Мауглі

           LittleToomaiwashangingeightfeetupintheair,andhewishedverymuchthathewereeightfeetunderground.

           "HeisToomai,myson,Sahib,"saidBigToomai,scowling."Heisaverybadboy,andhewillendinajail,Sahib."

           "OfthatIhavemydoubts,"saidPetersenSahib."AboywhocanfaceafullKeddahathisagedoesnotendinjails.See,littleone,herearefourannastospendinsweetmeatsbecausethouhastalittleheadunderthatgreatthatchofhair.Intimethoumayestbecomeahuntertoo."BigToomaiscowledmorethanever."Remember,though,thatKeddahsarenotgoodforchildrentoplayin,"PetersenSahibwenton.

           "MustInevergothere,Sahib?"askedLittleToomaiwithabiggasp.

           "Yes."PetersenSahibsmiledagain."Whenthouhastseentheelephantsdance.Thatisthepropertime.Cometomewhenthouhastseentheelephantsdance,andthenIwilllettheegointoalltheKeddahs."

           Therewasanotherroaroflaughter,forthatisanoldjokeamongelephant-catchers,anditmeansjustnever.Therearegreatclearedflatplaceshiddenawayintheforeststhatarecalledelephants’ball-rooms,buteventheseareonlyfoundbyaccident,andnomanhaseverseentheelephantsdance.