Мауглі

           "TheyhavesaidmynametoPetersenSahib,andperhaps—andperhaps—andperhaps—whoknows?Hai!ThatisabigthornthatIhavepulledout!"

           Thenextfewdayswerespentingettingtheelephantstogether,inwalkingthenewlycaughtwildelephantsupanddownbetweenacoupleoftameonestopreventthemgivingtoomuchtroubleonthedownwardmarchtotheplains,andintakingstockoftheblanketsandropesandthingsthathadbeenwornoutorlostintheforest.

           PetersenSahibcameinonhisclevershe-elephantPudmini;hehadbeenpayingoffothercampsamongthehills,fortheseasonwascomingtoanend,andtherewasanativeclerksittingatatableunderatree,topaythedriverstheirwages.Aseachmanwaspaidhewentbacktohiselephant,andjoinedthelinethatstoodreadytostart.Thecatchers,andhunters,andbeaters,themenoftheregularKeddah,whostayedinthejungleyearinandyearout,satonthebacksoftheelephantsthatbelongedtoPetersenSahib’spermanentforce,orleanedagainstthetreeswiththeirgunsacrosstheirarms,andmadefunofthedriverswhoweregoingaway,andlaughedwhenthenewlycaughtelephantsbrokethelineandranabout.

           BigToomaiwentuptotheclerkwithLittleToomaibehindhim,andMachuaAppa,theheadtracker,saidinanundertonetoafriendofhis,"Theregoesonepieceofgoodelephantstuffatleast.’Tisapitytosendthatyoungjungle-cocktomoltintheplains."