Мауглі

           PerhapsIkkithePorcupinehadtoldhim;buthesaidtoMowgliwhentheyweredeepinthejungle,astheboylaywithhisheadonBagheera’sbeautifulblackskin, "LittleBrother,howoftenhaveItoldtheethatShereKhanisthyenemy?" 

           "Asmanytimesastherearenutsonthatpalm,"saidMowgli,who,naturally,couldnotcount. "Whatofit? Iamsleepy,Bagheera,andShereKhanisalllongtailandloudtalk—likeMao,thePeacock." 

           "Butthisisnotimeforsleeping. Balooknowsit;Iknowit;thePackknowit;andeventhefoolish,foolishdeerknow. Tabaquihastoldtheetoo." 

           "Ho!ho!"saidMowgli. "TabaquicametomenotlongagowithsomerudetalkthatIwasanakedman’scubandnotfittodigpig-nuts. ButIcaughtTabaquibythetailandswunghimtwiceagainstapalm-treetoteachhimbettermanners." 

           "Thatwasfoolishness,forthoughTabaquiisamischief-maker,hewouldhavetoldtheeofsomethingthatconcernedtheeclosely. Openthoseeyes,LittleBrother. ShereKhandarenotkilltheeinthejungle. Butremember,Akelaisveryold,andsoonthedaycomeswhenhecannotkillhisbuck,andthenhewillbeleadernomore. ManyofthewolvesthatlookedtheeoverwhenthouwastbroughttotheCouncilfirstareoldtoo,andtheyoungwolvesbelieve,asShereKhanhastaughtthem,thataman-cubhasnoplacewiththePack. Inalittletimethouwiltbeaman." 

           "Andwhatisamanthatheshouldnotrunwithhisbrothers?"saidMowgli. "Iwasborninthejungle. IhaveobeyedtheLawoftheJungle,andthereisnowolfofoursfromwhosepawsIhavenotpulledathorn. Surelytheyaremybrothers!"