwilthuntShereKhanashehashuntedthee."
"ButwhatwillourPacksay?"saidFatherWolf.
TheLawoftheJunglelaysdownveryclearlythatanywolfmay,whenhemarries,withdrawfromthePackhebelongsto. ButassoonashiscubsareoldenoughtostandontheirfeethemustbringthemtothePackCouncil,whichisgenerallyheldonceamonthatfullmoon,inorderthattheotherwolvesmayidentifythem. Afterthatinspectionthecubsarefreetorunwheretheyplease,anduntiltheyhavekilledtheirfirstbucknoexcuseisacceptedifagrownwolfofthePackkillsoneofthem. Thepunishmentisdeathwherethemurderercanbefound; andifyouthinkforaminuteyouwillseethatthismustbeso.
FatherWolfwaitedtillhiscubscouldrunalittle,andthenonthenightofthePackMeetingtookthemandMowgliandMotherWolftotheCouncilRock—ahilltopcoveredwithstonesandboulderswhereahundredwolvescouldhide. Akela,thegreatgrayLoneWolf,wholedallthePackbystrengthandcunning,layoutatfulllengthonhisrock,andbelowhimsatfortyormorewolvesofeverysizeandcolor,frombadger-coloredveteranswhocouldhandleabuckalonetoyoungblackthree-year-oldswhothoughttheycould. TheLoneWolfhadledthemforayearnow. Hehadfallentwiceintoawolftrapinhisyouth,andoncehehadbeenbeatenandleftfordead;soheknewthemannersandcustomsofmen. TherewasverylittletalkingattheRock.
