Мауглі

           "Heisafraidofmealso,"saidLittleToomai,standinguptohisfullheightoffourfeet,withonlyoneraguponhim.Hewastenyearsold,theeldestsonofBigToomai,and,accordingtocustom,hewouldtakehisfather’splaceonKalaNag’sneckwhenhegrewup,andwouldhandletheheavyironankus,theelephantgoad,thathadbeenwornsmoothbyhisfather,andhisgrandfather,andhisgreat-grandfather.

           Heknewwhathewastalkingof;forhehadbeenbornunderKalaNag’sshadow,hadplayedwiththeendofhistrunkbeforehecouldwalk,hadtakenhimdowntowaterassoonashecouldwalk,andKalaNagwouldnomorehavedreamedofdisobeyinghisshrilllittleordersthanhewouldhavedreamedofkillinghimonthatdaywhenBigToomaicarriedthelittlebrownbabyunderKalaNag’stusks,andtoldhimtosalutehismasterthatwastobe.

           "Yes,"saidLittleToomai,"heisafraidofme,"andhetooklongstridesuptoKalaNag,calledhimafatoldpig,andmadehimliftuphisfeetoneaftertheother.

           "Wah!"saidLittleToomai,"thouartabigelephant,"andhewaggedhisfluffyhead,quotinghisfather."TheGovernmentmaypayforelephants,buttheybelongtousmahouts.Whenthouartold,KalaNag,therewillcomesomerichrajah,andhewillbuytheefromtheGovernment,onaccountofthysizeandthymanners,andthenthouwilthavenothingtodobuttocarrygoldearringsinthyears,andagoldhowdahonthyback,andaredclothcoveredwithgoldonthysides,andwalkattheheadoftheprocessionsoftheKing.