Мауглі

           Andhegrewandgrewstrongasaboymustgrowwhodoesnotknowthatheislearninganylessons,andwhohasnothingintheworldtothinkofexceptthingstoeat. 

           MotherWolftoldhimonceortwicethatShereKhanwasnotacreaturetobetrusted,andthatsomedayhemustkillShereKhan. Butthoughayoungwolfwouldhaverememberedthatadviceeveryhour,Mowgliforgotitbecausehewasonlyaboy—thoughhewouldhavecalledhimselfawolfifhehadbeenabletospeakinanyhumantongue. 

           ShereKhanwasalwayscrossinghispathinthejungle,forasAkelagrewolderandfeeblerthelametigerhadcometobegreatfriendswiththeyoungerwolvesofthePack,whofollowedhimforscraps,athingAkelawouldneverhaveallowedifhehaddaredtopushhisauthoritytotheproperbounds. ThenShereKhanwouldflatterthemandwonderthatsuchfineyounghunterswerecontenttobeledbyadyingwolfandaman’scub. "Theytellme,"ShereKhanwouldsay,"thatatCouncilyedarenotlookhimbetweentheeyes." Andtheyoungwolveswouldgrowlandbristle. 

           Bagheera,whohadeyesandearseverywhere,knewsomethingofthis,andonceortwicehetoldMowgliinsomanywordsthatShereKhanwouldkillhimsomeday. Mowgliwouldlaughandanswer: "IhavethePackandIhavethee;andBaloo,thoughheissolazy,mightstrikeablowortwoformysake. WhyshouldIbeafraid?" 

           ItwasoneverywarmdaythatanewnotioncametoBagheera—bornofsomethingthathehadheard.